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Laverne Cox’s Vintage-Inspired SAG Awards Dress: Go Behind the Scenes of Her Red Carpet Prep!

Laverne Cox and Johanna Johnson pre-SAGs red carpet shoot on Jan. 25.
Johanna Johnson puts the finishing touches on Laverne Cox's custom 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards dress on Jan. 25.

The fairest of them all!

Orange Is the New Black beauty Laverne Cox took over Us Weekly‘s Instagram account last Sunday to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards. And now, Us is giving you an exclusive look at her glam, pre-awards show prep!

Related: PHOTOS: 2015 SAGs: All the dresses!

Before the actress took the stage to accept her statuette for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for OITNB, designer Johanna Johnson—who personally reached out to the actress to create her SAGs look—helped make the on-screen jailbird 1930s-chic with a sweeping silk gown.

Laverne Cox - SAGs
Johanna Johnson slips Laverne Cox into the custom silk dress she designed for her to wear to the 2015 SAG Awards.

Eager to discuss her dress (which she teamed with Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” heels, a mocha Judith Leiber clutch, and Forevermark diamonds), Cox told Us Weekly, “I haven’t worn anything like it before! It’s very opulent—and dramatic. It’s sexy, but demure as well. It’s kind of a different moment for me—it’s really special.”

Related: PHOTOS: Dapper dudes! See the men in tuxes

Considering her “latte”-hued silk gown, complete with vintage beading, the actress added, “I feel like a lot of designers don’t understand a curvier woman, a bigger woman like me. Johanna just gets it. She’s really wonderful.”

Laverne Cox - SAGs
Laverne Cox’s 2015 SAG Awards accessory choices — so many shoes, bags, and jewels to choose from!

And for Johnson, the feeling is mutual. “For me, fashion is about art—about stepping back to look at people who are doing amazing work with their craft and figuring out how we can work together.” She went on, “We very rarely approach people, but this is one time we reached out personally, and Laverne was really gracious and wonderful.”

Related: PHOTOS: The best-dressed ladies at the SAGs

Laverne Cox - SAGs
Laverne Cox at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 25, 2015 in Lo.A.

Still stunned by her good fortune, Cox said to Us, “Three years ago I could barely pay my rent. Now, I’m getting custom gowns from amazing designers, and I’m nominated for a SAG Award! That really puts it in perspective. You know?”

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