Sydney Sweeney steps into Marilyn Monroe’s vintage piece - And Hollywood is already making comparisons

Some red-carpet looks are not presented to impress the crowd but to start overall trends and launch new fashion aesthetics, which are then rewritten by the upcoming generations. Hollywood has always been the trendsetter, where celebrities used to be the muse of legendary labels and created enigmatic magic with their beauty.

Amidst the masses, one such was the iconic Marilyn Monroe. With multiple biopics where actresses have tried hard to capture her mystic nature and mesmerising beauty, none have ever even come close to her real aura. But lately, the ‘Euphoria’ star Sydney Sweeney has been the talk of the town, as some of her looks are inspired by the late legendary actress and are now drawing comparisons online.

At the 2026 Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the diva stepped out not in just any vintage piece, but in an ensemble that is living Hollywood history. She received the Virtuosos Award and wore an original Ceil Chapman gown from 1952, which Marilyn Monroe once wore for the cover of the international Life Magazine.




This immortalised white gown was sourced for Sydney from a Beverly Hills vintage haven and was styled by Molly Dickson. Featuring an off-shoulder midi touch with a sculpted neckline, cinched waist, and three-quarter sleeves, it framed Sydney Sweeney’s side curves most romantically.



Instead of layering the ensemble with heavy diamonds, she opted for restrained styling and Marilyn Monroe’s original crescent brooch, which softly hung around her collarbone. This delicate diamond arc caught the light in the most beautiful way; next, she completed her accessory look with a clean-lined Octavia Elizabeth ring and a pair of pointy beige high heels.

This design is unique, as Ceil Chapman’s tailoring has always been known for its architectural finesse, where the outfits looked heavenly on her muses. In Sydney, this perfection was not just another costume but a symbol of homage and Hollywood inheritance, which she gracefully presented.

Keeping her hair and makeup on point, she simply left her blonde locks down in soft curls and opted for a dewy makeup base with peach cheeks, glittering, muted eyes, and a brown matte-finish lipstick.



In the era of customised gowns and shining trends, she chose something unexpected and radical. Wearing an original piece says a lot about her style, where the rich atelier vibe does not fancy her, but what’s already lived matters. She embraced this Hollywood memory and received all the appreciation for making it look iconic yet again.