The Best Vintage Looks at the 2026 Golden Globes Had a Distinctly Modern Story
Awards season guarantees several things: tears at the podium, at least one memeable speech, a swath of naked dresses, and more than a few archive pulls. Last night at the 2026 Golden Globes once more saw celebrities slip into their prize vintage as much as their custom contemporaries.
Take Amal Clooney, who arrived on the arm of her husband (and one of the night’s presenters) George Clooney in a striking, cherry red Balmain gown. The column dress, which featured a sweetheart neckline and an almost fishtail train with ruched draping details, was a custom remake of a look from Pierre Balmain’s haute couture fall 1957 collection. This was Clooney’s first appearance at the Golden Globes in a decade, so Clooney opted for a designer that she loves and a silhouette she knows ultimately works for her. (A lover of the nostalgic bombshell aesthetic, the human rights lawyer and humanitarian often looks to vintage for her red carpet and gala outfits: sweet Christian Dior floral slips, clingy John Galliano gowns, and a particularly statement-making fuschia taffeta dress from Jean-Louis Scherrer with a billowing train worn to the Venice Film Festival.) Accessories and glam kept things feeling distinctly Old Hollywood, with a matching Jimmy Choo clutch, Cartier jewelry, and her signature deeply side parted long hair swept to the side in loose waves.
Jennifer Lopez, styled by Mariel Haenn, was one of the evening’s showstoppers in an archival Jean Louis Sherrer spring 2003 gown. Sourced by vintage dealers Lily et Cie—who specialize in museum quality 20th and 20th century fashion—the dress featured a second skin-like fabric with a sheer bodice, swirling baroque lace embroidery, and a tulle mermaid tail. The house, which permanently closed in 2013, remains revered for its French craftsmanship, hand-stoning, and dramatic silhouettes, as exhibited on J-Lo. To allow for the lines of the dress, the actor and pop star wore her hair swept up into sculpted up-do. It felt profoundly J-Lo, delighting in the dramatic details of the early ’00s and the modern penchant for super-sheer.
Marty Supreme’s Odessa A’Zion’s recent red carpet circuits have seen her design her own dress with L’Atelier 7474 and take a suiting spin on the naked dressing trend via Marc Jacobs. Last night at the Golden Globes, she opted for vintage Dolce Gabbana, looking equal parts Madonna-esque and Old Hollywood. The actor wore a shaggy black shearling top and wide-leg black pants paired with leather gloves, speaking to both her love of tailoring and more sensual side. In a sea of a-line gowns and tulle, this felt like it had a point of view.
And while Armani was well-represented on the red carpet, Justine Lupe dove for an Armani Privé fall winter 2001 couture gown that looked contemporary. The diaphanous peach tone gown featured sheer, flowing tiers of fabric with delicate sparkling appliqués. The Nobody Wants This star’s long blonde hair fell in the same shimmering waves.
Sabrina Elba, then, dug a little deeper for her Guy Laroche fall winter 2002 gown in a delicate embroidered nude. The simple and soft cowl neck and ever so slightly flared bottom made it elegant and understated, complementing Elba’s nostalgic pixie crop. More modern details including select Jessica McCormack jewelry.
Lori Harvey also kept it simple but striking in an elevated LBD from Roberto Cavalli’s spring summer 2002 collection. The tight halterneck column dress featured raised, laser-cut Baroque detailing across the front panel. It was one of several Little Black Dresses on the Golden Globes red carpet—Miley Cyrus opted for sparkling Saint Laurent, Aimee Lou Wood went for a Vivienne Westwood ballgown, and Mia Goth goth gothic in custom Dior—but Harvey’s vintage select felt cool and fresh. “A modern fairy tale,” was how Cavalli described his sexy, folky collection to Vogue back in 2001.
I wouldn’t be one to ever say we’ve reached “peak vintage,” but it did feel like 2025 was overrun with the same silhouettes, collections, and designer histories. The magic of a forgotten or overlooked design getting its moment on the modern red carpet was in danger of losing its spark. But as the vintage pulls at the 2026 Golden Globes prove, there’s still new stories to tell with the archives.
Photo: Getty Images1/6Odessa A’zion in vintage Dolce Gabbana.
- Photo: Getty Images2/6
Amal Clooney in a custom remade of a Balmain haute couture fall winter 1957 gown.
