Elle Fanning delivered one of the most striking fashion moments of the 2026 Critics Choice Awards, arriving on the red carpet in an archival Ralph Lauren gown accented with Cartier jewelry.
The actress wore a liquid-gold silk design from Ralph Lauren’s Fall 2003 collection. The glamorous look was designed with allover gold bugle beads in a shade of muted gold, giving the dress a chainmail-like material quality. Under the gloss of the camera lights, Fanning’s gown also possessed a visual liquid element, enhancing its fluid, molten-metal effect as she moved.
The early-2000s design featured a plunging neckline and a body-skimming silhouette, merging archival craftsmanship with a distinctly modern red-carpet presence. Rather than overwhelming the look, the styling emphasized restraint, allowing the texture and construction of the gown to remain the focal point.
The ensemble was accessorized with jewelry courtesy of Cartier, including rings. Fanning serves as a global brand ambassador for the French maison and previously appeared as the face of Cartier’s Grain de Café collection in 2023, making the pairing both personal and brand-aligned.
For glam, the Best Supporting Actress nominee collaborated with hairstylist Jenda Alcorn, who styled her hair in soft blond waves that complemented the gown’s vintage-meets-modern aesthetic. Her makeup was curated by artist Erin Ayanian Monroe and featured defined, lined eyes paired with a neutral rosy lip, maintaining a polished and understated finish.
Throughout her Sentimental Value promotional and awards season run, stylist Samantha McMillen has dressed Fanning in a series of looks that reference old-school and early-2000s glamour. The Ralph Lauren gown continued this visual narrative. Just days before the Critics Choice Awards, Fanning appeared at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards in an archival Nettie Rosenstein Couture dress that evoked classic Grace Kelly elegance.
Held during the height of awards season, the Critics Choice Awards once again served as a major platform for fashion storytelling. By selecting a meticulously crafted archival design and pairing it with contemporary beauty and styling choices, Fanning reinforced the enduring relevance of fashion history while securing one of the evening’s most talked-about red-carpet moments.
