Elle Fanning Wears a Statement Bra Under a Statement Dress

Elle Fanning took Cannes by storm back in May, when she premiered her divisive new film The Neon Demon with director Nicolas Winding Refn. Clad in frothy confections by everyone from Valentino to Elie Saab to Chanel and Alexander McQueen, Fanning proved she’s as much a sartorial force as she is a screen presence to be reckoned with. Now, she’s back, armed with a new Variety cover — she appears in the magazine’s Power of Young Hollywood issue alongside Jaden Smith, Ansel Elgort, and more, and, of course, there was a party to match. Which means all the bright young things showed up in their finest pants and dresses, competing for whose sparkles could reflect the most of the camera’s flashes. Let’s analyze.

Who: Elle Fanning.

When: Tuesday, August 16.

Where: The Variety Power of Young Hollywood party.

What: A sheer Marc Jacobs Resort 2017 dress embellished with patches.

Why: Patches! What can we say about patches. Second cousin, once removed of the pin craze currently sweeping the underground fashion scene, they’ve earned devotees from Alessandro Michele at Gucci to Marc Jacobs. There’s definitely an argument to be made that this look goes off the deep end of patch love, but we’re not going to be the ones to make it. Between the statement purple bra and the statement sparkly patches and embellishments, she makes a case that you should never have to choose between statements when you can actually just do it all. Apparently an homage to Madonna in honor of the singer’s 58th birthday, Fanning called the look “‘80s Material Girl.” It’s actually a fitting paean to a woman who wore a DGAF Givenchy bodysuit (also with a sheer bodice, just like Elle!) to the most recent Met Gala. Fanning dials it back with the simplest black pumps, minimal effort on the hair and makeup front, and just one (massive, also sparkly) cocktail ring.

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