Whether the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown will take home golden trophies next January is anyone’s guess. Awards season voting has only just started, and stars of every major contender are busy on the "For Your Consideration" circuit. But if armchair fashion critics were the ones with the official ballots, and achievement in red carpet styling was its own category, Elle Fanning and stylist Samantha McMillen would be the front-runners.
The duo has spent the weeks leading up to A Complete Unknown’s Christmas-Day release churning out looks that walk the line between 1960s homage and modern runway. Whether the appearance is as big as an official premiere or as intimate as a talk show taping, Fanning’s looks have received unanimous praise. “Elle Fanning has been looking majestic this entire press tour,” declared a tweet with 1.4 million views, showcasing the actress in a heavenly white custom Gucci gown at A Complete Unknown’s Los Angeles premiere. A photo of Fanning in an oversize Saint Laurent suit and tie from the Spring 2025 runway came with 1.3 million views and the sort of upvote one rarely sees in online fashion forums: “Her stylist deserves a raise and a promotion.” If this were a movie review, Fanning’s outfits would be called “a revelation” or “a triumph.” But it’s fashion, so “she ate that” is what critics are saying instead.
