Chappell Roan drew major attention at the 2026 Grammys, arriving at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles in a custom Mugler look that appeared almost bare once a dramatic cape came off, continuing a run of headline-making red carpet fashion moments. The Mugler outfit, created by creative director Miguel Castro Freitas, featured a deep garnet silk georgette negligee dress with a matching floor-length cape. The sheer gown seemed to reveal Roan’s breasts, held up by nipple rings, though pasties appeared to sit underneath.
Chappell Roan 2026 Grammys fashion history and red carpet image
Roan’s style has become a regular driver of social-media debate, with earlier appearances already shaping that reputation. At the 2025 Grammys, Roan wore a Jean Paul Gaultier dress referencing Edgar Degas’ ballerina paintings, while photographers closely documented every angle of the sculptural design.
Later, on 29 January, Roan attended the premiere of Charli XCX’s film The Moment. For that red carpet, the 2025 Grammy best new artist winner chose a mint-green outfit by Paris label ILONA, presenting a modern yet retro nurse-inspired silhouette that again drew strong online reaction.
Chappell Roan 2026 Grammys red carpet reactions and broadcast handling
The 2026 Mugler dress quickly stirred discussion, in part due to comparisons with Bianca Censori’s shock-value naked look from the 2025 Grammys. Unlike that earlier ensemble, Roan’s version appeared more controlled, with coverage provided by discreet pasties under the sheer fabric.
Live TV coverage had to adapt quickly once Roan arrived. During an E! red carpet interview, Roan kept the cape closed, covering from shoulders to waist. However, when posing for photographers, the cape disappeared, revealing the full nipple-ring-suspended design to cameras on the carpet.
The Paris-based house said the concept drew from Manfred Thierry Mugler’s spring/summer 1998 collection, which also used nipple rings, and that Miguel Castro Freitas reworked the idea for spring/summer 2026. Media outlets previewed the look before the telecast, yet Roan shared no outfit details on Instagram, where 7.6 million follow. Roan later changed into another dress before stepping onstage to present the best new artist Grammy, an award Roan received in 2025, to Olivia Dean.