Devery Jacobs's Tulle-Covered Emmys Red Carpet Suit Is a Full-Circle Statement
To say goodbye to 'Reservation Dogs,' the star referenced one of the looks from the pilot episode.
When Reservation Dogs star Devery Jacobs arrived at the 2024 Emmy Awards red carpet on Sept. 15 in a cream, tulle-covered suit by ACT N°1, she wanted to start a conversation. Jacobs was there to represent a groundbreaking series, which follows four indigenous teens growing up on an Oklahoma reservation, nominated in its third and final season for one of the most competitive Emmy awards, Outstanding Comedy Series. Fans of the critically-acclaimed show knew it was special even before it was nominated: Reservation Dogs was also the first American TV series to feature writers and directors entirely of indigenous heritage. Naturally, Jacobs wanted to show up and show out for her last appearance tied to the series and her character, Elora Danan.
Linking up with stylist Christian Stroble for the evening led Jacobs to her red carpet ideal—a set blending floaty, voluminous texture with the base of a strong-shouldered suit. Just don't call the tiers and tiers of tulle her Cinderella moment. "I tried it on and was immediately like, 'This feels so me, this feels dramatic and elevated but also really interesting," Jacobs tells me over the phone after one of her last fittings. "The last thing that I want to be called, personally, when I step onto a red carpet is 'pretty' [or] soft and feminine. Those things don't feel interesting to me."
Jacobs says her personal style is a mix of masculine and feminine—and she's not afraid to take risks bringing those sides together, even on one of Hollywood's biggest nights. "I've found that when I've been on just as many worst-dressed lists as I have best-dressed, I consider that to be a success because at least there's a conversation happening and a point of view behind it."
An essential part of Jacobs's style POV is her Kahnawake Mohawk heritage, which the star elevates by prioritizing indigenous designers in her red carpet outfits. If the step-and-repeat is where Jacobs can express herself and not the characters she plays, she says she wants to elevate every aspect of her queer, native identity. Last night, she paired her dress with jewelry from Ataumbi Metals, a New Mexico-based jeweler blending Arapaho, Kiowa, and Shoshone aesthetics.
"Reservation Dogs and all of the press that we've had has really afforded us the chance to lean into our personal style and I think show who we are through that lens," Jacobs explained. "I'm always conscious and mindful of wanting to uplift community in all of the spaces that we go to, whether that's collaborating with indigenous designers or queer designers and artists of color."
It's a personal effort. Jacobs can remember a time when she didn't yet feel empowered to dress how she wanted to. "When I was really young, I was wearing a lot of really femme outfits that I didn't feel specifically resonated with who I was. It was kind of what I was told I should look like," she said. Now, she's attending events like the Emmys in looks that give every side of her identity space to shine without restraint.
Her Emmys look also baked in an homage to the start of her TV journey with a nod to one of her first Reservation Dogs costumes: "I was drawing from the pilot, where we're all wearing suits," she said. On the series, she wears a black straight-leg pantsuit and skinny black tie for an event I won't spoil here for any late watchers. Jacobs reinterpreted it in a lighter palette and amplified volume—one of her favorite ways to mix up a look.
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
A red carpet send-off in yards and yards of tulle was symbolic of Jacobs taking up the space she and her community deserve in Hollywood. "I always wanted to go out of Reservation Dogs guns blazing because it is such a groundbreaking show, not only for native folks, but also rez kids who have been needing to see a show like this for so long," she said.
The entire cast and crew takes pride in every detail of the project, from the writers drawing from their lived experiences in the scripts to the actors representing their families and friends onscreen. "It was for our communities," Jacobs said of the show. "For me to be able to be a part of the Emmys this year, and for the show to be nominated, is something that just feels right."
Jacobs joked that she "fully expects to lose to The Bear." The trophy for Outstanding Comedy ultimately went to Hacks, but I can't image Jacobs was too pressed. The night was never really about the awards, anyway, for her. It was about what her presence stood for.
"I'm just excited to be able to represent queer native folks and Kahnawake Mohawk people on that main stage and also represent myself," she said, "and feel like I get to show up fully embodied as who I am, out of character as myself, and get to celebrate this thing that I'm so proud of."
Halie LeSavage is the senior fashion and beauty news editor at Marie Claire, where she assigns, edits, and writes stories for both sections. Halie is an expert on runway trends, celebrity style, emerging fashion and beauty brands, and shopping (naturally). In over seven years as a professional journalist, Halie’s reporting has ranged from fashion week coverage spanning the Copenhagen, New York, Milan, and Paris markets, to profiles on industry insiders including stylist Alison Bornstein and J.Crew womenswear creative director Olympia Gayot, to breaking news stories on noteworthy brand collaborations and beauty launches. (She can personally confirm that Bella Hadid’s Ôrebella perfume is worth the hype.) She has also written dozens of research-backed shopping guides to finding the best tote bags, ballet flats, and more. Most of all, Halie loves to explore what trends—like the rise of doll-like Mary Janes or TikTok’s 75 Hard Style Challenge—can say about culture writ large. (She justifies almost any purchase by saying it’s “for work.”) Halie has previously held writer and editor roles at Glamour, Morning Brew, and Harper’s Bazaar. Halie has been cited as a fashion and beauty expert in The Cut, CNN Underscored, and Reuters, among other outlets, and appears in newsletters like Selleb and Self-Checkout to provide shopping recommendations. In 2022, she was awarded the Hearst Spotlight Award for excellence and innovation in fashion journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Harvard College. Outside of work, Halie is passionate about books, baking, and her miniature Bernedoodle, Dolly. For a behind-the-scenes look at her reporting, you can follow Halie on Instagram and TikTok.
-
On Election Day, Celebrities Wear Pink
A campaign by Argent and When We All Vote wants to bring optimism to the polls.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Hailey Bieber Test-Drives a New Adidas It-Sneaker
The model is trying out a different set of kicks.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Prince George Told a British Business Owner What His Surprising Dream Job Was
“That’s what I want to do when I grow up!”
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Elizabeth Debicki Knows You're Comparing Her Dior Emmys Dress to Princess Diana
Here, she exclusively takes 'Marie Claire' inside the styling of her "regal" gown.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
Anna Sawai Cranks Up the Heat in a Red Louis Vuitton Gown at the Emmys After-Party
The 'Shogun' star's second dress of the night was also a winner.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
The 15 Best-Dressed Stars on the 2024 Emmy Awards Red Carpet Redefine Hollywood Glamour
These women (and men!) redefined Hollywood glamour.
By Halie LeSavage Last updated
-
Da'Vine Joy Randolph's Neon Yellow 2024 Emmys Red Carpet Dress Confirms She's a Fashion Power Player
The actress shut down the red carpet in a highlighter-hued hooded gown.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Jennifer Aniston’s 2024 Emmys Red Carpet Look Puts a High-Shine Spin on the Naked Dress Trend
She put a high-shine twist on Hollywood's favorite look.
By Emma Childs Published
-
Maya Erskine Channels a Freshly Picked Daisy at the 2024 Emmys Red Carpet
She dressed in delicate florals.
By Hanna Lustig Last updated
-
Anna Sawai Wins Her First Emmy Wearing the "Dress of Her Dreams"—a Red Vera Wang Gown—at the 2024 Emmys
Spoiler: It's custom Vera Wang.
By Julia Marzovilla Last updated
-
Dakota Fanning's Gold, Pearl-Embellished 2024 Emmys Red Carpet Gown Looks Like a Fizzy Glass of Champagne
The 'Uptown Girl' is nominated for her role in Netflix's 'Ripley.'
By Julia Marzovilla Last updated