How Jenna Ortega, Blake Lively and More Celebrities Perfected ...

Of late and increasingly so, it has been observed that many celebrities incorporate their character or the movie’s aesthetic into their red carpet looks. By incorporating movie themes into their outfits, these stars emphasise the project they are promoting. This is especially popular among celebrities such as Blake Lively, Jenna Ortega, Zendaya and others who have shown us how to ace method dressing.

What is method dressing?

While method acting is a well-known term in the world of entertainment, method dressing has only just become a popular trend in the fashion circuit. Channelling movie-inspired themes and the unique traits of their characters for their red carpet looks, celebrities have begun indulging in method dressing, with the most famous examples of the trend harkening back to Margot Robbie‘s Barbie press tour. Armed with what seemed like a lifetime supply of pink outfits, Robbie rocked varied ensembles that paid homage to Mattel’s Barbie toys, promoting the movie in a celebratory manner.

Besides the Barbie star, Zendaya’s tenniscore looks for Challengers also showcased the extent to which method dressing can be playful while also effectively serving as a marketing tool. Here’s a look at celebrities who proved they understood the assignment when it comes to embracing the method dressing trend.

Celebrities who have aced method dressing on the red carpet Blake Lively

Despite being riddled with multiple controversies, It Ends With Us became one of the most successful films of Blake Lively’s career. Known for her impeccable style — be it on the Met Gala red carpet or at Marvel premieres alongside husband Ryan Reynolds — Blake Lively has proven time and again that she is a style icon. For the press tour of It Ends With Us, the actress channelled her character Lily Bloom’s literal name and profession (she works as a florist), dressing up in floral outfits. Lively became the personification of fresh summer blooms with her outfits, all of which carried florid patterns that harkened back to the film.

The floral fashion extravaganza also extended to her hairstyling choices, which included a loose boho braid, woven with fresh flowers. While netizens called out the actress for focusing on her style and deflecting from the movie’s core topic, Lively left no complaints for the fashion critics with her on-point looks.

Jenna Ortega

Besides starring in Sabrina Carpenter’s viral music video for Taste, Jenna Ortega also starred in the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice, fashionably celebrating the original film while promoting the new one. Referencing the iconic striped suit from the movie, Ortega donned two separate looks in black stripes, delivering a gothic glam vibe.

At the UK premiere of Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Ortega paid homage to Catherine O’Hara’s character from the original film with one of her most creative red carpet looks yet. Wearing a Harris Reed ensemble in teal and black, Ortega referenced O’Hara’s character Delia Deetz and the iconic sculpture she creates.

For another event, the Wednesday star also paid homage to Winona Ryder’s character Lydia Deetz by wearing a plaid skirt similar to the one seen in the film. Besides the original female stars, Jenna also impressively epitomised Michael Keaton’s burgundy wedding-day look from the movie by wearing a Paul Smith suit in the same shade for a promotional event in Venice. Pulling off every look with absolute panache, Jenna Ortega definitely served lessons in method dressing for fellow celebrities.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy is no novice when it comes to nailing red-carpet looks, but the actress left a particularly striking impression as she embodied edgy, electric vibes for her Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga press tour. In her most eye-catching ensemble, the actress donned a vintage look from Paco Rabanne’s spring 1996 haute couture collection which came with sheer panels and spikes all over. The dress featured long arrows poking out from the waist down and was completed with a dramatic headpiece. With its futuristic vibe, the head-turning look was fittingly on point for the film.

At the CinemaCon preview screening of the film, Anya Taylor-Joy showcased yet another bold look that channelled the daredevil attitude of Furiosa in a form-fitting mini dress from Ludovic de Saint Sernin’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection. The leather ensemble, composed of belts laced together, took the form of a fierce dominatrix-style dress featuring a criss-cross halter neck.

Zendaya

Deemed the queen of press tours thanks to her fashionable looks, Zendaya is known to pull out all the stops when it comes to embracing method dressing. From the spiderweb gown celebrating Spiderman: No Way Home to the Mugler metal bodysuit channelling the futuristic nature of Dune 2, Zendaya has successfully emulated the method dressing trend on many occasions. Recently, keeping the movie theme at the front and centre of her outfit choices, the actress also unlocked tenniscore in her sartorial display for Challengers in the most glamorous of ways.

The impressive detailing in Zendaya’s looks moved beyond her outfit, also including accompanying accessories such as an iconic pair of Loewe tennis ball pumps. On another occasion, she incorporated the neon green shade of tennis balls by sporting a dramatic custom Celia Kritharioti halter dress. In a perfect red carpet serve, she also scored match points by wearing a Thom Browne white halter dress featuring a polo shirt neckline and a tennis racquet print all over. Under the impeccable vision of her longtime stylist Law Roach, she also recreated the drama of a tennis match in a custom Loewe green dress that featured the shadow of a tennis player mid-serve. Each of these stunning looks proves that if there were awards for method dressing, Zendaya would certainly sweep them all.

Margot Robbie

Probably the most famous example of movie-inspired red-carpet fashion was seen during the entire press tour of Barbie. Wearing several looks inspired by the Mattel doll’s original wardrobe, Margot Robbie is arguably one of the best celebrities to have indulged in method dressing. Magnificently curated by her stylist Andrew Mukamal, the actress’ Barbie press tour wardrobe was nothing short of iconic and adorably playful.

Sporting pinks, polka-dots, vintage-style bows, and even brushed-out curls identical to the doll, Robbie’s commitment in matching her wardrobe to the movie worked as a spectacular marketing gimmick to attract the audience. Among her best looks from the Barbie red carpet, the corseted Vivienne Westwood gown in pale pink certainly stood out. Robbie’s spot-on recreation of the 1985 ‘Day To Night’ Barbie doll in vividly pink Versace was also a highlight.

Dakota Johnson

While Madame Web failed to charm the Marvel audience, Dakota Johnson earned the love of fashion critics and fans during promotional activities for the film. Her stunning sartorial display cleverly cast its spell of webs as she turned heads on the red carpet with veiled and mesh gowns. For one of the press events ahead of her film’s release, Johnson walked the red carpet in a sheer spider web dress, a custom-made version from Annie Ibiza which featured an intricate pattern designed with crystals. The dress also incorporated a veil which replicated the design of a spider web.

Johnson also flaunted another Madame Web-themed look during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers: a sheer black Tom Ford dress with an intricate pattern. Johnson also donned a striking look for the Los Angeles premiere of the movie where she opted for a custom Gucci slip dress featuring a shimmering mesh and a skin-coloured bodysuit underneath By incorporating mesh gowns in her outfit choices, Johnson cleverly referenced character, Cassandra Webb.

(Main and featured image: Jenna Ortega/Instagram; Blake Lively/Instagram)