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Laverne Cox's Emmys dress 'took her breath away'

The star was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress for Orange Is the New Black

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Laverne Cox's breath was taken away when she saw her dress for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards for the first time. The actress dazzled in a grey beaded figure-hugging Naeem Khan design for the prestigious ceremony, where she was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Orange Is the New Black.

Laverne's long-time stylist Christina Pacelli was on hand to help her get ready for the big night and recalled to WWD how the outfit made a big impact the first time Laverne laid eyes on it.

"Laverne is not a sample size, so we have to start the planning process with much greater lead time than another woman in Hollywood who is," Christina explained.

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"When (Laverne) saw this gown for the first time, her breath was taken. She was immediately awestruck, fell in love with everything about it and the idea of this dress in gunmetal - it showed in gold on the runway. Laverne's skin tone looks great with this shade of gunmetal. She could see that vision when we sat down together."

The finished ensemble also boasted Lorraine Schwartz earrings, which Christina found made even more of a statement alongside the sexy dress, and bold gunmetal eye make-up.

Laverne's shoes were custom-made, with the style expert explaining that the 45-year-old transgender star happily embraces standing out from the crowds with her stature.

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"Laverne is open about the fact that she's not a sample size woman in Hollywood," Christina smiled. "Her body is beautiful, she embraces that, but we have to work on custom things because samples are what is available to us and it doesn't work for everyone. We celebrate the fact that she's a beautiful woman with a beautiful body."