“Even if I don’t win, I’ll still have an Emmy,” Jonathan Van Ness said, the morning of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards, wiggling his fingers to show off his awards show–themed nail art. Mini lacquer trophies glistened under the bathroom lights of his suite at the London Hotel. This adornment was just one of many subtle details that went into Van Ness’s instantly iconic look. Wearing an embellished custom wrap skirt, Maison Margiela mesh bodysuit, and a pair of Pierre Hardy platform boots (which added about five inches to the already very tall JVN), the double nominee (for Queer Eye and his Funny or Die Web series, Gay of Thrones), cat dad, and hair icon owned the red carpet like only he could—with a permanent smile on his face, a hot date on his arm, and a bevy of #fashun poses, including a glorious nod to Angelina Jolie’s infamous leg pop.
Van Ness prepped for the big day ahead with breakfast (a veggie omelet and toast) on his balcony, followed by a session of pre-glam yoga to calm his nerves. After a quick shave, mustache prep, sheet mask, and a set of under-eye gel pillows, Van Ness and his team kept spirits high with an Aretha Franklin sing-along and a passionate discussion about the Serena Williams/Naomi Osaka U.S. Open saga from the night before. “I’m like a straight guy who only roots for one team no matter what,” Van Ness quipped, “but with Serena.”
Van Ness’s famous locks were slicked back in a chic and polished look that he and his longtime hairstylist and friend Julianne Kaye dubbed the “Business Woman Special.” Van Ness worked closely with Kaye to create the sleek ’do, which stayed in place all night thanks to the stylist’s hairspray “obsession,” L’Oréal Paris’s Elnett. “The thing about Elnett that’s so great is she’s buildable,” Van Ness gushed. “You can use her as a classic hairspray, but you can also spray her on hair and then flat iron it or curl it—and it’s kind of like a memory mist. It gives hair a muscle memory.” Kaye even used Elnett on a toothbrush to tame flyaways as a finishing touch, while Van Ness fired off supportive comments about fan art of the Fab Five on Instagram. Shortly after, Van Ness left to a round of cheers and applause and joined the rest of his Queer Eye family at the Microsoft Theater. The team went on to earn three statuettes—giving Van Ness the perfect accessory to match his already-winning look.