JESSIE BUCKLEY CHANNELLED OLD HOLLYWOOD AT THE 2026 OSCARS

After taking home the coveted award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, Jessie dedicated her win to ‘the chaos of a mother’s heart’ – and on UK Mother’s Day, no less. Her devastating performance as Shakespeare’s wife Anne ‘Agnes’ Hathaway in Hamnet secured her success as the first Irish woman to win in the Oscars category. So it was only right that her historic moment was paired with a piece of fashion history. With a light pink chiffon skirt and red satin stole, Jessie’s colourful dress was custom-made by Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel, another darling of the moment, and modelled on the ball gown worn by Grace Kelly at the 1956 Academy Awards.

Nods to old Hollywood are nothing new, particularly on the awards circuit, but it felt refreshing to see such a retro silhouette amid this season’s sweeping sheer gowns and draped pieces. It’s also significant that Chanel – a fashion house undergoing seismic shifts that have seen it pivot for modern consumers – was behind this vintage design.

Jessie's stylist Danielle Goldberg is no stranger to a headline-making moment (her client list includes Ayo Edebiri and Greta Lee), and her Oscars look rounded out a whole carousel of standout ensembles – think more Chanel and bespoke pieces from Dior. But despite the bold designs emerging from this year’s runways, it seems Jessie wanted a return to the classics for the biggest night of her career.

 

With a full-skirted ball gown and off-shoulder bodice, Jessie’s look was a dreamy ode to the Golden Age of the industry, complete with the actor’s sleek side-parted short hair and rich red lip. Fresh yet nostalgic, the glam came courtesy of makeup artist Nina Park (one of the industry’s most in‑demand names) and delivered that flawless, soft‑focus finish we’ll all be trying to recreate.