Jenna Ortega embraced a striking departure from her customary gothic-red-carpet aesthetic at the 2025 Primetime Emmy Awards, turning heads in a jewel-adorned, "naked dress" by Givenchy. The 22-year-old actress — known for her role as Wednesday Addams on Netflix’s hit series — presented on stage and drew praise and commentary for what critics and fans called one of the night’s most daring looks.
The custom Givenchy creation, attributed to creative director Sarah Burton, featured a shirt made entirely of jewels draped strategically across Ortega’s torso paired with a low-waist black skirt with a high slit. Observers compared the ensemble’s sensibility to the campy glamour of Isabella Rossellini’s Lisle von Rhuman in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her; the outfit was described by one style commentator as echoing a beaded, barely-there approach to eveningwear.
Style journalist Zanna Roberts told People that Ortega’s outfit arrived in a coffin-like box and predicted the look would dominate social feeds. The dress prompted widespread reaction on X, where users praised Ortega as a "style icon" and lauded the jeweled top, with multiple posts calling the appearance one of the best looks of the night.
Ortega, who was not nominated at the ceremony, appeared on stage as a presenter alongside her Wednesday co-star Catherine Zeta-Jones. The pair announced the winner in the supporting actress category and presented the trophy to Katherine LaNasa for The Pitt. Ortega completed the red-carpet and stage look with towering platform heels.
Fashion observers and outlets noted the appearance as another step in Ortega’s rapid style evolution. Early in her career, Ortega developed a signature red-carpet aesthetic that often referenced her Wednesday persona — all-black, preppy silhouettes with gothic accents. In recent months she has worked with major designers and couture houses, wearing looks by Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, Ashi Studio and others during promotional appearances for the second season of Wednesday.
British Vogue and other publications have chronicled Ortega’s changing approach to fashion, calling her a rising style figure following a series of bold red-carpet moments that included a semi-sheer corseted gown worn at a Paris photo call and a snakeskin dress at a London premiere. Industry attention has centered on her willingness to shift between references — from gothic minimalism to old-Hollywood glamour and contemporary haute couture.
The Givenchy piece at the Emmys was part of a larger conversation in fashion about the so-called "naked dress" trend, which has earlier been worn by stars including Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss and Cher in various iterations. Commentators noted that Ortega’s take merged that trend with theatrical touches and a nod to cinematic costume history.
Public reaction to the look highlighted how Ortega’s public-image transition — from child actor to leading lady — has combined career visibility with increasingly adventurous sartorial choices. While the Emmys appearance marks one of her most provocative red-carpet moments, Ortega’s ongoing collaboration with designers and steady presence at high-profile events suggests continued interest from the fashion world and the entertainment press.
Ortega is expected to remain in the spotlight as Wednesday continues its promotional cycle and as industry award seasons progress. Her Emmy appearance underscored both her growing status in Hollywood and the continuing intersection of celebrity, costume reference and high-fashion showmanship on major red carpets.