Elle Fanning revives old school feminine style

This week, Elle Fanning made a statement with her outfit on the “Mark and Kelly Show” in New York, wearing a girlish iridescent tutu and a buttery yellow polo shirt. The look was designed by Paris-based brand August Barron, which is known for subverting feminine and housewife aesthetics through unexpected layering and silhouettes.

From the waist down, Fanning was dressed in her shimmering Sunday best, but from the waist up, the look was slouchy and boy-ish, like an off-duty tennis player. This style is part of a larger trend this spring, which is all about tradwife with a twist, often incorporating fashion elements from past decades.

Fanning is currently promoting the Apple TV show “Margo’s Got Money Troubles,” and her outfits for the press tour have largely followed this line: slouchy, nostalgic, and at times ironic versions of femininity. For her “Today Show” appearance, Fanning wore a pinafore-style dress from Rabanne’s Fall-Winter 2026 collection, which was inspired by tea dresses from the 1940s.

The dress was in a twee ditsy print and flowed well past her knees, while a leather belt sat happily on her waist without exerting effort to cinch. On Monday, Fanning slipped into an equally vintage-inspired Alberta Ferretti rose-colored satin dress, covered in florals, with a built-in neckerchief.

Billowing Silhouettes

The silhouettes in these outfits are billowing and aren’t concerned with accentuating, sculpting, or smoothing out the body’s curves. This is a departure from the typical Hervé Léger bandage dress, which once defined modern femininity. Elle Fanning isn’t the only one taking a leaf out of this Betty Crocker-style of dressing, either. They are joining a larger movement that celebrates a more relaxed approach to fashion choices.

Julia Fox became an unexpected adopter of conservative kitsch at the Fashion Trust US Awards, arriving in a frilly satin salmon pink oversized nightgown from rising cult label Ashley Williams. Williams said she was inspired by the provincial clothes of factory workers, housekeepers, and nurses for her Spring-Summer 2026 collection.

Fox finished off her pink nightie with a stacked beehive and Twiggy-style ’60s lashes. Referencing some bygone version of femininity is very much Fanning’s preferred way to dress, often taking cues from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s with stylist Samantha McMillen. The team behind Fanning’s looks is not afraid to experiment with different styles and eras.

However, Fanning is also reaching for some of the buzziest up-and-coming designers, many of whom aren’t rejecting conservative dress codes but nodding to them, messing around with them, and re-interpreting them. August Barron’s collections, for example, have drawn on a range of visual references, from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” to old-fashioned doll-houses, much like other celebrities who have made bold fashion statements.

The result is clothing packed with fashion history and a knowing wink. August Vestbø and Benjamin Barron, the designers behind August Barron, are subverting traditional notions of femininity through their designs, and Fanning is happy to be a part of it. They are leading a new wave of fashion that is all about embracing individuality and self-expression.

A New Take on Femininity

This new take on femininity is all about embracing a more relaxed, slouchy approach to dressing. It’s not about accentuating curves or following traditional beauty standards, but about embracing a more nostalgic, old-school approach to fashion. With designers like August Barron and Ashley Williams leading the charge, it’s likely we’ll be seeing more of this trend in the coming months, as it continues to influence the way people think about fashion.

According to the report, Fanning’s style is a deliberate choice, one that reflects her personality and aesthetic. With her press tour outfits, she’s making a statement about the kind of femininity she wants to embody, one that’s playful, nostalgic, and unapologetically herself. The outlet notes that this approach to fashion is not only refreshing but also inspiring, as it encourages people to experiment with different styles and find what works best for them.