From the moment celebrities stepped onto the BAFTA red carpet it was clear this year had nothing to do with playing it safe. Alia Bhatt stopped press photographers with a silver sequin Gucci gown custom made for her red carpet debut at the BAFTA that hugged her form then opened into a soft skirt that caught the flashbulbs. The halter neckline and shimmering finish read old Hollywood glamour yet felt fresh for this moment and she offset it with a white fur stole that mirrored classic stars of an earlier era. Her stylist had made a deliberate choice to fuse timelessness with a modern red carpet presence.
Close by, Emma Stone kept things sleek and minimal in a black Louis Vuitton gown with a halter loop neckline that formed a small keyhole cutout at her chest. The simplicity made it feel intentional and sculptural rather than minimal for effect only. Her makeup was understated and her hair pulled into a neat bun that let her diamond earrings and bold brushed brows take center stage on a carpet where maximal designs were the norm.
Sadie Sink turned quiet elegance into drama at BAFTA with a mint green Prada gown that looked refined from the front but was radically modern from behind, held together with nothing but a thin ribbon that threaded the fabric across her chest. She chose a silver Bulgari pendant necklace and diamond studs that gave the soft palette a touch of sparkle without overpowering the look, and the wispy bangs and soft waves gave her an effortless air even amid intense style scrutiny.
Teyana Taylor didn’t do safe on this night. Her custom Burberry dress by Daniel Lee reinterpreted the classic trench silhouette in a deep plum silk duchesse with corseted details and cascading fabric that moved like a slow curtain behind her. The high leg slit lent power and poise simultaneously, a way of showing strength not just through color but through cut and presence. The choice of dramatic earrings added to the layered effect that kept folding her look into discussions online.
Wunmi Mosaku stood out both for her fashion and her moment on the stage, celebrating her win in a royal blue fringe gown by London-based Priya Ahluwalia. The textured flapper-style fringe caught every light and her stylist Shameelah Hicks kept accessories to hoop earrings so the dress itself didn’t compete for attention. Mosaku made the look feel personal, modern and brave in a field crowded with classic silhouettes.
Standing apart from gowns was Milly Alcock in a tailored black double-breasted suit that balanced masculine structure with a sultry corset top beneath. Her stylist found a way to thread silver chain fringe jewellery into the look so that it never felt like menswear imitation but rather a dance between strength and softness. That tension became one of the night’s most shared moments on fashion Instagram feeds.
Kate Hudson was one of the boldest colour choices of the night in a red off-the-shoulder Prada gown. Anyone watching knew red can be risky on cameras but here it felt calculated, with a sleek silhouette and no fussy elements to distract from its pure visual power. Her jewels were minimal letting the red speak, but when she moved the soft drape and cut made her feel like an old Hollywood star transported into 2026.
Meanwhile the royal couple brought a different kind of red carpet energy. The Princess of Wales wore an ethereal pink and rose floor-length gown that felt poetic against Prince William’s rich wine-toned tuxedo. Her historic Cartier earrings lent an antique whisper to the modern gown and reminded cameras and attendees alike that jewellery can anchor an outfit in history as much as in the present.
Jessie Buckley brought not only her award for Best Leading Actress but a deep blue custom Chanel creation that showed how tailoring, colour and mood can elevate a look. Created from a piece in Chanel’s Métiers d’art collection, the gown draped with a cowl back that gave her a regal silhouette. Her stud earrings added a touch of sparkle that IBeyond red carpet glamour felt like a quiet, confident declaration of her night.
Timothée Chalamet, always a favorite for fashion conversations, kept things clean with a tailored Givenchy tuxedo that felt sharp without being predictable. His shoes and watch were understated but intentional, a reminder that a man’s red carpet presence can be powerful precisely when it avoids excess. He and Kylie Jenner shared a moment that fans on social media dubbed one of the night’s most talked about date night looks.
Farhan Akhtar and Shibani Dandekar brought multicultural elegance hand in hand. His classic tuxedo with a crisply tied bow tied him to the tradition of the event while her satin gown with a halter neck read timeless yet current, especially when contextualized against flashes and cheers from photographers.
Kathryn Hahn gave red carpet regulars something to note with a red ruffled gown that rose above the sea of classic blacks and whites. Her choice of styling made it feel like less a dress and more a statement about personal expression that doesn’t need gimmicks to find its audience.
Rege-Jean Page brought a touch of whimsy to the men’s side of the carpet with a well cut suit that featured a dragonfly collar button that became an instant talking point online. A small detail became a signature, an idea that even the simplest silhouette can still have a moment.
Gillian Anderson opted for an ensemble in muted tones that nodded to eveningwear staples. With voluminous hair and soft makeup, her look felt grounded and intentional a reminder that not every standout moment needed bright hues or heavy embellishment to hold attention.
The conversation didn’t stop when cameras turned away. Social posts compared outfits, broke down jewelry choices, and dissected shoulder cuts and slits like they were runway pieces. This year’s BAFTA fashion wasn’t about one theme but about a series of personal choices that on their own told stories about identity, heritage, and risk. Designers from Gucci to Burberry to Ahluwalia found themselves trending as stylists and fans alike unpacked each look, and jewelry from Cartier to Bulgari mixed classic and contemporary with subtle authority.
