10 Times Celebrities Brought The Drama To Red Carpets With Elegant Cape Dresses

While cape dresses have been around since the Roaring Twenties when they became a popular addition to evening fashion, they have certainly become increasingly popular in 2026. Speaking to Nine, fashion stylist Tara Pokarier said the trend is on the rise, both on red carpets but also in everyday fashion. "We spent several seasons focused on minimalistic basics, oversized tailoring, and fashion's just craving a little bit more theatre and movement," Pokarier shared, adding, "Now we're seeing sheer capes over dresses, lightweight layers over tanks, and cape details integrated into garments rather than worn as separate statement pieces." The stylist explained that cape dresses are particularly popular as they combine multiple fun fashion trends, "like your sheer fabric, your romantic femininity, the modest layering, the statement silhouette."

Through the years, we've seen numerous celebs rock cape dresses to red carpet events, ensuring the dramatic pieces get the spotlight they deserve. While picking our favorites hasn't been easy, stars like Dakota Johnson, Margot Robbie, and more have certainly given us looks that are hard to forget. And while cape dresses might seem intimidating to many, these ladies have shown that the daring silhouette deserves more red-carpet presence, as capes make any dress more enticing!

While we've seen plenty of Ariana Grande outfits that scream Glinda from "Wicked," we might want to add one more to the list. In January 2026, Grande attended the Critics' Choice Awards, where she wore a breathtaking Alberta Ferretti gown that reminded us of her Glinda days. The pale pink dress featured a sheer, bejeweled cape, which made the entire look incredibly ethereal. The delicate garment was undeniably a statement piece, so the "Hate That I Made You Love Me" singer kept her makeup and hair simple.

When Brie Larson set foot on the red carpet of the Academy Awards in February 2020, her cape dress instantly stole the show. The dusty-pink dress by Celine featured a revealing V-neckline and thigh-high slit, but the true star of the look was undeniably the dramatic cape. The entire dress was covered in Swarovski crystals, making this an incredibly glamorous look. Since the dress had a lot going on, the "Lessons in Chemistry" star paired it with a sleek updo and simple accessories.

Actor Dakota Johnson is known for her chic and sophisticated style, but every now and then the star is all about embracing edgy red-carpet garments. Out of all the times Dakota Johnson dressed for revenge after her split from Coldplay singer Chris Martin, the look she wore to the Time100 Gala held in April 2026 might just be our favorite. The "Fifty Shades of Grey" star walked the event's red carpet in a gray Valentino gown with a matching cape connected at her neck with leaf-like embellishments.

In September 2022, Margot Robbie attended the premiere of her film "Amsterdam" in London, England, and for the occasion she stunned in a dramatic black Celine gown. The garment featured fun cutouts in the front and a revealing thigh-high slit. However, it was the long black cape that added all the necessary drama to the "Barbie" star's look, making this yet another great example of why cape-style dresses are always a stunning red carpet choice.

While royal fashion is often classic and somewhat predictable, Kate Middleton managed to surprise us at the London premiere of "No Time to Die" in September 2021. For the red carpet, which Kate attended alongside her husband, Prince William, the royal looked breathtaking in a gold Jenny Packham gown. The dress featured a sheer cape that truly looked like liquid gold, following the ombré effect of the dress itself. The Princess of Wales usually goes for a simpler and preppier look, but for the James Bond premiere, she certainly took a risk.

Truth be told, there were plenty of worst-dressed stars at the 2025 Governors Awards, but Anya Taylor-Joy certainly wasn't among them. The "Last Night in Soho" star stunned at the event held that November in a sheer Maison Margiela dress. The garment featured an unexpected corset silhouette and a dramatic, flowy cape, which gave the look plenty of movement. The sparkly diamonds around her neck and her long blond hair completed the look, making this yet another ethereal red-carpet moment.

While some stars prefer their cape dresses to be minimalist and simple, Deepika Padukone is not among them. The actor walked the red carpet of the Cannes Film Festival in May 2018 in a Zuhair Murad gown that had plenty going on. The sheer dress with a deep V-neckline featured delicate, sparkly embellishments all over, but the true star of the show was the cape. Adding drama to the "Om Shanti Om" star's red carpet poses, the cape helped create some incredibly breathtaking photos.

Throughout the years, we gotten to witness the stunning style transformation of Jennifer Lawrence, as the actor got braver and experimented more and more with her fashion choices. In December 2021, when Lawrence was pregnant with her first child, the "Silver Linings Playbook" star decided to show that maternity fashion is anything but boring. The actor showed up to the New York City premiere of "Don't Look Up" in a Dior cape dress, proving that the fun silhouette works incredibly well with a baby bump too.

Back in February 2012, Gwyneth Paltrow attended the Academy Awards in a Tom Ford gown that has since become a great example of how cape dresses can be minimalist too. In fact, thanks to its white color and simple silhouette, the dress didn't have too much going on, yet its impact was just as strong. The "Shakespeare in Love" star accessorized with a cuff bracelet and statement rings, while she kept her hair simple by styling it in an updo.

Most cape dresses we see on red carpets tend to be in muted, neutral colors, since the design is usually dramatic enough to draw attention. However, every now and then a star dares to go all out by rocking a cape dress in a bright color, which brings us to Jessica Chastain. The "Interstellar" star showed up to the Tony Awards in June 2023 in a strapless bright yellow Gucci dress with a matching yellow cape. The color added even more drama to the silhouette, and Chastain looked incredible in the shade.