With The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping set to hit theaters Nov. 20, fans are eagerly awaiting their chance to get a taste of the highly anticipated prequel. And one of the stars of the film, Mckenna Grace, is serving. Grace, who plays District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner, has been showing up in look after look while promoting the film, and if you thought her outfits were just cute dresses, think again.
Working with fashion stylist Molly Dickson, Grace has been using her press tour wardrobe to pay tribute to some of the most iconic moments, characters, and symbols from the Hunger Games franchise. From recreating Katniss Everdeen’s unforgettable wedding dress to giving Rue a little fashion moment of her own, the actress is proving that method dressing is much more fun when you’re a fan of the franchise you’re promoting.
Mckenna Grace spoke to Entertainment Tonight on Oct. 18 about her affinity for the franchise, saying, “I’m such a huge Hunger Games fan … I don’t know, like, whenever you’re a girl and you’re growing up I feel like you get so insecure about your body. Fashion’s been weird and hard for me to figure out, so being able to play around with it in this way has been so fun for me.”
Fans have been keeping their eyes peeled for every little detail, and with Grace’s looks getting more creative by the day, there’s plenty to talk about. So without further ado, here are eight of Grace’s Sunrise on the Reaping press tour looks and the Hunger Games references behind them.
Katiness Everdeen’s Catching Fire Wedding Dress
If there’s one Hunger Games outfit that deserves its own moment, it’s Katniss Everdeen’s wedding dress from Catching Fire. Grace paid tribute to the iconic look at the Elegance Is Authority: The Story, Style, and Power of Panem exhibition in Paris on Oct. 6, wearing a custom recreation of the original gown by Monique Lhuillier.
The white, voluminous dress featured a structured bodice with sparkling details, bringing back memories of the scene where Katniss’s wedding dress transforms into her black-and-gray Mockingjay gown during her interview with Caesar Flickerman (you know, the moment that had everyone collectively losing their minds). Grace even incorporated braided hair and crystal accents beneath her eyes to complete the look. I mean, if you’re going to reference one of the most memorable fashion moments in the franchise, you might as well go all out.
Betsey Johnson Rue-Inspired Blue Dress
Grace took things back to the original Hunger Games movie with an archival Betsey Johnson babydoll minidress inspired by Rue’s blue interview dress on Oct. 26 during her Today Show appearance. The look featured puffed sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, and floral details, giving it that sweet, youthful feel that immediately brings Rue to mind.
Versace Ladybug & Butterfly Look
Don’t think that Grace forgot about the character she’s actually playing! In New York City, Grace donned a black and white polka-dot dress adorned with both butterflies and ladybugs, which is a direct nod to her upcoming film. In the Sunrise on the Reaping novel, Maysilee is associated with the children’s song “Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home,” making the little ladybugs a particularly adorable nod to her character.
Betsey Johnson Ladybug Look
Another ladybug moment! While out and about in New York City, the actress wore another archival Betsey Johnson Spring 2011 dress with lace and ribbon details, pairing it with platform sandals, ladybug hair clips, and a red-and-black ladybug-patterned scarf. Even Grace’s dog Gizmo joined in on the theme with a ladybug-patterned knit. Yes, the dog got a themed outfit, too. As he should!
Jennifer Lawerence-Inspired Red Gown
Grace took a break from the pastel dresses and delicate details at the Academy Museum Gala on Oct. 17, where she stepped out in a striking red column gown by Mônot. While the dress wasn’t a direct recreation of a costume from the films, it paid homage to another important part of Hunger Games history: Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic red Calvin Klein gown from the 2011 Oscars.
Lawrence wore the original dress when she was nominated for Winter’s Bone, shortly before becoming a household name as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. It’s a fun reference because it celebrates the actress who brought the franchise’s original leading lady to life, rather than a specific scene from the movies.
Mockingjay-Inspired Chloé Dress
Another Katniss-inspired look, Grace wore a black gown with maroon feathers at the shoulders, calling back to a similar look Katniss wore to President Snow’s mansion in Catching Fire.
Butterfly-Embellished Tea-Length Dress
At the Newport Beach Film Festival event that took place on Oct.18, Grace wore a navy tea-length dress covered in butterfly embellishments. The look was a little more understated than some of her elaborate press tour outfits, but the details made it another interesting addition to her growing collection of Hunger Games references.
Butterflies have appeared throughout Grace’s press tour wardrobe, and the recurring motif seems to be a nod to the franchise’s creatures and nature-inspired imagery. In particular, the butterfly details could reference the genetically engineered mutts in the new film, although the connection hasn’t been confirmed.
The Almée Couture Gown Inspired by the ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Arena
Grace’s latest fashion moment might be one of her most elaborate yet. At the London fan screening of Sunrise on the Reaping on Oct. 28, she wore a dramatic gown by Almée Couture featuring intricate floral embellishments and a landscape-inspired design.
The look echoed the grassy arena surrounded by mountains featured in the film’s promotional posters. The 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, takes place in a particularly brutal arena, making the natural landscape an important part of the story. The gown’s intricate details brought that setting to life in a way that felt almost like wearing a piece of the movie’s world.
What makes this look especially exciting is that it brings the whole press tour full circle. Grace has been referencing past films and beloved characters throughout her wardrobe, but this gown feels like a celebration of the new story she’s helping bring to the screen. And with so much detail packed into one dress, it’s practically a work of art.
And if these looks are any indication of what’s to come, I have a feeling we’re not done spotting Hunger Games references on Grace just yet. May the odds and the outfits be ever in her favor.