The Tamesis
Stylist Micaela Erlanger, who dresses clients like Ego Nwodim and Lupita Nyong’o, adds that today’s Old Hollywood approach to dressing includes finding dresses with a soft, romantic feel. “It’s less about sharp lines or rigid structure and more about enduring elegance,” Erlanger said Fashion. “[I look for] Fluid silhouettes, beautiful draping, and an ease that is inherent rather than sculptural. “
What designs are on Erlanger’s 2026 awards season mood board? She considered a sleek bustier black jumpsuit from McQueen or a silver Schiaparelli gown with dimensional flowers on the shoulders. They have drama Old Hollywood style, but clean, simple and sophisticated, synonymous with dressing in 2026. “I love pieces that feel effortless yet well thought out, where the charm comes from proportions, fabrics and the way a woman wears the clothes,” says Erlanger.
Other stylists, meanwhile, are banking on finer details. Fabio Immediato, who dresses stars such as Bella Ramsey and Joseph Quinn, said his choices often revolve around the choice of delicate fabrics that pay homage in subtle ways to the glamor of the past. “Old Hollywood style in 2026 isn’t about cosplay or nostalgia, it’s about selective glamour,” he said. While you might think of real fur and sequins in Old Hollywood style, he says more unexpected options—invisible wools, divine knits or delicate knits—can make a look feel completely updated. “The look feels modern as it borrows the attitudes of classic films—sophistication, confidence, drama—while updating the execution (fabrics, fit, restraint, and context),” says Imediato.
On the menswear front, stylist Chloe Takayanagi says her main men can also reflect more classic eras with updated suits or tuxedos. “When I imagine Old Hollywood formal menswear, I often think of a carefully tailored polished tuxedo complete with bow ties, ties, belts, capes and other accessories,” she says. “You could style it similar to Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford Resort 2026 collection, where we saw him using the collar in a more relaxed way—draped under a polo shirt or tied loosely around the neck, layered with knitwear under a suede jacket. I noticed there were also some using fringed fabric belts to tie the look together, similar to a tuxedo cape.”
So, be sure to keep an eye out for the elegant dresses and suits worn by A-list stars on the red carpet at award shows over the next few months. If styled right, you’ll be able to admire celebrity looks that strike a balance between Old Hollywood and New Hollywood. Erlanger says the best red carpet moments of 2026 will fall somewhere in between. “Old Hollywood doesn’t reference a certain moment if it’s done right,” she said. “It feels timeless.”
