A three-dimensional butterfly spreading its wings across a woman's chest sounds like a fashion fantasy. At the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on 17 October 2026, Janelle Monáe made it very real.
The singer, songwriter, and actress wore a custom gown from Robert Wun's Fall 2026 Couture collection. The dress followed a fitted mermaid silhouette covered in sequins that shifted from rich blue to black, but the centrepiece was that oversized sculptural butterfly bodice, its wings extending dramatically across her upper body.
Monáe, known for her bold turns in Hidden Figures, Moonlight, and Glass Onion, has never been shy about committing to a look, and this night was no exception. Styled by Alexandra Mandelkorn, she carried the butterfly theme all the way through: sheer opera-length gloves, metallic blue stiletto nails, and a soft pixie cut finished with a small butterfly hair clip. Nothing competed with the bodice. Everything quietly echoed it.
It is the kind of dressing that takes confidence and a genuine sense of play. Janelle Monáe clearly has both in abundance, and we are very much here for whatever she wears next.
Originally published by Bella Naija.