WWD Style Awards 2026: Red Carpet Fashion Takes Over Santa Monica

The 2026 WWD Style Awards red carpet at the Regent Santa Monica Beach has already set the tone for this year’s fashion conversation, with bold tailoring, directional gowns and a new generation of style stars stepping in front of the cameras. From Avie Acosta’s sleek monochrome moment to daring experiments with silhouette and texture, the arrivals show how celebrity red carpet fashion is evolving beyond safe glamour into something more cinematic, personal and culturally tuned-in.

Positioned just days into awards season, the WWD Style Awards have become an early barometer for which designers, trends and stylists will dominate the fashion discourse. While full live coverage and additional looks are still updating via WWD’s official site, the first wave of red carpet photos already offers plenty to dissect.

Avie Acosta posing on the 2026 WWD Style Awards red carpet at the Regent Santa Monica Beach
Avie Acosta at the 2026 WWD Style Awards, Regent Santa Monica Beach. Image Credit: Chad Salvador / Fairchild Archive via WWD.

Why the WWD Style Awards Red Carpet Matters

Unlike the Oscars or the Met Gala, the WWD Style Awards belong squarely to fashion insiders. Hosted by Women’s Wear Daily, the ceremony celebrates designers, image-makers and emerging style talent, which naturally makes its red carpet a little braver than your average Hollywood step-and-repeat.

That insider status means celebrities and stylists often treat this event as a testing ground: silhouettes that might be “too fashion” for a more conservative telecast get their first major outing here. It’s where polished Hollywood glamour intersects with runway experimentation, and where the industry quietly signals whose aesthetics are about to go mainstream.


Avie Acosta Sets a Sleek, Cinematic Tone

Among the earliest arrivals, Avie Acosta delivered the kind of refined statement look the WWD Style Awards are known for. The silhouette leans tailored and elongated, with clean lines that read almost cinematic under the Santa Monica dusk lighting. It’s less about maximalist ornament and more about precision: fit, proportion and a quietly confident attitude.

On a carpet where high-shine sequins and tulle explosions are practically guaranteed, Acosta’s approach stands out for its restrained drama. The styling—hair, makeup and accessories—keeps the focus on structure rather than sparkle, aligning with the broader industry move toward character-driven dressing: clothes that express a point of view instead of shouting for attention.

“The most powerful red carpet looks now feel lived-in and intentional, not just expensive.”

That sentiment, echoed by several stylists this season, helps explain why Acosta’s look is resonating online. It feels like a person, not a mannequin.


With images still rolling in, certain themes are already surfacing from the 2026 WWD Style Awards red carpet. The event is acting as a live mood board for where fashion—and celebrity image-making—are headed this year.

  • Monochrome with texture: Instead of wild color-clashing, we’re seeing full looks pulled together in a single shade, but elevated through mixed fabrics and finishes.
  • Architectural tailoring: Shoulder lines, waist details and sculpted skirts are doing the visual heavy lifting, often with minimal embellishment.
  • Soft minimalism, not normcore: Clean, almost quiet outfits that still feel luxe—think extended hemlines, sharp creases and intentional drape.
  • Subtle vintage nods: References to ’90s red carpet polish and early-2000s sleekness, without going full costume.
  • Gender-fluid styling cues: Borrowed-from-the-tailor silhouettes and less rigid expectations of what “menswear” and “womenswear” should look like on a step-and-repeat.

Taken together, these trends point to a taste reset after years of meme-friendly “more is more” outfits. The WWD carpet is still theatrical, but the best looks feel edited and intentional.

Fashionable guests walking a red carpet lined with photographers
The WWD Style Awards carpet sits at the intersection of runway influence and Hollywood glamour.

Industry Context: Stylists, Designers and the Business of the Red Carpet

Red carpet fashion at events like the WWD Style Awards is rarely just about personal taste. Behind nearly every look is a negotiation between stylists, designers, publicists and, increasingly, brand partners looking for that viral moment. A strong showing on this carpet can quietly nudge a designer from “editor favorite” to “celebrity staple.”

In recent seasons, stylists have spoken about the pressure to create images that live not only in glossy slideshows but also on TikTok, Instagram Reels and X timelines. That means clothes have to read clearly even on a phone screen: crisp lines, recognizable silhouettes and details that pop in a still frame.

“Red carpet dressing used to be about impressing the room. Now you’re dressing for the internet, in real time.”

The WWD Style Awards, with its deep roots in fashion media, sits right at that crossroads. The guest list skews toward people who understand that what they wear here will be dissected not just by critics, but by fans, fashion accounts and brand watchers who can spot a runway piece at twenty paces.

Stylists adjusting an outfit on a celebrity before a red carpet appearance
Behind every red carpet moment is a tight choreography between stylists, designers and glam teams.

Best & Boldest: How to Read This Year’s WWD Red Carpet

With full galleries still updating, it’s too early to issue a definitive “best dressed” list, but even the early arrivals reveal how differently guests are approaching the idea of style in 2026. Some are leaning into sculptural drama; others, like Avie Acosta, are betting on under-the-radar elegance.

  1. Most Influential Direction: Clean, architectural dressing that photographs beautifully without relying on heavy embellishment.
  2. Most Social-Media-Ready: Looks with distinctive shapes—structured shoulders, unexpected necklines—that can be recognized instantly in a single scroll.
  3. Most Fashion-Insider-Friendly: Subtle runway references and niche brands that signal in-the-know taste rather than obvious logos.

The tension between wearable glamour and editorial experimentation is what makes the WWD Style Awards red carpet so fun to watch. You can almost see, look by look, how fashion is negotiating its future.

Close-up of a glamorous evening gown on a red carpet event
Detail shots from the carpet highlight the shift toward texture, tailoring and subtle drama.
Photographers taking pictures of celebrities on a red carpet
The cameras capture more than outfits: they document how celebrity style evolves season by season.

Red Carpet in Motion: Video & Live Updates

Photos tell one story; moving images tell another. As WWD and entertainment outlets roll out recap clips and red carpet interviews, you’ll be able to see how these looks move—whether trains glide or snag, whether tailoring stays sharp under flashbulbs and how jewelry catches the light.

For those following along at home, keep an eye on WWD’s official channels and major entertainment platforms for highlight reels and designer breakdowns:

Host interviewing a celebrity on a red carpet with cameras and lights
Interviews and video recaps bring another dimension to the WWD Style Awards’ fashion narrative.

What the 2026 WWD Style Awards Signal for the Rest of Awards Season

If the 2026 WWD Style Awards red carpet is any indication, the rest of awards season will lean into sharper tailoring, deliberate silhouettes and a more thoughtful kind of glamour. The looks we’re seeing—Avie Acosta’s included—suggest a collective appetite for fashion that feels intelligent and character-driven rather than purely attention-seeking.

As more photos drop and full designer credits are confirmed, expect this carpet to become a reference point for stylists and fans alike. The Regent Santa Monica Beach may just have hosted the first truly defining fashion moment of 2026—and the red carpet conversation is only getting started.