Gothic Glamour for the Riviera: A Sun-Proof, Noir-Luxe Fashion Edit
Late-night glamour inspired by 2026’s most iconic red carpet looks
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Gothic couture has been creeping across red carpets this year from the Oscars to the Grammy’s, the Met Gala and a host of premieres including Wuthering Heights, Devil Wears Prada 2, Euphoria Season 3 and more.
Seen in Chappell Roan and Anok Yai’s veils, in the way lace sits on Zoë Kravitz, in Jenna Ortega’s cutouts and the line of a slit on Mikey Madison, and in Margot Robbie’s leather mini alongside the feathered drama carried by Lady Gaga and Demi Moore; these haunting looks leave us inspired as we start shaping what we’ll wear to summer celebrations.
As your calendar fills with summer weddings, family get-togethers, rooftop parties and late-night celebrations, we’ve broken down three ways to pull gothic red carpet glamour into your looks this season.
Accessories After Nightfall
Margot Robbie kicked off a strong run of statement accessories throughout the Wuthering Heights press tour, quickly followed by the veils sweeping the Grammys and Met Gala alongside pillbox hats and opera-length gloves that turned even the simplest silhouettes into something cinematic. These finishing touches do the heavy lifting in warm weather, adding glamour, shape and drama without relying on heavier layers or complicated styling.
Open-Air Glam
This year’s red carpets made a strong case for letting the outfit breathe. Cutouts at the Grammys and Oscars exposed just enough skin to survive rising temperatures, while slits and lace carried across premieres and the Met Gala without losing any of the elegance.
Resort-worthy Drama
This season’s dramatic dressing works because it adjusts where it needs to. Leather arrives in mini-dress form for premieres so the look stays sharp without trapping heat, while silk maxis carry the same mood with far more movement once temperatures rise. Feathers call to mind black swans and birds of paradise moving through warm night air, while the strong silhouettes seen throughout the Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour anchor the outfit on their own without relying on heavy layering or additional underthings like nylons.
The best part is that none of this needs to stay on the red carpet. A pair of black lace opera gloves changes the entire tone of a simple satin dress, while a chic pillbox hat pulls the whole look into sharper focus. Strategic cutouts, structured lace, thigh-high slits and leather minis thrive once the temperature climbs, making summer celebrations the perfect opportunity to finally bring them into rotation.
Which 2026 red carpet look inspired you the most?
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