fashion moment

Sydney Sweeney continues her Marilyn Monroe homage in an off-the-shoulder cinched gown

Her Monroe references have not been limited to the red carpet.

FEBRUARY 10, 2026 1:33 PM ESTFEB 10, 2026, 1:33 PM EST

Sydney Sweeney’s red carpet evolution continues to lean deeper into classic Hollywood, and her latest appearance at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival cemented that fascination once again.

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Honored with a Virtuosos Award on February 8, the actress stepped out in a vintage Ceil Chapman gown that drew a direct line to Marilyn Monroe and one of the most recognizable fashion images of the 1950s.

Sydney Sweeney’s red carpet evolution continues to lean deeper into classic Hollywood.

The cream colored dress, sourced from Timeless Vixen, closely mirrored the design Monroe wore on her first Life magazine cover in April 1952. Sweeney’s stylist, Molly Dickson, later confirmed that the look was intentionally inspired by that historic moment, making it the second time in recent months that the actress has paid tribute to the late icon through fashion.

Sydney Sweeney's cream colored dress, sourced from Timeless Vixen, closely mirrored the design Monroe wore on her first Life magazine cover in April 1952.

Designed with an off-the-shoulder neckline, three-quarter sleeves, and a sparkling circular brooch at the center of the décolletage, the gown featured signature Ceil Chapman draping and ruching that cinched the waist and emphasized an hourglass silhouette.

Nude heels and softly styled blond waves completed the look, reinforcing the Old Hollywood tone. Chapman was a favorite designer among mid-century screen sirens, with a client list that included Elizabeth Taylor, Jayne Mansfield, Deborah Kerr, Eva Gabor, and Monroe herself.

Sydney Sweeney made headlines at 'The Housemaid' premiere in Los Angeles wearing a plunging white Galia Lahav gown with a feathered skirt that echoed Monroe’s wind-swept dress from 1955’s 'The Seven Year Itch.'

According to the ADSU FISM Museum in Los Angeles, Chapman launched her own company in 1940 after debuting Her Ladyship Gowns alongside Gloria Vanderbilt and her twin sister, Thelma. Known for her mastery of bias cut construction and body-conscious draping, Chapman built a legacy around celebrating the female form. She died on July 13, 1979, but her designs continue to surface on modern red carpets decades later.

Sydney Sweeney's Monroe references have not been limited to the red carpet.

Sweeney’s choice to wear a Chapman gown at the festival felt like a deliberate continuation of a narrative she has been building all awards season. Just weeks earlier, she made headlines at 'The Housemaid' premiere in Los Angeles wearing a plunging white Galia Lahav gown with a feathered skirt that echoed Monroe’s wind-swept dress from 1955’s 'The Seven Year Itch.'

Her Monroe references have not been limited to the red carpet. In January, Sweeney appeared on the cover of W Magazine’s Annual Best Performances Issue wearing nothing but a statement Chopard Haute Joaillerie necklace, her blond hair styled in soft curls reminiscent of Monroe’s signature glam.

In November, she debuted a fresh bob at the Governors Awards, paired with custom Miu Miu and vintage-inspired waves that recalled Monroe’s 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' era.

At 28, the 'Euphoria' star is navigating a career moment that mirrors, in some ways, the public perception Monroe once faced.

While the visual parallels are undeniable, Sweeney’s approach feels rooted in reinterpretation rather than imitation. At 28, the 'Euphoria' star is navigating a career moment that mirrors, in some ways, the public perception Monroe once faced.

Both actresses have often been reduced to discussions of appearance and sex appeal, yet both have demonstrated ambition, discipline, and an acute awareness of their cultural presence.