Celebrities have been delighting us with jaw-dropping fashion on the red carpet since day one. However, in recent years they have gone above and beyond in order to, as Gladys Lai puts it, ‘indulge in red carpet cosplay.’ Some of our favourite celebrities pay homage to their on-screen personas by using fashion to reference their characters. The use of recognisable motifs, appropriate colour palettes, and detailed accessories, often generate an undeniable connection to the film being promoted.

Whether it’s Zendaya, Timothée Chalamet, or Margot Robbie, these referential runways leave us speechless and blur the boundaries between their real-life selves and their iconic roles. But which ones truly stand out? And what does this trend say about the evolving relationship between film and fashion?

Zendaya is a standout participant in referential fashion, evident throughout her Dune 2 and Spiderman: No Way Home premieres. Most recently, her breathtaking beauty has been exemplified by her outstanding fashion choices for the Challengers press tour. At the Sydney premiere for Challengers, Zendaya wore a custom rhinestone Lowe gown, printed with the image of a tennis player. This look undeniably alluded to her Challengers counterpart, Tashi Donaldson, a determined and competitive tennis champion. For another look, Zendaya opted for a crystallised Lowe mini dress with a pleated skirt. The dress was paired with white tennis ball-impaled heels, bringing a kitschy element of the film to her press appearances.

This is not the first time we’ve seen Zendaya refer to her films on the red carpet, and I’m sure it will not be the last. These subtle yet powerful looks display her unfaltering connection to her characters and the pride she feels in promoting her films. Zendaya’s unique combination of sophistication and creativity ensures each appearance tells a story and generates audience anticipation.

Another notable example of this ‘method dressing’ is Dakota Johnson at the Vogue Brazil Carnival Ball. On her press tour for Madame Web, Dakota graced the carpet in a sparkling cobweb dress from Annie’s Ibiza. A matching veil meant her entire body was draped with glittering cobwebs; each strand adorned with a delicate drop crystal to mimic beads of dew.

This perfectly balanced elegance with a touch of her character’s mysterious, high-fashion persona. The dress gave Dakota an otherworldly presence by being both understated and chic, yet striking and resonant. By subtly referencing her character’s essence on the red carpet, she allowed herself and her role to shine.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked press tour was iconic for countless reasons, not just for defying gravity and holding space, but for the unforgettable fashion. For interviews and red carpets, they alluded to Glinda and Elphaba by displaying their signature pink and green colour palettes. From the film’s premiere in Australia to the Olympic Games Opening ceremony in Paris, both Grande and Erivo personified their characters through stunning visual ensembles.

Ariana Grande opted for feminine pastels, fairytale gowns, and flared skirts that alluded to her character, Glinda the Good Witch. At the Wicked premiere in Los Angeles, she wore a baby pink Thom Brown checkered ensemble, reminiscent of the blue checkered dress worn by Judy Garland’s Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. For the premiere in Sydney, she wore an angelic Vivienne Westwood peach ballgown, a perfect recreation of the very first Glinda costume, worn by Billie Burke in the 1939 film.

Cynthia Erivo contrasted Ariana’s blush hues, by wearing dark, often green or black, structured pieces that were beautifully bold and striking. For instance, at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, she wore a strapless emerald satin ensemble from Louis Vuitton, referencing both the fabled land of Oz and the hue of Elphaba’s green skin. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Cynthia wore a black leather button down dress by Salon 1884, paired with a wide-brim hat, which alluded to her character’s iconic witch hat in the film.

Both women powerfully embodied their characters with a glamorous pantomime of luxurious fashion, whilst maintaining their individual style and mirroring the memorable aesthetics in the film. Through these looks, Glinda and Elphaba were magically transported from the yellow brick road to the red carpet.

By carefully constructing these ensembles on the red carpet, the character’s story is extended beyond the film itself and resonates with the audience. Today, there is a blurred boundary between fashion and film marketing, with celebrities’ outfits serving as an early preview of the film’s tone and aesthetic. This is a space where creativity, culture, and identity come together in an undoubtedly dynamic and visually striking way.

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