Priyanka Chopra in Matières Fécales for Imagemaker Awards

Priyanka Chopra attended the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday, wearing a look that left me wondering why she’s abandoned a fashion formula that was working so well for her.

Priyanka Chopra in a pink floral Matières Fécales ensemble with a trailing skirt and Christian Louboutin sandals at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles. — Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

I’ve long maintained that classic, chic dressing is where Priyanka excels. Once she embraced that direction, her red carpet style improved considerably, so seeing her return to the experimental fashion territory that has rarely served her well is frustrating.

And unfortunately, this Matières Fécales Spring 2027 look is a spectacular misfire.

Matières Fécales is one of those labels that requires a certain je ne sais quoi or personality to pull off. Lady Gaga has it. Sarah Paulson has it. Sandra Hüller has it. Priyanka, unfortunately, does not.

You might assume that the pink floral satin would make this an easier look to wear than the darker, more gothic designs we associate with the label. But there’s nothing particularly soft or romantic about the result.

Instead, it’s giving mother of the gothic bride.

Close-up of Priyanka Chopra's voluminous side-swept hairstyle, pearl earrings and pink floral Matières Fécales jacket at the InStyle Imagemaker Awards. — Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The exaggerated shoulders and her voluminous blowout are competing for space around her neckline, while the jacket pulls so noticeably across the waist, and skirt isn’t faring much better either.

What makes this particularly frustrating is that I can see the appeal of the design. The pink satin, gold embroidery and trailing fabric have a sari-inspired quality, especially when you consider the diagonal draping of the runway version. There’s a connection to traditional Indian dress that could have made this an interesting fashion choice for Priyanka.

But even that connection isn’t enough to convince me.

Priyanka Chopra wearing a pink floral Matières Fécales ensemble at the 2026 InStyle Imagemaker Awards in Los Angeles. — Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

When it comes to the runway styling, I don’t believe that would have saved this look either. The issue isn’t just how she’s wearing it. It’s that this particular aesthetic simply doesn’t suit her.

She appears to be reaching for something cool and edgy, but the result feels ageing, which is the last thing I would have expected from a Matières Fécales ensemble.

The only elements I would save are her Emily P. Wheeler jewellery and the Christian Louboutin x Matières Fécales sandals, which I genuinely love.

I’m floored by how badly this has gone wrong. Priyanka had made such encouraging progress with her red carpet style, and this feels like several steps backwards. But she’s back working with Law Roach, so, you know, on that basis, I can’t say I’m surprised.

Stylist: Law Roach.