On October 17th, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles hosted the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala. This fundraising event supports the museum’s public screenings, film exhibitions, educational and community programs. This year, co-chairs Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg, and Kate Capshaw, raised more than $14 million for the museum.
The Academy Museum Gala has been coined as the ‘West Coast Met Gala’ due to the prolific collection of actors, musicians, and other leading industry figures who attend. Partnered with Rolex, a founding supporter of the museum beyond this event, the gala includes a red carpet and exclusive performances — this year by Taylor Swift. The event also honors attendees with awards; this year, the academy recognized filmmaker and composer John Carpenter, Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron, and two-time Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo.
Similar to the Met Gala, incredible outfits crossed the red carpet. While Vogue, Vanity Fair Magazine, and many others have their respective best-dressed lists, here are the looks I loved from the Academy Museum Gala.
Iris Law
Iris Law is a British actress and model who wore a Stefano Gallici avant-garde dress from the Ann Demeulemeester Spring/Summer 2027 collection. Vogue describes the collection as, “an Americana-infused collection, which blended a suite of historical and cultural references with the brand’s signature deconstructed, dark romance.”
Styled by Austen Turner, this lacy, ruffled, backless look was fabulous. Her blonde pixie, minimal silver jewelry, and the varying textures make this a standout ensemble.
Odessa A’zion
Actress Odessa A’zion styled herself for the event, donning an archival Armani Privé Spring 2017 Couture outfit. Wrapped in a feathered stole and pairing an embellished maxi skirt with a sheer beaded halter top, this was my favorite look of the night.
Orange is one of my favorite colors, and I love its application in Giorgio Armani’s collection and A’zion’s outfit. Another look that’s materials vary heavily, the stark contrasts between the orange and black, coupled with her incredible, naturally curly hair stole the show.
Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain is a “Gala’s gal.” Known as Vogue’s interviewer at the Met Gala, Chamberlain has seen her fair share of carpets. This year at the Met Gala of the West Coast, she wore a custom red Giorgio Armani gown. Styled by Jared Ellner, her stylist of six years, she stunned in this rich red gown. It’s not Halloween yet, but her hair was eerily reminiscent of Betty Boop.
In an interview with Vogue, she shared that her inspiration was ‘haunting beauty’, similar to that of Winona Ryder and the classic Hollywood glamor of Audrey Hepburn. Anna Grace Lee’s article shares Chamberlain’s statements that, “It’s a very classic Hollywood evening. The after-party is at the Chateau. It just feels like, ‘This is LA, baby! This is Hollywood.’”
Taylor Swift
At 16, Swift made her red carpet debut at the 41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Like most people, Taylor Swift’s style has ranged in the 20 years she has attended formal events. Dare I say her look at the gala, styled by Joseph Cassell Falconer, is one of my favorite looks of hers.
In a custom pale blue, crystal-embellished Dior gown, the sparkling bow detail with Chopard diamond earrings and a platinum bracelet was nothing shy of elegance. Designed by Jonathan Anderson–someone who I think is one of the greatest designers at the moment–this look makes Swift appear as a modern-day Cinderella.
Eddie Redmayne
As I continue finding attendee’s looks that I love, I find it apparent that the designs by Giorgio Armaini saturate my best dressed list. British actor Eddie Redmayne, sporting an Armani Fall/Winter 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection look, was one of the best dressed men Saturday night.
There’s always discourse around red carpets and the glaringly obvious difference between men’s and women’s looks. Men often seem as though they’re wearing the same suit and that a lack of creativity goes into the look. Redmayne is someone who I argue frequently rejects this, wearing dynamic patterns, textures and cuts.
This outfit is no different: the regal cobalt blue velvet top and relaxed trousers present him as though he could be an extra in a Shakespeare production.
Jessica Biel
Actress Jessica Biel, styled by duo Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, wore a Tamara Ralph Fall/Winter 2026 couture black velvet gown. This halter-neck look with a high slit skirt, with ostrich and coque feather details and stole was spectacular. The backless dress was simultaneously elegant and wild. The ostrich feathers created a dynamic texture that was mediated by the Chopard diamond jewelry.
Jodie Turner-Smith
British actress Jodie Turner-Smith, styled by Law Roach, wore a Mugler Spring/Summer 2027 collection lavender and brown zebra-print satin skirt suit and pencil skirt. With a sculptural headpiece, gloves, and Christian Louboutin pumps, this look felt unlike anything else I saw on the carpet. Designed by Miguel Castro Freitas, he reflected that the vibe of his Mugler collection was, “looking into the feral aspects of nature versus the ethereal aspect of nature – the fragility versus the danger.”
Connor Storrie
Another men’s look to grace the carpet was actor Connor Storrie in custom Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. The tailored black coat over a silk blouse with high-wasted trousers was complemented by silver accessories from Tiffany & Co. His stylist James Yardley knows what shapes and materials work for Storrie; the accessors offer a pop that we often see in his other red carpet looks.
Clairo
A global brand ambassador for Valentino, singer Clairo wore a delicately detailed Fall/Winter 2026 Ready-to-Wear gown. Her stylist, Nancy Koté acquired the black dress, whose front is covered by a sheer fabric, bordered by a patterned piece with embellished details.
Designer of the collection Alessandro Michele called the collection ‘Interfereze’ –Italian for “interferences” or “signal crossings”–and the looks exhibited hues of mustard, lavender, emerald green, high orange and black. Similarly to Miguel Castro Freitas’s collection, Michele’s looks call back to nature. Saying of his collection and others in the fall Paris shows, “I think it’s interesting. It continues the conversation on beauty; there is a need for nature today beyond the pre-packaged images, and I adore nature.”
Kendall Jenner
Closing out my list is model Kendall Jenner in a custom Alessandro Michele Valentino gown. Styled by Danielle Goldberg, I love the commitment to polka dots. The top of the dress, skirt and kitten heels all possessed different dot sizes; the black and white invert between composing the dots themselves and serving as backgrounds. The larger polka dots shimmer with a material in the form of strips reflecting the lights on the carpet. Her minimal Cartier jewelry may seem simple, but it allows the subtly complex dress to shine.
Whether collection or custom pieces, are just a few of the actors, models, and singers whose looks shined on the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala red carpet.