How to breakup the humdrum of a multi-city stop press tour? Coordinate a red carpet wardrobe that mirrors the themes of the movie and will get people talking at every stop. That’s method dressing in a nutshell, and in 2026 it’s the gold standard for actors promoting their films across the globe.
The most recent actors to try their hand at method dressing? Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmee Creed-Miles on the red carpet for their new film Sense and Sensibility, emulating the Georgian era. We also recently had Zendaya on her long-awaited The Odyssey press tour in a Greek-goddess Schiaparelli gown – straight from the Fall Winter 2026 Haute Couture runway. Of course, the actress (and her longtime stylist, Law Roach) is no stranger to the method dressing trend. Earlier this year she delivered on The Drama press tour, doubling down on the wedding theme across several countries. And before that, there was Dune: Part 2, which she paid tribute to in archival Mugler armour, Alaïa Couture, Paolo Carzana, Alexander McQueen for Givenchy and Torishéju Dumi to name a few. And who could forget Luca Guadagnino’s tennis ménage à trois film Challengers, which she approached via a series of sartorial serves, including a custom lawn green Loewe gown for the film’s Australian premiere.
It would be remiss of us to delve into method dressing without also turning our torches onto Margot Robbie, and the hot pink feast that was the Barbie press tour. Designed alongside the keen eye of Robbie’s stylist Andrew Mukamal, the wardrobe paid homage to notable Barbie dolls over the years with outfits, often custom, from Balmain, Versace, Moschino, Emilio Pucci, Schiaparelli, Vivienne Westwood, Dilara Findikoglu, and naturally, CHANEL. Mukamal and Robbie proved they hadn’t lost the edge a few years later, when they devised a series of gothic and romantic looks for the Wuthering Heights press tour.
So, method dressing. What do we think, genius or gimmick? It’ll be curious to see if the approach becomes stale. In any case, find our favourite examples of method dressing below.
Daisy Edgar-Jones
Daisy Edgar-Jones wears a satin hourglass Vivian Westwood dress with an agate pendant from Boucheron’s archive made in 1877, at the Sense and Sensibility UK premiere.
Esme Creed-Miles
Esme Creed-Miles wearing Thom Browne at the Sense and Sensibility UK premiere.
Zendaya
Zendaya wears Haute Couture Fall Winter 2026 Schiaparelli gown for The Odyssey London premiere.
Zendaya wears her first custom dress from Jacquemus for The Odyssey premiere.
Zendaya in wears archival Trussardi Spring Summer 2026, Christian Louboutin and Tiffany&Co for The Odyssey premiere.
Zendaya strikes again, this time on the press tour for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. She’s repping the franchise colours in a sparkly Versace two-piece.
She also nailed the theme in a spidery Giorgio Armani gown from the Sprign Summer 1990 collection, paired with Tiffany & Co jewellery.
And earlier this year, Zendaya pulled out “something old” for her wedding day—oops, we mean the first press moment for The Drama. The dress in question was a Vivienne Westwood gown that the actress actually wore to the Oscars several years ago.
Next up, she had “something borrowed” in her red carpet roster, in the form of this Armani Privé gown that actually belongs to Cate Blanchett.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber showing up on the red carpet at the Wuthering Heights premiere in Sydney, and looking like this!? It’s almost too good to be true. The beauty mogul took time out from her busy rhode press tour to slip into this lacy YSL number, and absolutely nailed the brief.
Charli XCX in custom Vivienne Westwood
Have you ever seen a more perfect look? Charli, the brains behind the Wuthering Heights soundtrack, stunned in this voluminous gown, paired with antique brown diamonds and custom Christian Louboutins.
Margot Robbie in Dilara Findikoglu and Manolo Blahnik
Just one of many slays from Miss Robbie on the Wuthering Heights press tour. According to her long-time stylist, Andrew Mukumal, this look was inspired by the line, “I’d rather be hugged by a snake.”
Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo stunned as she walked the Oscars 2025 red carpet in this Louis Vuitton masterpiece. Her character Elphaba may not be wicked, but the dramatic silhouette of this dress certainly is.
Ariana Grande is Schiaparelli
Is this Oscars 2025 red carpet look the final moment from the Wicked method dressing tour? If so, Ariana Grande brought it home with this artful piece by Schiaparelli Couture. The shell-like peplum channelled her character Glinda in the best possible way.
Timothée Chalamet in Prada
Timmy paid homage to Bob Dylan in head-to-toe Prada, expertly accessorised with Ray Ban sunglasses and badges.
Elle Fanning in custom Gucci
Elle Fanning nodded to the ’60s in a crisp white custom Gucci number, complete with jewel encrusted straps. She paired the look with the voluminous blow out of our dreams, and a graphic black winged liner.
Ariana Grande in Vivienne Westwood and Lorraine Schwartz
Ariana Grande took a heavy-handed approach to method dressing when it came to the first stop on the Wicked press tour. The actress looked every bit the Good Witch in powder pink Vivienne Westwood complete with Lorraine Schwartz jewels.
Lady Gaga in Celine
Lady Gaga meeting fans at the UK Premiere of JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX.
In Cinemas October 4. #JokerMovie pic.twitter.com/m0NRTQCi3s
— Warner Bros. UK (@WarnerBrosUK) September 25, 2024
Never one to shy away from an eye-catching red carpet moment, Lady Gaga pulled out all the sartorial stops for the UK premiere of Joker: Folie à Deux. The singer and actress nodded to her on-screen counterpart in a couture red creation, courtesy of Celine. She paired the clown-esque look with Tiffany and Co jewellery, a vibrant blue eye look and, of course, a red bob.
Zendaya in Celia Kritharioti
There is a literal tennis ball on her dress. The only question left to ask is, are tennis balls green or yellow?
Zendaya in On
It’s safe to say this might be Zendaya’s most method outfit for the Challengers. Attending a tennis match in Monaco, the On team recreated this iconic tennis white Althea Gibson look from the 90’s.
Zendaya in Calvin Klein and Bulgari
While not tennis focused, still method dressing, her character in Challengers means business, and what says business better than a suit? Let alone an open Calvin Klein suit.
Zendaya in Thom Browne
Custom Thom Browne dress for the Challengers London premiere, perhaps one of our favourite looks of the tour. Skirting her dress, the replication of a tennis net, where silhouettes of small white tennis rackets cover the dress. Wimbledon approved, I say.
Zendaya in Loewe
Zendaya is continuously eating up the method dressing with her tennis themed press tour for Challengers. With Law Roach and Jonathan Anderson working hand in hand to produce these looks, it’s quite the major moment. Particularly this Loewe tennis attire with tennis balls for heels, it’s out of this world.
Zendaya in Lacoste
Custom made Lacoste, inspired by “The Victory of 1927”, is a look only Zendaya could pull off.
Zendaya in Loewe
To kick off the global tour of Challengers in Sydney, Zendaya stepped out in a lawn green custom Loewe gown featuring a tennis player mid-serve. A serve indeed.
Margot Robbie in CHANEL Couture
Attending to 2019 Cannes Film Festival photocall for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Margot Robbie channelled her character Sharon Tate with CHANEL Spring 2011 Couture.
Emma Corrin in custom Miu Miu
The English actor wore custom Miu Miu and Cartier to the 2021 Golden Globes for their portrayal of Princess Diana in The Crown.
Zendaya in Valentino Couture
The actress wore Valentino Couture to promote Spiderman: No Way Home back in December 2021.
Margot Robbie in Herve Leger
A carbon copy of “The Original” Barbie for her photocall at Bondi Icebergs in 2023.
Margot Robbie in Versace
The actor stepped out in an iconic look from the Versace Fall Winter 1994 collection to promote Barbie.
Margot Robbie in Schiaparelli
Perhaps her best take on method dressing wasn’t actually pink at all. Rather, this custom Schiaparelli dress which riffed on “Solo in the Spotlight” Barbie from 1960 at the Los Angeles premiere of the film.
Margot Robbie in Vivienne Westwood
Attending the London premiere of Barbie, Robbie arrived in custom Vivienne Westwood mirroring “Enchanted Evening” Barbie from 1960. However, the true highlight was the Dilara Findikoglu look she wore after, a nod to 1962 “Brunette Bubble Cut” Barbie.
Hunter Schafer in Schiaparelli
Schafer wore Schiaparelli FW23 Couture to the Berlin premiere of Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in November 2023. A fashion moment enabled with the help of stylist and Interview fashion editor Dara Allen.
Hunter Schafer in Prada
As a Prada ambassador, it was only natural for Schafer to weave in an Italian moment during her press tour. For the London premiere of Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the actress appeared in a molten gold custom Prada gown, which fused the silhouettes, textures, and colours found in the House’s Spring 2009 collection
Hunter Schafer in Marni
During the same press trip, Schafer stepped out looking like a Capitol citizen in this sculptural floral mini by Marni from the brand’s SS24 collection.
Margot Robbie in Armani Privé
Robbie channelled the 1977 “Superstar Barbie” during her attendance of the 2024 Golden Globes.
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton
The actor wore Louis Vuitton Resort 2024 to the BAFTAS where she took home Best Actress for her role in Poor Things. Wearing sleeves that Bella Baxter would approve of.
Billie Eilish
Styled by Andrew Mukamal, Billie Eilish attended the 2024 Grammys dressed at the 1965 “Poodle Parade” Barbie.
Zendaya in Mugler
The most striking look from this press trip was unveiled in London, when Zendaya appeared in a suit of armour from Mugler Fall 1995 Couture and Bulgari jewels.
Zendaya in archival Givenchy
To promote Dune:Part 2, Zendaya appeared in Givenchy Fall Winter 1999 from Lee McQueen’s “Android Couture” collection.
