Elle and Dakota Fanning arrived at the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday 17 October in gowns chosen by the same stylist, and left with two very different verdicts. One sister was called a fairy goddess. The other spent the weekend being told her dress was lovely but a bit dull.
Elle wore a custom Valentino by Alessandro Michele, a plunging beaded bodice shaped like butterfly wings above layers of blush, rose, lilac and baby-blue chiffon, with a cape trailing behind her and Cartier diamonds at her throat. Dakota wore Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello, a one-shoulder sheer black lace gown gathered at the shoulder and tied with a soft chiffon bow at the waist.
Both looks came from Samantha McMillen, who styles both sisters. That shared credit is what makes the gap in reception worth a look, because the sharpest arguments online went beyond personal taste and into how each dress actually behaves.
Dakota and Elle Fanning pose together at the #AcademyMuseumGala. pic.twitter.com/LjfhZnTG5u
— Variety (@Variety) October 18, 2026
Elle's Gown Draws the Warmest Praise
Elle's gown drew the warmest response of the night. 'Elle does such a fantastic job with color palettes,' read one of the most upvoted comments. 'They always flatter her skin tone.' Another called her 'basically a Disney princess' once the jewellery was factored in.
The most popular comment in the thread was a love letter with a caveat. 'I usually wouldn't like something so saccharine but Elle has so much rizz that I don't even notice that the dress is a bit twee,' it read, before comparing the bodice to a Mariah Carey butterfly top.
A reply put the appeal more sharply. Elle's looks, it said, feel like dresses she designed aged 11, then handed to couture houses to be turned into grown-up versions. 'And she pulls it off like the ethereal little nymph she is.'
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Even Her Admirers Had One Note
The praise was not unanimous, and the complaint was consistent. 'I wish Elle had gone with a different hairstyle to turn the butterfly princess vibes to the fullest,' one widely upvoted commenter wrote. 'Yeah, the hair is so weirdly plain,' came the reply.
Others took issue with the colour rather than the cut. One wrote that they agreed on the clothes but disagreed on the hair colour, while another braced for downvotes before saying the peach panels washed her out. A handful said they were simply tiring of the princess register.
Not Everyone Liked the Saint Laurent
Dakota's gown had its defenders, and they were specific about why. 'I actually really like Dakota's look, the fit of the dress and pattern are very chic,' one wrote, before conceding the obvious. 'It does seem a bit bland compared to the butterfly beside her, I'll give you that.'
The complaints were just as specific, and most of them came down to the lining. 'I really like Dakota's dress. I only wish it was lined,' another commenter wrote. 'I am tired of knowing what colour underwear everyone has on at these events.' Others agreed the sheer black lace left little guesswork, while one argued it was lined in a skin tone and that black would have been the better call.
The top comment about her was blunter still. 'Wish they gave Dakota some another dress,' it read, before adding: 'It feels so good to see these two together, Elle and Valentino just works always.'
The Difference Was Movement
The sharpest observation in the thread was not about taste at all. It was about how the two dresses behave once the photographers stop.
'I saw other photos of Dakotas dress and I'm upset they chose that for her,' one commenter wrote. 'It's beautiful when posed but otherwise really unflattering.' A reply built on it: 'It doesn't move right, does that make sense? It's a photo dress but it's weird when she walks.'
Elle's gown had the opposite problem, which is to say none. 'As beautiful as the dress is in pictures,' one of her admirers wrote, 'it's even moreso in motion.' Same stylist, same night, same red carpet. One dress was built for the photograph, and the other was built for the walk.
