Emma Stone is leaning into some delicious throw-back fashion lately, and it’s working beautifully. Two recent looks in particular stand out as nods to previous style moments by other icons: the silk green set she wore in New York, and the backless orange gown she chose for the London Film Festival.
A green revival: Knocking back to Gwyneth Paltrow’s ’90s moment
At a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Stone showed up in a silky green set by Donna Karan, the same colour story and even the same collection that Gwyneth Paltrow wore in her film Great Expectations (1998) in which she played Estella.
The details:
- The outfit is the Spring/Summer 1996 Ready-to-Wear by Donna Karan — Paltrow’s version featured a lime-green belt on the runway; Stone skipped the belt for a sleeker line.
- It’s composed of a collared cardigan with a plunging neckline and hook-and-eye closure, plus a matching slip skirt with a split hem.
- Stone styled it with Manolo Blahnik kitten-heeled sandals, diamond stud earrings and her signature bob.
Why the homage matters: Paltrow commented that for Great Expectations, everything on set, costumes, set pieces, fabrics, was rendered in green to underscore the mood and esthetics of the film. When Stone re-wore the set, she brought a fresh revival of that ’90s green-on-green moment. Her choice says: I know fashion history, and I’m making it mine.
A citrus-pop orange gown: Echoes of Michelle Williams
At the 2025 London Film Festival premiere of Bugonia, Stone wore a striking backless orange gown by Louis Vuitton (designed by Nicolas Ghesquière), straight neckline, slim spaghetti straps, floor-length column silhouette and open back.
This look reminded many of Michelle Williams’s famous Oscars 2006 moment: the saffron/yellow gown by Vera Wang, which has since been cemented as a red-carpet icon.
The connections:
- Colour: While the shades are not identical, they share a citrus tone, bold, warm, and vivid enough to stand out. Williams’s gown was described as canary or saffron yellow. Stone’s orange moves into that vivid spectrum.
- Silhouette and styling: Williams’s gown featured pleating and a deep neckline, and was lauded for its vintage Hollywood sensibility. Stone’s choice is modern but echoes the idea of one-colour drama in a bold hue, minimal interruption, letting cut and colour speak.
- Hair and makeup: Stone kept her styling clean, red bob, gold hoops, natural makeup with a bold lip. That complements and uplifts the bold dress rather than competing with it. In Williams’s case the bold lip and vintage hair reinforced her look.
What Stone is doing, and why it works
Stone’s fashion moves feel intelligent rather than arbitrary. She’s not simply wearing bright colours; she’s referencing moments. And in doing so:
- She connects with the past in a way that feels respectful and clever. Pulling out Paltrow’s 1996 set isn’t accidental.
- At the same time she keeps it fresh — she makes small changes (no belt, different accessories, updated hair) so the look is hers.
- She balances bold colour with clean styling. The dress and suit do the talking; everything else stays composed.
- There’s a subtle narrative: from green to orange, she’s exploring colour in a big way rather than defaulting to safe neutrals.
We’re seeing more of a vintage-look revival than just nostalgia. Stone is taking pieces or references that had impact, the green Donna Karan moment, the citrus gown moment, and updating them for now. In doing so, she’s reminding us how strong colour and confident simplicity can be on the red carpet.
Leave a comment