Jenna Ortega wears a black slitted skirt and top made only of oversized gemstones against the Emmy's step and repeatThe yearly award shows always bring their share of glimmer, and last month’s Emmy Awards did not disappoint. One of the most notable outfits from its glamorous attendees was worn by Jenna Ortega, dubbed by her fans as the “Scream Queen” for her horror roles, including her iconic role in Wednesday, a horror/comedy Isabella Rossellini wearing just a jeweled necklace in the movie "death becomes her"series. The top of her garment was constructed of pearls and outsized colorful gemstones, all with a vintage patina. It was an homage to Isabel Rossellini and the modesty-preserving necklace that she wore in the 1992 gothic cult classic, “Death Becomes Her”.

Indeed, many vintage looks have found new life in contemporary fashion.  The softly glowing white pearls worn by Holly Actress Audrey Hepburn in pearls and a little black dress, as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany'sGolightly (aka Audrey Hepburn) in Breakfast at Tiffany’s are as stylishly effective todayMiley Cyrus wears vintage Bob Mackie performing against a black stage background as they were in the 1961 film, but we also saw some vintage garments from more recent collections.  Olivia Rodrigo wore a bejeweled white Versace gown from 1995 to the recent Grammy Awards show. And who could ever forget Miley Cyrus in her sparkling Bob Mackie, circa 2002, or Cardi B in her red feathers and sequins from the Roberto Cavalli Vintage collection – a collection that was inspired by the Hollywood glam of yesteryear?

Timothée Chalamet in leather and green shirt at the SAG awardsIn men’s fashion, we see less of the razzle-dazzle at the events.  When they depart from the usual black tuxedos, their tendencies go more in the direction of texture and sheen.  Timothee Chalamet has emerged as a man who loves both color and luster and happily showed it off as a winner at the Academy Awards in a lustrous black leather suit and vibrant green shirt.

When discussing fashion, we need to take a moment to pay tribute to a man who helped to define upscale design, starting in the 1980s. The fashion world recently lost Giorgio Armani, a much-admired icon who created clothing that was revered Richard Gere in a gray suit and red tie by Giorgio Armani, in American Giglioby many stars for its easy and elegant look. When Richard Gere wore Armani in the film American Gigolo, women swooned and men got the message.

Armani became the role model for many younger designers.  Todd Snyder, who recently showed his collection for 2026 during New York Fashion Week, reflected in the New York Times on how Armani’s collections have influenced his designs.  He had purchased a vintage gray and blue striped Armani shirt as a reminder of Armani’s classic designs and still uses it as inspiration.  

Olivia Rodrigo in a vintage Versace gown from 1995

If one looks at the colors from the recent NY Fashion Week (for Spring/Summer 2026), we see less of this nod to the past, and instead a move to a strong new individualism. Warm, familiar shades were balanced with vibrant, stimulating colors, a combination of maximalist and minimalist tones that celebrated self-expression and humanity in all its guises. In the Pantone Color Institute’s report on New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 Top Colors—a report to which I contribute for both the spring/summer and fall/winter collections—we showcase these 10 standout colors. To summarize the major mood: “Celebrating self-expression and individualism, NYFW Spring / Summer 2026 gives us a very new way of putting colors together”.

Read the Pantone Color Institute Fashion Week report here >

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute