Red carpet enthusiasts, celebrate: the 2026 awards season has arrived.
Following the Critics Choice Awards last weekend and with the Golden Globes and National Board of Review Gala just days away, Hollywood stars are beginning their grand march toward the Oscars in March. This season already boasts plenty of exciting acting talent to watch on the red carpet—including frontrunners like Chase Infiniti, Renate Reinsve, and Rose Byrne. Even better, all these actors are set to bring standout fashion with them in the coming months.
Glitz is a given for any star-studded awards season, and one consistently popular choice for stars has been to embrace an Old Hollywood aesthetic during their relentless campaigns for a golden statuette. Scan any major red carpet—the Globes, the SAG Awards, the Oscars—and you’re sure to see a sea of strapless gowns, sequin embellishments, and long, sweeping trains that could easily belong to the 1950s, when icons like Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Audrey Hepburn reigned supreme. The question is: in 2026, does Old Hollywood dressing still feel resonant, relevant, and invigorating?
Elizabeth Taylor in the 1950s.
Mirrorpix/Getty Images
Lately, fashion has embraced a renewed sense of eccentricity, with more unconventional silhouettes and playful details. There’s a quirkier, more individual approach to dressing for the spotlight—think Myha’la and Alexander Skarsgård. So much so, one might wonder whether a sweetheart neckline or a traditional mermaid train still captures the current fashion spirit.
That said, a sense of glamour and lavishness—two pillars of Old Hollywood, when major studios had big budgets to spare—still goes hand in hand with awards season style today. You still want to see a star look like a million dollars. You want to feel swept up in the fantasy of a dramatic train or hundreds of yards of taffeta. But is it possible to achieve that in a way that also feels fun, modern, and unexpected? Top stylists say yes.
Behind the scenes, countless red carpet pulls and fittings are already underway, and many stylists are still embracing Old Hollywood style—but with a twist. Jason Bolden, who styles clients like Cynthia Erivo and Michael B. Jordan, is drawn to looks that are elegant yet whimsical. “Old Hollywood style is classic shapes, but with bold details or prints,” says Bolden. “I look to brands like Chanel: the recent pre-fall show had so many epic references.”
Chanel pre-fall 2026.
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Chanel pre-fall 2026.
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Pointing to the collection designer Matthieu Blazy debuted in New York in December, Bolden highlights a simple white chiffon tank gown with intricate silver beadwork from the runway. “These looks are so spot-on modern, but the essence of Old Hollywood lives in these options,” he says.
Stylist Micaela Erlanger, who dresses clients such as Ego Nwodim and Lupita Nyong’o, adds that a present-day take on Old Hollywood involves finding dresses with a soft, romantic quality. “It’s less about sharp lines or rigid structure, and more about elegance that endures,” Erlanger tells Vogue. “[I look for] fluid silhouettes, beautiful drape, and a sense of ease that feels innate rather than styled.”
Chase Infiniti does Old Hollywood—in a new way.
Photo: Getty Images
Mia Goth does Old Hollywood with modern details.
Photo: Getty Images
What designs are on Erlanger’s 2026 awards season mood board? She mentions a sleek, corseted black jumpsuit from McQueen, or a silver Schiaparelli gown with a three-dimensional flower at the shoulder. These are pieces that carry the drama of Old Hollywood but with a clean, easy sophistication synonymous with 2026 style. “I’m drawn to pieces that feel effortless but considered, where the glamour comes from proportion, fabric, and how the woman inhabits the clothes,” says Erlanger.
Schiaparelli spring 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli
McQueen resort 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of McQueen
Other stylists focus on finer details. Fabio Immediato, who dresses stars like Bella Ramsey and Joseph Quinn, says his choices often center on exquisite fabrics that subtly evoke past glamour. “Old Hollywood style in 2026 isn’t about cosplay or nostalgia—it’s about selective glamour,” he explains. Instead of obvious choices like real furs and sequins, he suggests more unexpected fabrics—a sleek wool, a luxurious jersey, or a delicate knit—can give looks a fresh update. “The look feels modern when it borrows the attitude of classic cinema—polish, confidence, drama—while updating the execution through fabric, fit, restraint, and context,” says Immediato.
Giambattista Valli fall 2025 couture.
Photo: Courtesy of Giambattista Valli
In menswear, stylist Chloe Takayanagi says her clients can also channel a classic era with an updated suit or tuxedo. “When I picture Old Hollywood formal menswear, I often think of well-tailored, polished tuxedos styled with bowties, ties, cummerbunds, shawls, and other accessories,” she notes. “You could style it similarly to Haider Ackermann’s resort 2026 Tom Ford collection, where ascots were used in a more relaxed way—draped or loosely tied around the neck under polos, with knits layered beneath a suede jacket. I also noticed fabric belts with fringe used to tie a look together, resembling a tuxedo shawl.”
Amiri spring 2026.
Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com
Tom Ford resort 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford
Over the coming months on the awards circuit, keep an eye on the elegant dresses and suits worn by A-listers on the red carpet. When styled well, you’ll notice celebrity looks that strike the right balance between Old Hollywood and New Hollywood. The best red carpet moments of 2026, Erlanger says, should exist somewhere between the two. “When done well, Old Hollywood doesn’t reference a moment in time,” she observes. “It feels eternal.”
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Does Old Hollywood Style Still Matter in 2026
Beginner Definition Questions
1 What exactly is Old Hollywood Style
It refers to the glamorous elegant and timeless fashion worn by movie stars from the 1930s to the 1960s Think of icons like Audrey Hepburn Grace Kelly and Cary Grant Key elements include tailored silhouettes luxurious fabrics statement accessories and an emphasis on sophistication over trends
2 Why are stylists saying it still matters in 2026
Top stylists argue that in an era of fast fashion and fleeting digital trends Old Hollywood style offers a counterpoint timelessness quality and intentional personal branding It represents investment dressing confidence and a polished look that never goes out of season
Benefits Relevance
3 What are the main benefits of incorporating this style today
The benefits are building a versatile highquality wardrobe that lasts for years projecting confidence and professionalism reducing fashion waste through mindful purchases and creating a distinctive personal aesthetic that stands out
4 Isnt this style outdated or too formal for modern life
Not at all The core principle is adaptation You dont wear a full 1950s gown to the office Instead you take elementslike a welltailored blazer a silk scarf a classic red lip or structured trousersand mix them with contemporary pieces for a modern yet polished look
Common Problems Practical Tips
5 How can I avoid looking like Im in costume
The key is subtlety and fusion Choose one or two vintageinspired pieces as the focal point of a modern outfit Focus on impeccable fit and quality fabrics rather than literal reproductions A vintagestyle coat over a simple tshirt and modern trousers is elegant not costumey
6 Is this style expensive to achieve
It champions quality over quantity which can mean a higher upfront cost for key items However it saves money longterm because these pieces become wardrobe staples You can also find quality vintage or secondhand items to build your collection thoughtfully
7 Can men embrace Old Hollywood style too
Absolutely Male icons like Fred Astaire and Steve McQueen defined it with sharp tailoring crisp shirts quality knitwear