With major releases on the horizon and actresses whose fashion instincts rival their screen presence, the coming year promises dressing that is deliberate, referential and impossible to ignore.
A major differentiator between the 2020s and the decades that came before it is the acceptance of method dressing. Method dressing is a phenomenon where actors’ outfits embody or draw inspiration from themes in the project when promoting a film or show.
Recent examples include Margot Robbie during the Barbie press tour and Jenna Ortega for the Wednesday red carpets. However, the rise of Method dressing is intrinsically tied to Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach. In her younger years in the industry, Roach, who self-describes as an image architect, used fashion as a means to shape Zendaya’s public image. The strategy worked, and Zendaya had accumulated magazine covers and a CFDA Fashion Icon award before being a lead on a critically acclaimed movie. While method dressing is synonymous with the 2020s, it didn’t begin with it.
The history of method dressing: The past perception of dressing like a character on a red carpet
Method dressing has become a staple in the 21st century, but in the golden age of Hollywood, studios did more than that. Studios used the star system, a strategy that focused on curating and commodifying an actor’s persona. This included changing their names, faces, and speech patterns. The aim was so they could be as much a spectacle off-screen as they were on-screen, so they could sell movies based on the star’s popularity. They could guarantee that fans would watch a movie, not because they are interested in the synopsis, but because they love and want to see Marilyn Monroe.
By the 60s, this star system was in less demand, and the industry introduced the modern structure of staging interviews, show appearances, and magazine covers that coincided with a star’s latest project. Today, it is colloquially known as press tours, and if it happens between October and February, it is called an Oscar Campaign. Think Timothée Chalamet singing and acting on SNL.
However, the earliest example of film promotion influencing high-fashion garment construction emerged in the 1990s. Notably, Geena Davis wore a baseball-inspired dress for her role in “A League of Their Own,” and Glenn Close sported a full Cruella De Vil costume on the red carpet of 101 Dalmatians.
However, in the 90s, these were single events, and the actresses wore standard outfits for most of their red carpet appearances — all except Madonna. For her role as the titular character in “Evita,” Madonna donned an Evita-inspired look for red carpets and press appearances, and the public reception was met with mixed reactions. Madonna’s casting was already controversial, as Evita is a beloved Argentine figure. So her red carpet style was seen as an attempt to reinvent herself by absorbing Evita’s, and not as a marketing strategy.
How red carpets went fully method
It wasn’t until the late 2000s that another actress would openly attempt it. This was Audrey Justine Tautou for her role in “Coco before Chanel”. But it was subtle, and the attempts that followed (Maleficent press tour) were too. Until Zendaya, whose first attempt was for the red carpet of “The Greatest Showman”. Despite having a supporting role, the looks helped her stand out and reintroduce her to the audience, as she was a child star.
This made Zendaya an industry favourite as her looks became a guarantee for internet virality. If Zendaya steps onto a red carpet, it’s guaranteed to trend online for at least a week — and if she shows up in a Mugler metallic suit for the “Dune” premiere, it instantly becomes iconic. With a sure source of promotion, method dressing became uncontrollably popular.
2025 saw an exploration of fictional characters, the “Wednesday” cast being a personal favourite. The red carpet is no longer just about glamour but about narrative, so 2026 is poised to turn premieres into fully styled cinematic moments. And here are some we are looking forward to.
Read also: These are the trends I’m officially ready to retire in 2025
Euphoria: When the red carpet becomes an extension of the story
Few shows have catapulted the fashion careers of their cast the way “Euphoria” has. In the first season, each character showcased a distinct and captivating style. This, in turn, shaped their public persona, and by the end of the year, most of the actors had a fashion deal.
As anticipation builds for its next cinematic chapter, the fashion conversation naturally returns to Zendaya — and her long-standing creative partnership with Law Roach. Together, they perfected method dressing before it became a buzzword, translating Rue’s emotional arcs into sharply intelligent fashion moments that feel both theatrical and intimate.
But don’t count out the other stars yet, as Hunter Schafer has become a formidable fashion girl, with her stylist, Dara Allen, pulling looks that stole the show at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Plus, Jacob Elordi, who plays Nate Jacobs, has become a Bottega Veneta ambassador.
The Devil Wears Prada 2: Fashion looking back at itself
If there is one film guaranteed to turn its premieres into cultural events, it’s “The Devil Wears Prada 2”. Nearly two decades after the original reshaped how fashion was portrayed on screen, the sequel arrives in an era where luxury, media and influence look radically different — and the red carpet will reflect that evolution.
The Odyssey: Mythology as modern glamour
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” brings epic scale back to cinema, and with it, the opportunity for fashion that feels monumental. Zendaya and Anne Hathaway’s involvement alone signals a red carpet moment worth watching, especially as stylists lean into mythic references without slipping into costume. I am expecting sculptural gowns, metallic finishes, draped silhouettes and a renewed interest in classical form reimagined through contemporary couture.
Dune and the rise of Sci-Fi couture
By now, “Dune” has established its own red carpet universe, thanks to its stars: Austere, futuristic and unapologetically fashion-forward. As the franchise continues into 2026, Zendaya’s Chani remains central to the narrative and the visual culture surrounding it… I know because I have read the books. Her premieres are never divorced from the desert planet’s aesthetic — muted tones, fluid construction and silhouettes that feel both alien and eerily wearable.
This is also where her co-star, Anya Taylor-Joy, thrives, as seen during the Furiosa press tour. Her presence at genre premieres consistently delivers fashion that is surreal, cerebral and impeccably styled. Anya commits to the bit, favouring dramatic proportions, textures, poses, and styling choices that feel deliberately off-kilter in the best way.
Werwulf: Primal fashion with dark romanticism
Right off his Nosferatu success, Robert Eggers’ “Werwulf” is poised to extend his signature visual language into something even more feral and folkloric, and the red carpet implications are immediately compelling. If “The Witch” and “The Northman” are anything to go by, premieres for “Werwulf” will likely usher in a return to dark, structured dressing — fashion that feels raw, historical and slightly untamed.
Expect actresses attached to the film, like Lily Rose-Depp, to lean into medieval and gothic references: Distressed velvets, leather accents, corsetry, cloaks, and beauty looks that favour shadow, skin and intensity. This is the kind of red carpet moment where restraint becomes powerful — silhouettes pared back, palettes kept moody, and styling choices that feel instinctual rather than decorative.
Mother Mary: Sacred imagery meets subversive fashion
David Lowery’s “Mother Mary” is already stirring intrigue for its narrative ambition and promise. The film’s thematic tension — faith, fame and female power — offers a rich inspiration for red carpet interpretation. Anne Hathaway, in particular, has entered a fashion era, with her recent archival couture moments.
Anything with Ayo Edebiri: A new language of red carpet cool
If the traditional red carpet once prized polish above all else, Ayo Edebiri is quietly rewriting the rules. Ayo’s style is witty, expressive and refreshingly unforced — a blend of playful tailoring, colour and clever references that feel deeply personal. Her 2026 appearances will likely continue this trajectory, and so will her relationship with Thom Browne.
Read also: These looks prove Ayo Edebiri is fashion’s new “It” girl
Nollywood’s red carpet moment is here
As Nigerian cinema continues its global ascent, 2026 will bring renewed attention to Nollywood premieres — and the fashion that accompanies them. Actresses leading major releases are increasingly working with stylists who understand the power of cultural storytelling through dress, merging contemporary silhouettes with indigenous textiles, handwork and symbolism.
Method dressing is not as prominent in Nigeria, but we know how to turn a look; many of these cross over into costume territory, and we are anticipating it.
The year fashion fully commits to the narrative
What defines 2026’s most anticipated red carpet looks isn’t excess or shock value, but storytelling. From Zendaya and Law Roach’s continued mastery of method dressing to Anya Taylor-Joy’s artistic risk-taking, and from Ayo Edebiri’s intelligent minimalism to Nollywood’s culturally grounded glamour, the through-line is narrative.
This is fashion that knows where it’s going, why it exists, and what it wants to say. This, more than anything, is what will make the 2026 red carpet unforgettable.
