Golden Globes 2026: Best Dressed — Sunlight and Shadow. Story by RUNWAY MAGAZINE. Photo Courtesy: GettyImages / Nina Park / Ariana Grande.
The Golden Globes 2026 delivered what they usually do best: a collision of cinema, fashion strategy, and carefully calculated visibility. While the awards confirmed familiar names — Emma Stone taking Best Actress, with Ariana Grande recognized in the Supporting Actress category — the red carpet told a more nuanced story. This year, style divided cleanly into two directions: sunlit restraint and controlled darkness.
RUNWAY’s Best Dressed selections reflect that balance precisely.
Jenna Ortega in Dilara Findikoglu — Dramatic Precision
Jenna Ortega arrived in full command of fashion as narrative. Dilara Findikoglu’s black gown sculpted the body with corseted severity, cut-outs placed with surgical intent, and delicate fringed embellishments that moved like punctuation rather than decoration. This was not gothic nostalgia; it was discipline. Ortega understands restraint, and this look spoke in a low, deliberate tone — modern, intelligent, and unapologetically severe.
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton — Modern Sunlight
Emma Stone’s Louis Vuitton ensemble was deceptively simple, which is exactly why it worked. A cropped, architectural top paired with a softly textured column skirt created a silhouette that felt effortless yet exact. Pale, luminous tones reinforced her screen presence without overpowering it. This was not a “red carpet moment” engineered for headlines — it was confidence dressed as calm. A winning look for a winning night.
Elle Fanning in Gucci — Romantic Clarity
Elle Fanning continued her mastery of lightness with a Gucci gown that balanced classic glamour and contemporary ease. The softly shimmering fabric, delicate neckline, and fluid proportions felt almost weightless. Nothing strained for effect. Gucci allowed the wearer to breathe, and Fanning’s presence completed the picture — refined, luminous, and quietly assured.
Ariana Grande in Vivienne Westwood — Controlled Drama
Ariana Grande chose drama, but not excess. Vivienne Westwood’s structured black gown introduced volume and asymmetry without theatrical chaos. The off-shoulder construction, sculpted bodice, and sweeping skirt felt intentional rather than performative. Grande’s styling remained restrained, letting Westwood’s architecture speak. The result was composed, elegant, and unmistakably deliberate.
Verdict
Two looks embraced light. Two embraced shadow. None chased spectacle.
This year’s red carpet drew a clear line between performance and presence. The most memorable looks didn’t chase attention — they held it. Each of our chosen four represented a distinct point of view, grounded in construction and intent. Whether through the sharp romance of Dilara Findikoglu or the quiet discipline of Louis Vuitton, these were not dresses made to dazzle. They were made to define.
