Sheryl Lee Ralph in Pistis

This is from a Ghanaian fashion house, and it's incredible on her. If I had a wish, it might be for less of the brown fabric and more of that incredible pattern, but that's a teeny tiny wish. I believe all their work is custom, and I'm thrilled Sheryl Lee Ralph had this made to celebrate her.

Gabrielle Union in vintage Versace from 1998

Versace has been opening its archive a lot -- I love this trend most of all, from everyone -- and that's spectacular. At first you just think it's colorful, and then your eye starts to see all the wild and crazy things on it, but that somehow makes it even more fun. What a great grab.

G and D Wade (also in Versace)

Dwyane looked great, too. They are major.

Zendaya in vintage Versace from 2002

I appreciate how bold she and Law went here, but if I am being tooootally honest... Her SAGs dress was a flat-out fabulous gown that Zendaya elevated into stratosphere, very much a union of two awesome things, whereas this (and the Prada she'll wear on slide 6) are to ME so-so outfits that are benefiting heavily from The Zendaya Effect. Does that make sense? She has a model frame and charisma for days, so maybe we don't care so much that the bodice looks like a frog.

I like it a whole lot more from this angle.

Zendaya in Prada from 2002

And this... the original outfit is actually pants, so the skirt is an interesting adjustment. And it's neat! But that top is just a matching bra, and I think people would not be losing their minds over it if it weren't Zendaya. This is not a knock on Zendaya; just... me musing that it must be nice when you can put literally anything on your client and know your success rate will be abut 92 percent.

Angela Bassett in Greta Constantine

Ms. Bassett brought big sleeves and big bangs. And a REALLY big clutch that I covet.

Issa Rae in AKNVAS

She must love that color -- the last time we saw her at a major event, she wore the same shade. Dresses like this are tough because they can end up looking like the skirt was an afterthought, which IS a bit how this feels.

Tabitha Brown

I love the fabric on those sleeves, even if the whole outfit together feels heavy, but: HER EARRINGS ARE AVOCADOS. I salute you, milady, and agree with whatever pro-avocado agenda you're pushing.

Ivy-Victoria Maurice

This is totally fun -- the dress underneath is slinky and pretty, and the overcoat is so nicely made and gives it the MOST dramatic punch.

Psalms Salazar

Conversely, this similar idea falls much flatter -- some of it, yes, is that she's letting the coat fall off, but none of it feels as purposeful nor as well-crafted.

KJ Smith

And THIS is a melange of cheerful colors that just looks like Cinderella's mice have been hitting the absinthe again.

Brandee Evans

She is ready for a kick line. (This is really pretty.)

Amirah Vann

She looks a bit like the bridesmaid in the glamorous wedding at which the bride is on the previous slide.

Lisa Ann Walter

Okay, I like it, but does anyone else feel like it came and the blouse was too cup sizes short of the requirement, and she had to wing it?

Marta Cunningham

Her dress is obviously SUPER not my jam, but the shoes! The shoes are mini-zebras that have ACTUAL TAILS. (For more on Marta, a director, check out this corker of an essay she wrote for the Emmy website.)

Elise Neal

Oh dear. This is like if Maleficent started designing ritzy monokinis.

Marsai Martin in Christian Siriano

This is the much chic-er version.

Sophia Bush

I like how dramatic and fantastic this is.

with Nia Batts

I think I've linked to this before, but it always surprises me when I remember that Sophia and Nia together started First Women's Bank in Detroit (Nia's hometown), run entirely by women.

Pinky Cole

The trivet boobs are not my favorite detail, but tell me more about the hair sculpture, Pinky!

Ruth E. Carter

This looks sort of hard to wear, but Ruth is managing. She resembles a hand fan being opened.

Timothy Richardson

I love the material. Bellbottoms ARE bold. But also maybe too much?

Marcus Scribner

Admittedly I don't know what's going on -- is that a frog going off a diving board? -- but he's carrying it well.

Alexis Flynn

I want to love this, but the plastic shoes are crazymaking and that slit is taking us alllll the way to the florist.

Michal-Bella Brown

Her stylist needed to get her a ritzier clutch -- the one she's carrying is weird with this gown -- but I kind of like the glimpse of the white boots we can see? It at least feels different to what we usually get with a sheer skirt.

Queen Latifah

Queen La hosted. This looks comfortable, but I think in photos it all reads as too amorphous.

Whereas her explosion of ruffles definitely works. It's interesting to the eye and so it doesn't need a lot of shape.

That style of necklace has been everywhere lately. She looks nice here, but let's back out for one second to enjoy...

... the GORGEOUS backdrop. It does not shed any additional light on why the black strip is there, but it's awesome.

And you knew I was gonna get on board with this. She serves only the BEST cheesecake on only the most GLAMOROUS lanai.

While we're here: Brittney and Cherelle Griner came!

I want to end every day doing this.

Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gabrielle Union, Zendaya, and the Biggest, Boldest Gowns of the NAACP Image Awards

Including two vintage Versaces, and one vintage Prada.