Amal Clooney has always loved Old Hollywood glamour: glossy brunette waves, glowing skin, and elegant red carpet appearances with her husband George Clooney. Her beauty style often recalls the great Italian screen sirens. For Friday evening’s fifth edition of The Albies, Clooney and her longtime hairstylist and makeup artist Dimitris Giannetos took that inspiration further, drawing on Sophia Loren.

The Albies, hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice at London’s Natural History Museum, drew guests including Laura Dern, Brad Pitt, Marisa Abela, Myha’la Herrold, and Donatella Versace, who gathered to honor people fighting for justice and human rights around the world. For the evening, Clooney wore a custom Gucci gown by Demna, with a sculptural, off-the-shoulder silhouette covered in shimmering gold sequins and a cascade of floor-length fringe.

“I worked with Amal and the Gucci team to create Amal’s look,” Giannetos tells Vogue. “Demna’s inspiration was an Old Hollywood movie star, the same vibe as Sophia Loren.” Giannetos, who regularly works with Clooney on everything from her appearances at the Venice Film Festival with George to her travels in Malawi, wanted to bring something a little more relaxed to that classic screen-star glamour.

First came a fairly significant haircut. “I chopped her hair much shorter now, with lots of layers, movement, razored and wispy layers and some summer highlights,” he explains. “So I gave that classic inspiration a modern twist: soft, effortless waves with plenty of texture. Glamorous, but still relaxed.” His shorthand for the finished look? “A combo of Sophia Loren meets Kate Moss.”

The result was a tumble of softly tousled, side-parted waves, with face-framing layers and golden highlights catching the light against the gown. To create the texture, Giannetos used the Tymo CurlPro, followed by plenty of L’Oréal Paris Elvive Big Hair Dry Shampoo and Elnett Hairspray for volume and hold. His assistant, David Mazzotta, also helped create the look.

The makeup picked up on the golden tones of Demna’s design without competing with them. “For her makeup, I kept everything luminous, with shimmery golden tones to complement her gown,” says Giannetos, who used Charlotte Tilbury for the occasion. The brand marked its fifth year partnering with the Albies, continuing its support of the Clooney Foundation for Justice.

After preparing the skin with Charlotte’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir and Magic Cream, Giannetos created a glowing base using Airbrush Flawless Foundation, Airbrush Flawless Blur Concealer, and the Hollywood Contour Wand. The Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Stick and Beauty Light Wand brought warmth and radiance to the cheeks, with the Pillow Talk Soulmates Palette in Flawless Pink providing a soft flush.

For the eyes, he combined the Exagger-Eyes Easy Eyeshadow Stick in Oyster Twilight with the Hollywood Flawless Light Tricks Eye Palette, finishing with Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara. A softly defined nude lip, courtesy of the Lip Cheat Contour Duo in Tan and Hot Lips 2 lipstick in Angel Alessandra, kept the focus on the eyes and the gilded complexion.

Crucial to the finished effect was controlling shine without losing luminosity. “I’m obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury’s new translucent powder,” Giannetos says. “It lets me mattify specific areas while keeping that beautiful glow.”

It was a look that captures the enduring appeal of Old Hollywood glamour without becoming too precious about it—a real Amal Clooney classic. Where an Italian screen siren like Loren might have favored a perfectly coiffed wave, Clooney’s version came with slightly undone lengths, a softer silhouette, and a little more movement. A movie-star moment that still let the light in on the night’s real-life heroes.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of frequently asked questions about Amal Clooneys look at the 2026 Albies

The Basics

What are the Albies
The Albies are the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Clooney Foundation for Justice an organization founded by Amal and George Clooney The event honors individuals who fight for justice around the world

What did Amal Clooney wear to the 2026 Albies
She wore a custom vintageinspired gown reportedly a deep emerald green paired with long opera gloves and statement diamond earrings

What was so different about her hair
She debuted a bold chinlength French bob with soft textured waves It was a major departure from the long flowing hair she usually wears

The Haircut

What exactly is a French bob
It is a short haircut that typically ends at or just below the jawline It often features soft undone texture and light fringe giving it a relaxed chic look

Why is it called a bold haircut
It is bold because it is a significant change Amal Clooney is known for long hair so cutting it to a short bob was a dramatic confident style statement

Would this haircut work for me
A French bob works best on straight to wavy hair It flatters most face shapes especially oval heart and square because it highlights the jawline and cheekbones

What should I tell my stylist if I want this cut
Ask for a chinlength bob with soft textured ends and a slightly uneven natural finish Bring photos of Amals look to show exactly what you mean

How do I style a French bob at home
Use a texturizing spray or sea salt spray on damp hair Let it air dry or use a diffuser For a polished look use a small round brush to blowdry the ends slightly inward

The Inspiration

What does Movie Star Inspiration mean for this look
It means her style was influenced by classic Hollywood icons from the 1950s and 60s like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly who wore similar short elegant cuts

Did she copy a specific movie stars look
Not exactly It was more of a general homage to the timeless glamorous style of Old Hollywood