Ananya Panday chose a black Chanel gown for her first appearance at the Academy Museum Gala 2026, held in Los Angeles. From the French house’s Fall/Winter 2026 ready-to-wear collection, the dress had a deceptively simple upper half, with its sleeveless cut and clean neckline giving way to a pleated skirt that gathered into a rounded, voluminous hem. It was a look built around shape and proportion, rather than embroidery or sparkle.
The sixth annual gala at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures drew a guest list spanning film, music and fashion, including Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and BLACKPINK’s Rosé. Panday’s Chanel appearance brought a distinctive take on black-tie dressing to the evening.
The Pleated Hem Defines Ananya Panday’s Chanel Gown
The gown’s most striking detail emerged below the waist. Narrow pleats travelled down the black fabric before opening into a balloon-shaped hem, giving the skirt an almost architectural finish. The volume contrasted with the fitted, uncluttered upper portion, creating a silhouette that shifted between restraint and drama.
With no elaborate surface embellishment to distract from its construction, the dress relied on the fall of the fabric and the precision of its folds. The all-black palette sharpened those details further, allowing the curved hemline to become the defining feature. It was a different approach to gala dressing, where visual impact often comes from intricate beadwork, sequins or dramatic trains.
Panday paired the gown with a statement necklace featuring large, rounded gold-toned stones. Diamond earrings added a subtler glint, while the necklace introduced warmth against the black fabric and drew attention to the neckline.
A Statement Necklace and Soft Waves Finish the Look
Her beauty styling remained pared back, with loose waves, luminous skin, winged eyeliner and a nude lip. The soft finish balanced the gown’s sculptural proportions and allowed the jewellery to register without overwhelming the look.
The outfit also illustrates how a familiar red-carpet staple can be made distinctive through cut alone. Black eveningwear needs little introduction, but the balance between the narrow pleats and the exaggerated hem gave this Chanel design a recognisable point of difference.
For her Academy Museum Gala debut, Panday opted for a gown whose strongest feature was its construction. The pleated skirt supplied the drama, while the restrained styling kept attention on the detail that mattered most.
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