Not every awards show is created equal—at least not in the eyes of stylist Cristina Ehrlich. The seasoned red carpet regular, trusted by Laura Dern, Mandy Moore, Penelope Cruz, and Greta Gerwig, has been working in the biz for quite some time. As she puts it, “I came out of the womb screaming Fed-Ex!”

So Ehrlich knows a thing or two about turning out a serious fashion moment for the Oscars and creating a look that oozes glamour for the Cannes Film Festival. But when it came to the Tony Awards in New York, one awards show where pretty much anything goes, the stylist knew that the time was right to amp up the drama for Uzo Aduba. She collaborated with the Orange Is the New Black actress on a custom yellow dress from designer Cristina Ottaviano—and the partnership did not disappoint.

The stylist walked us through the process of creating this dress, the unusual point of inspiration, to the final, finished product. But, Ehrlich warned us, it’s been a whirlwind night. As it turns out, the stylist’s roster of musical theater actresses also includes Mean Girl’s Tina Fey, in addition to Christine Baranski and Jessica Keenan Wynn. Luckily for Ehrlich, Aduba also happens to be a pro at nailing an awards-show arrival.