Anthony Anderson, wearing Etro, attends the Emmys.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Anthony Anderson‘s passion for style is known in Hollywood and fashion circles alike, and that idea should further reveal itself as the actor hosts today’s 2023 Primetime Emmy Awards. Star stylist Courtney Mays says Anderson may wear up to six formalwear looks — plus a few surprises — at the event, taking place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday afternoon — with the dress rehearsal still hours away — Mays was optimistic the fashion changes wouldn’t be complicated, enabling Anderson to showcase his well-documented peacock aesthetic. “It’s all a matter of timing; we’ll have a stopwatch during dress rehearsal,” Mays noted two days before the show. “In a couple of cases it’s mainly just about changing a jacket, and we’ll also have a terrific team around us. So you might see all six looks, which are meant to represent the diversity and breadth of his style.”
Mays and Anderson have been collaborating since roughly 2016, having met at the Dolce & Gabbana boutique on Rodeo Drive. “I was pulling for another client, and Anthony is a golf buddy with a mutual friend,” Mays recalls. “We ran into each other, and he started asking me what I thought of his look. He’s a huge lover of luxury brands; his show, Black-ish, was kind of an ode to Gucci, which was part of his character, but also reflected Anthony’s love of fashion.”
“We often joke that I gave Gucci an ad campaign for almost a decade,” Anderson tells THR. “What I love about working with Courtney is our ability to collaborate and her attention to detail. Her love for menswear is apparent in her knowledge about tailoring and her interest in fashion history.”
Gucci will indeed be part of the mix Monday night, though for this red carpet appearance, Anderson arrived wearing a look by Etro, a label known for its richly patterned evening jackets in jacquard or embellished with beading and embroidery.
Alongside his mom, Doris Bowman, Anderson appeared on the carpet just after 4 p.m. PST wearing Etro’s Tailored Floral Embroidery Jacket, highlighting sprays of lilies crafted of glass beading against a black backdrop, paired with Jimmy Choo’s Foxley tasseled loafer. “[Etro is] a beautiful, classic brand that’s very aligned with Anthony, because it also has a bit of flash and flair to it,” Mays said. “Once we get into the show, that’s when his look will become a bit more of a nod to the classic black tuxedo.”
A black single-breasted tuxedo with notched satin lapels by Canali, a navy single-breasted tuxedo by Brunello Cucinelli, and a Gucci black peaked-lapel tuxedo comprise the primary looks planned once Anderson hits the stage. “We may also add a cummerbund, because it’s a bit of a nod to the classic style of the 1950s or 1960s,” Mays explained, adding that the broadcast airing on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day also played a role in Anderson’s style decisions. “We’re also doing bow ties, thinking about Dr. King and wanting to represent him visually in a way through Anthony’s wardrobe. Because it’s the 75th anniversary of the Emmys, it’s also a bit about honoring television history.”
To that end, look for Anderson also to appear in costumes that pay tribute to some of TV’s most iconic programs. “Between the costumes and his suits, we’ll be busy,” Mays said with a laugh. “But he’s uber-creative and wants to show out, for lack of a better term, especially in suiting. I am there to throw him the assist.”
“I might be known for the bold colors and prints you may see [on Black-ish] … but I also love classic men’s tailoring and luxurious, timeless fabrics,” Anderson noted. “I actually know quite a bit about good tailoring. You may find me in a bright tracksuit, sneakers and fitted cap, and on that same day, a double-breasted silk suit and a loafer. I can do it all.”
A backstage look at the Christian Louboutin shoes Anderson is expected to wear onstage.
Courtney Mays and Sadye Rosen
Accessories are indeed key to Anderson’s aesthetic and likewise are key to his multiple looks Monday evening. “For me, it’s all about the details,” Mays said. “Anthony will always be wearing a pair of vintage braces, as well as some mother-of-pearl tuxedo studs from the 1930s that are from my own collection, because I’ve collected vintage menswear accessories for about a decade. He may wear the same pair of Christian Louboutin Greggo lace-up shoes all night, which is crazy, because typically Anthony loves a tasseled loafer. But we just kept going back to these shoes as working with every suit he tried on during his second fitting.”
Among the pieces Anthony Anderson is expected to wear at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards are, clockwise from top left: a Haute Joaillerie Collection brooch featuring 20.78 carats of yellow diamonds set in gold and titanium, the L.U.C. Heritage Grand Cru collection timepiece set in 18-karat rose gold and the Alpine Eagle Frozen timepiece featuring 7.16 carats of diamonds set in 18-karat white gold, all by Chopard.
Courtney Mays and Sadye Rosen
Anderson is also a devout fan of watches, and Mays said eagle-eyed timepiece aficionados shouldn’t be surprised if he sports a different watch with each subsequent look, with high-wattage pieces from Chopard, PIaget, Jacob & Co. and Roger Dubuis among the expected brands.
As Mays added, status watches comprise yet another element that perfectly suits her client’s personality: “That’s very Anthony: Go big or go home.”