Stepping onto a jetty in Venice, Molly Gordon offers a preview of her festival style, effortlessly fusing the whimsical, aquatic trend of mermaidcore with classic, understated elegance.
Gordon is captured in a beautiful, sleeveless gown that falls to the floor with a soft, fluid drape. The fabric is a delicate, pale seafoam green, embellished with intricate sequin work that forms a subtle scalloped or scale-like pattern. This detail gives the dress a shimmering, iridescent quality, as if it were plucked from the sea itself. The silhouette is sleek and form-fitting at the bodice before flowing into a gentle train, creating a look that is both modern and fantastical.
The styling is as polished as the dress is enchanting. Her hair, with its natural waves and light brown hue, is left to flow freely, catching the wind for a perfectly effortless effect. Her makeup is clean and minimal, highlighting her striking green eyes and letting her natural beauty shine. The key accessories are her silver heels, which add a sophisticated height, and a single, shimmering belt worn low on her hips, which catches the light and adds an extra layer of sparkle. The mood is relaxed yet glamorous, as she poses on a wooden dock with the iconic Venetian canal buildings in the background. Her look stands out among other high-profile red carpet ensembles for its unique blend of whimsy and elegance.
Elle Fanning attended the 2025 Telluride Film Festival in Colorado on August 29, 2025, wearing The Row, Cartier, Gucci, and Persol—delivering a study in minimalist luxury and timeless celebrity style.
A Quiet Lesson in Power Dressing
There are moments when celebrity fashion whispers instead of shouts, and Elle Fanning’s appearance at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival on August 29, 2025 , was precisely that kind of sartorial poetry. No sequins, no theatrical flourishes—just a pared-back mastery of proportion, fabric, and heritage craftsmanship.
Telluride is not Cannes, and it is not meant to be. The mountain air demands something more grounded, more authentic, and Elle understood the assignment flawlessly.
Outfit Focus: The Row, Cartier, Gucci
Elle Fanning built her look almost entirely from The Row , the Olsen twins’ temple of minimalist refinement. She wore the Enrica Top in Cashmere , layered over a crisp shirting base, paired with Carlyl Cotton Corduroy Straight Pants —the kind of trousers that skim the body without clinging, cut with the precision of Italian tailoring yet imbued with an American ease.
On her feet? The Row Soft Leather Eel Loafers —understated, supple, almost invisible in their discretion yet deeply luxurious. Accessories were where Elle allowed herself a quiet flourish: a Gucci Blondie Shoulder Bag , a nod to heritage Italian design, and a Cartier Tank Louis Watch , arguably the most timeless timepiece in existence, beloved by icons from Jackie Kennedy to Princess Diana.
Her Persol Wayfarer-Frame Sunglasses completed the ensemble, shielding her from the Colorado sun with an edge of mid-century cinema glamour.
Styling Cohesion
The entire effect is one of harmony. The muted earth and stone tones echo the natural backdrop of Telluride’s pines and mountains, while the clean cuts and subtle textures establish a quiet authority. Even her hair and makeup leaned into restraint—her blonde hair left soft and natural, her makeup fresh and almost invisible.
There’s a cultural fluency here: Elle is dressing for the environment, but also reminding us that true luxury doesn’t need to scream. It breathes.
Fashion Context & Cultural Resonance
Minimalist luxury has been circling back into the celebrity fashion conversation for years, as a counterpoint to the overstimulation of red carpet maximalism. But in 2025, it feels sharper, more relevant.
This isn’t the cool detachment of ’90s Calvin Klein, nor the sterile severity of Phoebe Philo’s Céline era. Elle’s Telluride look is closer to what I’d call “humanist minimalism”—pieces designed not to overwhelm but to accompany, crafted with heritage fabrics and artisanal detail.
As one fashion insider remarked to me during Milan Fashion Week this year, “Minimalism today isn’t about absence—it’s about presence in every stitch.” Elle, knowingly or not, made that statement visual.
The Takeaway
Elle Fanning’s Telluride appearance was not about creating a viral fashion moment. It was about endurance, about clothes that will look just as compelling in twenty years as they do today. And in a world where celebrity fashion often crumbles under the pressure of relevance, there’s nothing more radical—or more chic—than that.
For those seeking inspiration, her look is also refreshingly replicable. A well-cut trouser, a layered knit, a discreet loafer—each piece whispers luxury without demanding it.
Explore more refined takes on celebrity style for ways to bring Elle’s understated elegance into your own wardrobe.
Listicle: How to Channel Elle Fanning’s Telluride Style
- Invest in timeless knits — A neutral-toned cashmere sweater never goes out of season.
- Tailored trousers over denim — Choose cuts that skim, not squeeze, to create elongated lines.
- Signature loafers — Opt for soft leathers and heritage craftsmanship over flashy logos.
- An iconic watch — Cartier’s Tank Louis is forever, but any vintage-inspired timepiece adds gravitas.
- Structured heritage bag — Gucci, Hermès, or even a vintage find—something with history matters.
- Understated eyewear — Persol, Oliver Peoples, or Celine—the kind of sunglasses that recall cinema classics.
- Natural beauty — Keep hair and makeup pared back to let the clothes do the talking.
Agam Darshi’s polka-dot mermaid gown—equal parts retro flirtation and red carpet rebellion—turned the Leo Awards into a masterclass in theatrical, off-script glamour.
There’s something deliciously defiant about polka dots on a red carpet. At the 27th Leo Awards in Vancouver, Agam Darshi didn’t just attend—she detonated expectations. In a sea of safe sequins and predictable silhouettes, her look was a visual jolt: playful, sculptural, and unapologetically bold.
Let’s start with the dress. A cobalt blue mermaid-style gown, punctuated by oversized black polka dots, hugged Darshi’s frame before flaring into a dramatic fishtail hem. The fabric—likely a structured satin or taffeta—held its shape with architectural precision, giving the dress a couture-like rigidity that contrasted beautifully with its whimsical print. The plunging neckline and thin straps added a touch of sultry elegance, balancing the retro exuberance of the pattern with modern sensuality.
Accessories were minimal but strategic. A white clutch—clean, crisp, and quietly chic—offered a stark contrast to the saturated palette of the gown. Jewelry was either absent or discreet, allowing the dress to dominate the narrative. It’s a smart move: when your look already speaks in capital letters, whispering elsewhere is a form of restraint.
And if you’re tracking the evolution of celebrity style , this moment deserves a pin on the timeline.
