Jennifer Hudson wore a sparkling navy gown and textured blue coat for the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year tribute to Mariah Carey.
Jennifer Hudson knows how to do red carpet volume — but she doesn’t let it swallow her. At the 2026 MusiCares tribute to Mariah Carey , her look was somewhere between diva fantasia and intergalactic lounge commander. A fully embellished navy gown , cut high at the slit, hugged her body like it was sewn onto breath itself — subtle shimmer all over like scattered stars.
And then came the coat.
Not a coat, really — more like a moving landscape. A massive, floor-dragging, textured blue outer layer with waves and ridges that caught light like crushed velvet met synthetic stormcloud. Sleeves sculpted but oversized, dropped just enough that her posture took center stage anyway. The contrast worked: fine glitter controlled in the dress, loose chaos in the coat. Function? Absolutely none. But impact? All of it.
The styling stayed minimal to let the clothing breathe loud. Simple navy pumps , no oversized jewelry, makeup soft but warm. Hair framed at the top then let loose at the ends — controlled volume mirroring her look.
It wasn’t subtle. It wasn’t meant to be. But it wasn’t trying to shock either. It just occupied its space like it could never belong anywhere else.
Sometimes a gown walks the carpet. Other times, it drags thunder behind it.
Mariah Carey wore a black floral lace sheer overlay gown at the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
At the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring her own legacy, Mariah Carey arrived on the red carpet with an effortless sense of ceremony. The moment wasn’t about reinvention — it didn’t need to be. Carey leaned into her signature silhouettes with confidence, choosing a sheer black lace gown fully embroidered with 3D floral appliqué , worn over a structured black corset and high-leg briefs. Every part of the look was familiar: see-through drama up top, softness flowing below, cleavage framed but controlled. In short? Total Mariah.
The embroidery cascaded from shoulder to train in consistent volume, giving the piece weight without stiffness. It skimmed the body without clinging. Her sleeves hung slightly off the shoulder, adding curvature. The styling was crystal-clear: diamond pavé tennis bracelets , a layered choker necklace , matching drop earrings. All ice. Nothing retro, all Carey.
Her hair — long, full, glossy waves — poured effortlessly over one side. The kind of fluffy glam that’s been all but trademarked by her since the Daydream era. Dramatic eye, taupe lips, frosted glow. It’s the same playbook she’s used for red carpets for decades — and that’s not fatigue, it’s consistency.
Carey isn’t trying to “modernize” her fashion legacy into 2026. She doesn’t have to. This look didn’t reach for the relevancy of now. It deepened the signature of then.
Some stars evolve with time. Mariah built her own time zone — and showed up in it right on schedule.
Rachel McAdams wore a black sequined cutout gown by Christopher Esber at the Send Help UK Premiere in London in January 2026.
At the UK Premiere of 20th Century Studios’ Send Help on January 29, 2026, held at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square , Rachel McAdams embraced architectural elegance in a razor-sharp interpretation of evening wear. Her look? A jet-black Christopher Esber Opaline Cutout Sequined Jersey Maxi Dress , high-necked at the top, sleek and columned through to the hem. The whole silhouette hinged on restraint. But then came the plot twist: an angular cutout detail cleaving through the side torso, slicing just beneath the arm. Not bold — strategic.
The fabric carried its own gravity. A dense jersey base drenched in black sequins , shimmering only when it needed to. Light caught the curves sparingly, not greedily. And yet, for a gown with that much surface texture, it moved clean. Minimal drag. Controlled.
Her accessories were precise. McAdams wore the Tiffany & Co. Knot Double Row Necklace in Gold with Diamonds , its signature twist motif sitting just at the collarbone — barely peeking through her hairline. On her finger, the Tiffany & Co. Knot Double Row Ring , matching in design and echoing the same quiet geometry. Jewelry that didn’t scream — it whispered with lineage.
Hair was parted down the middle, styled into soft waves with butter-smooth polish. Makeup: neutral-toned blush, glossy lips, and a diffused smoky eye that pulled just enough 2007 energy into 2026 to keep things grounded.
In a season where maximalism is being edged out by fashionable focus, this was a laser-precise red carpet turn — sculpted, sharp, and deliberately off-center.
When a dress doesn’t chase attention but still slows the room, that’s control — not volume.
