Gracie Abrams Turns Heads in Iconic Chanel Dress at 2026 BAFTAs

At the Royal Festival Hall on Feb. 22, 2026, Gracie Abrams turned the BAFTAs red carpet into a private Chanel showcase, arriving arm‑in‑arm with Paul Mescal and commanding attention in a sheer, floor‑length gown that read equal parts romantic and slightly rebellious. Photographers Tristan Fewings and Aurore Marechal captured the pair for BAFTA’s official images as the couple made what outlets called their red carpet debut together.

The gown itself leaned into delicate craftwork and shadow play: “Gracie Abrams’ gown featured a sheer black base layered with intricate embroidery that resembled delicate florals, branches, and marine elements,” a report noted, with “subtle hints of red, silver, and muted metallic tones” shimmering across the fabric. The neckline and arm openings were framed with turquoise beaded trim, a surprising pop of color against the dark palette, while transparent layers gave the gown a modern edge and the fluid, floor length cut kept it classic.

Public reporting diverged on the dress’s runway provenance. FashionSpot and WhoWhatWear referenced the look as “a look from Chanel’s Pre‑Fall 2026 collection, designed by Matthieu Blazy,” and E! News referred to it with PF26 shorthand. Town & Country, however, identified the garment as a floral pattern dress from Chanel’s 2026 Métiers d’art show that was staged on a New York City subway platform in December. Both attributions ran in coverage of the BAFTAs; neither source offered a final reconciliation of the two claims.

Abrams kept styling intentionally spare. “The singer kept her accessories minimal, allowing the craftsmanship of the dress to take center stage. A pair of delicate drop earrings added sparkle near her face, while simple rings complemented the look without distracting from it,” reported FashionSpot. Her hair was a sleek, side‑parted bob tucked neatly behind one ear, and makeup leaned into soft, natural luminous skin with subtle contour, brushed brows, and a neutral lip.

Mescal, 30, arrived in classic tailoring and stood beside Abrams, 26, through the press scrum. FashionSpot described his outfit as a classic black suit with a crisp white shirt and relaxed tailoring, while Town & Country specifically credited a black Prada suit with a white collared shirt and pocket square, no tie. Mescal attended as a nominee for Best Supporting Actor for Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet; he ultimately lost the award to Sean Penn at the ceremony.

Across the coverage, outlets from FashionSpot to WhoWhatWear placed Abrams among the night’s best dressed, calling the moment “artistic and effortlessly cool” and saying she “quietly commanded attention.” Whether the dress traces back to Matthieu Blazy’s Pre‑Fall 2026 pieces or Chanel’s Métiers d’art subway spectacle, the combination of sheer layering, intricate embroidery, and that turquoise trim made Gracie Abrams’ BAFTA appearance immediately memorable and a fresh point of reference for modern red‑carpet understatement.