Elle Fanning Wore Vintage Nettie Rosenstein To The 2026 Palm Springs International Film Awards

There’s something especially satisfying when a red carpet moment feels personal—and Elle Fanning delivered exactly that at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards.

Accepting the International Star Award alongside her Sentimental Value co-stars Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle stepped onto the carpet in California wearing a dress that already had history.

Sharing on Instagram that she’d “finally got to wear this special vintage dress I bought a couple years ago,” Elle revealed the look to be a 1950s Nettie Rosenstein gown, sourced from beloved vintage destination Xtabay. That detail alone explains why this felt so her. Elle has long gravitated toward romantic silhouettes, soft structure, and references that feel lifted from cinema’s golden age rather than today’s trend cycle.

This dress places her firmly in a late-1950s Hollywood fantasy—think Grace Kelly poise meets ingénue-era Hitchcock glamour. The seafoam hue is dreamy on her, the off-the-shoulder neckline frames her delicately, and the full skirt carries that unmistakable mid-century charm. It’s the kind of look that aligns seamlessly with her love of storytelling through clothes.

That said, while I adore the colour, the style, and the silhouette, the bodice doesn’t quite sit as it should. Whether time has taken its toll or the fit is simply a touch too generous, I’m leaning toward the latter. Still, even with that minor quibble, this remains a beautiful reminder of why vintage can feel far more precious than anything straight off a runway.

Stylist: Samantha McMillen. Makeup Artist: Erin Ayanian Monroe. Hair Stylist: Jenda Alcorn.

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