Matt Damon’s Odysseus wasn’t the only one to make a monumental journey this summer. As The Odyssey breaks records across the globe, the women of the film have been making an equally notable (though slightly less treacherous) journey of their own: raising the bar for red carpet fashion at every stop along their press tour. From haute couture straight off the Paris runways to old Hollywood-inspired makeup, we’re rounding up the most memorable and meaningful moments from The Odyssey red carpets.
The modern red carpet is no longer simply about picking the most stunning gown or the most flattering makeup look. For today’s actresses, it’s a meticulous exercise in branding, symbolism, and marketing—where method dressing is the norm, and entire style news cycles might be defined by a single appearance. In an era where both box office and luxury sales are stagnating, an A-list press tour is a coveted stage for both the film and fashion industries. It’s little surprise, then, that the red carpet looks leading up to the biggest film of the year have been taking over our feeds, headlines, and minds.
Where else to start but with Zendaya? The Hollywood it-girl’s partnership with stylist Law Roach has given us many a red carpet moment over the years, from webbed mini-dresses for the Spider-Man series to tennis ball Louboutins for Challengers. For The Odyssey, the brief was ethereal, otherworldly elegance, with a strictly all-white palette. It’s a considered choice. Zendaya’s character Athena is not only the goddess of wisdom, but also of warfare and craft—the actress could easily have taken a sharper, more masculine route into red carpet dressing. By opting for feminine chic, Zendaya dominated the conversation, spawned a number of copycat trends, and gave us a masterclass in monochromatic elegance. Her headline-stealing red carpet run included a lacy, ruffle-covered custom Louis Vuitton look that made an excellent case for lingerie as formalwear. She paired the look with an an elegant braided updo and an icy blue wash of eyeshadow that launched its own summer micro-trend.
But the most-discussed looks of Zendaya’s Odyssey press tour were undoubtedly the two couture ensembles she donned in London and New York—one a sculptural, technical masterpiece by Schiaparelli, and the other a floaty, feathered creation by Matières Fécales. The looks were notable for opposing reasons. The Schiaparelli gown was shown at Paris Haute Couture Week only hours before Zendaya’s red carpet appearance—a feat made possible by flying the look straight from runway to red carpet via private jet. On the other side of the spectrum, the feathery Matières Fécales look had closed the brand’s debut couture collection in 2024 and subsequently been set aside for Zendaya for almost two years, upon Law Roach’s request.
Beyond delivering showstopping style moments, the looks also signal the future of red carpet dressing—one where planning begins years in advance, and no expense is spared. Gone are the days of Julia Roberts minimalism, when stars would throw an oversized button-down over old jeans to hit the red carpet. In 2026, if you’re not flying in haute couture straight off the runway, are you even trying?
Where Zendaya earned the majority of the viral moments, Anne Hathaway’s maternity dressing crash course is no less impressive. Hathaway followed in the footsteps of her Ocean’s Twelve co-star Rihanna by choosing to enhance her bump rather than obscure it, confirming that the era of shapeless, oversized maternity wear is firmly in the rearview mirrow. Her style choices were equally in keeping with her character—Hathaway channelled Penelope’s regal elegance in jewel tones and soft draping, with a custom Dior look in cornflower blue standing out as the most striking of the bunch.
Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o’s red carpet looks have flown somewhat under the radar, despite being amongst the most meaningful style choices of the season. The Academy Award-winning actress is no stranger to a statement-making moment, and this press tour has offered her the chance to channel every bit of Helen of Troy’s lethal beauty. Her designer of choice was largely Chanel: at the film’s Paris premiere, she donned a coral woven gown designed by Matthieu Blazy, while the London photocall saw her dressed in a tailored slip dress from the maison’s Cruise 2026/27 collection.
Nyong’o’s hair and makeup choices are also just as notable as her clothing. Working with hairstylist Vernon François and makeup artist Nick Barose, the actress has been opting for sculptural updos featuring her natural, coily hair texture, and dramatic makeup looks channelling old Hollywood femme fatales. Like any red carpet veteran, she saved the best for last: for the film’s premiere in New York, Nyong’o donned a sculpted, glittering Christian Cowan gown with winged eye makeup inspired by the heroines of 1950s sword-and-sandal epics (think Cleopatra or Ben-Hur). Coupled with her on-screen portrait of the woman whose face launched a thousand ships, her style choices are a poignant commentary on the definition of beauty and power in the modern age.
Below, get a closer look at the standout red carpet fashion moments from the women of The Odyssey.
Zendaya In Matières Fécales
Anne Hathaway In Prada
Lupita Nyong’o In Christian Cowan
Zendaya In Jacquemus
Lupita Nyong’o In Chanel
Anne Hathaway In Dior
Anne Hathaway In Ashlyn
Charlize Theron In Dior
Anne Hathaway In Lela Rose
Mia Goth In Dior
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