New York’s fashion crowd delivered a study in contemporary glamour on Thursday, October 29, as celebrities, designers and cultural tastemakers gathered at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for the 2026 WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards.
The annual ceremony, which celebrates influential figures across creative industries, doubled as a showcase of luxury fashion, with attendees exploring everything from sculptural eveningwear and daring cut-outs to statement tailoring and understated elegance.
Among the evening’s standout appearances was Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong’o, who opted for a black velvet Brandon Maxwell gown. The floor-length design featured a plunging neckline and an asymmetric sculptural collar, demonstrating how classic eveningwear can make a statement through silhouette and construction rather than elaborate embellishment.
Singer Ciara offered a more daring interpretation of black-tie dressing in a LaPointe gown featuring a twisted halterneck, strategic cut-outs and ruching around the waist and hips.
Dua Lipa, meanwhile, leaned into Chanel’s new creative direction under artistic director Matthieu Blazy. The singer wore a cream couture skirt suit from the house’s Fall 2026 collection, complemented by an oversized black statement hat, intricate detailing and pearl accessories.
The look was particularly significant given Blazy’s recognition as this year’s fashion innovator. Lipa and rapper A$AP Rocky presented the designer with his award, making her appearance an extension of the evening’s celebration of Chanel’s evolving creative identity.
Model Cara Delevingne brought a tailored approach to the red carpet in Erdem, while Spanish singer Rosalía opted for a more experimental Schiaparelli ensemble, pairing an embellished black jacket with a contrasting white satin skirt.
Model Irina Shayk appeared in an ivory Issey Miyake Fall 2026 design, featuring a strapless silhouette and flowing draped sleeves. Actress Emmy Rossum favoured understated luxury in an embellished black Hermès gown.
Elsewhere, model Ashley Graham wore a sculptural black two-piece by Ernesto Naranjo, incorporating sheer panels that played with transparency and structure. Jordyn Woods brought a contrasting colour palette in a Christian Siriano Spring 2027 gown featuring a sculptural dusty-pink bodice and black velvet skirt.
The diversity of the evening’s fashion choices reflected a broader appetite for individuality in luxury dressing. Rather than adhering to a single red-carpet formula, the guests demonstrated how established fashion houses and emerging creative voices continue to reinterpret eveningwear through distinctive silhouettes, textures and personal styling.
Beyond the fashion statements, the awards recognised seven innovators across different industries, including Rosalía for music, Amy Poehler for comedy, Martin McDonagh for film, Demis Hassabis for technology, Marlon James for literature, the Savannah Bananas for sport and Blazy for fashion.
The 2026 edition reinforced the relationship between fashion and wider cultural influence, with the red carpet offering its own compelling commentary on the designers, labels and creative identities shaping contemporary style.
Below are the red-carpet looks. Sip, savour and enjoy!:
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