When Jenna Ortega stepped onto the red carpet for the closing ceremony of the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival, she didn’t just arrive; she made a declaration. Dressed in a sculptural, one-sleeve red gown from Lanvin’s Spring 2026 collection, the actress effectively dismantled the binary between Old Hollywood elegance and Gen-Z subversion. While the festival in Morocco is renowned for its celebration of global auteur cinema, Ortega’s presence as a jury member—and her subsequent sartorial choices—marked a pivotal shift in her career trajectory. She is no longer merely the face of Netflix’s streaming dominance; she is emerging as a serious institutional figure in international film. The look, styled by Enrique Melendez, balanced a towering architectural silhouette with aggressive, platform heels and a heavy, brutalist choker, proving that high-stakes glamour does not require the abandonment of one's personal edge. This was not just a red carpet moment; it was a strategic rebranding exercise executed in silk and leather.
The Anatomy of the Look: Lanvin Spring 2026
The centerpiece of Ortega’s ensemble was undeniably the gown. Pulled from the fresh Lanvin Spring 2026 collection, the piece features a dramatic single sleeve and a column silhouette that skims the body before pooling slightly at the floor. The choice of red is significant. Historically, Ortega has leaned heavily into a monochromatic black palette, a visual extension of her roles in Wednesday and the Scream franchise. By pivoting to a blood-red hue, she retains the intensity and drama of her established "goth-glam" brand while stepping into a color traditionally associated with power, visibility, and classic cinema sirens.
However, a Lanvin gown alone does not tell the full story. The styling by Enrique Melendez introduced the necessary tension that keeps Ortega relevant to a fashion-forward, younger demographic. The inclusion of a heavy, metallic choker disrupted the clean neckline of the dress. Where a traditional stylist might have opted for delicate diamonds to complement the gown’s drapery, Melendez and Ortega chose hardware that felt industrial and weighty. This juxtaposition is what elevates the look from "pretty" to "editorial." It suggests that while Ortega is willing to play the part of the glamourous juror, she refuses to sanitize the darker, alternative aesthetics that define her persona.
The Height Politics of the Platform Heel
While the gown provided the color, the narrative hook for many fashion observers—including the editors at Vogue Philippines—was the footwear. Ortega, known for her petite stature, utilized extreme platform heels to alter her physical presence on the carpet. In the context of a film festival jury, where she stands alongside veteran directors and actors who often tower over her, the platform shoe becomes more than a fashion statement; it is a tool of equalization.
The "height hack" is a well-documented red carpet strategy, but Ortega’s implementation of it differs from the norm. Most actresses attempt to hide the mechanics of their height enhancement under floor-length hems. Ortega, conversely, often allows the aggressive toe boxes and chunky soles of her platforms to be seen, or at least sensed, through the movement of her skirts. This aligns with the current resurgence of maximalist footwear—the "Brat" aesthetic bleeding into formal wear—where the shoe is meant to look heavy and grounded rather than dainty. By anchoring a floating Lanvin gown with what are essentially combat-adjacent heels, she creates a silhouette that feels modern and grounded, literally and figuratively.
From Teen Star to International Juror
To understand the weight of this fashion moment, one must look at the venue. The Marrakech International Film Festival is not the MTV Movie Awards. It is a prestigious gathering that rivals Venice and Berlin in its dedication to world cinema. For Ortega to be invited not as a promotional guest but as a member of the jury for its 22nd edition places her in a league of "serious" actors. She is transitioning from being a product of the algorithm to a curator of art.
This professional pivot requires a wardrobe to match. The "naked dress" trend or the chaotic method dressing often seen at premieres would be out of place here. The Lanvin look signals maturity. It respects the gravity of the festival while maintaining the visual interest required of a global celebrity. It is a "uniform" of sorts—the uniform of the young auteur. It signals to the industry that she is ready for roles that demand gravitas, moving beyond the teen horror genre into prestige drama.
Industry Reaction and The "Choker Discourse"
The reaction from fashion critics and industry insiders has been largely positive, though not without nuanced critique. Tom + Lorenzo, a leading voice in celebrity fashion commentary, praised the "killer red dress," noting that the garment itself required little assistance to make an impact. However, they—and other purists—flagged the choker as "a little weird and heavy," suggesting that the proportions of the neckpiece fought with the asymmetry of the gown’s neckline.
Yet, from a strategic standpoint, this friction is desirable. In the algorithm-driven landscape of modern fashion news, perfection is often forgettable. A "flaw" or a polarizing accessory invites debate. The discourse surrounding the choker—Is it too goth? Is it too heavy?—ensures that the image circulates longer on social media platforms than a perfectly safe, universally adored look would. For Lanvin, a house that is currently working to reassert its dominance in the celebrity dressing game, this visibility is invaluable. It positions the brand as capable of dressing the new generation of Hollywood elite without losing its heritage polish.
Strategic Implications for Lanvin
For Lanvin, securing Jenna Ortega for a closing ceremony is a significant coup. The French fashion house, one of the oldest in existence, constantly battles for mindshare against giants like Saint Laurent and Valentino, who have aggressive red carpet strategies. Ortega brings a distinct demographic to the table: a Gen-Z audience that is highly engaged, fashion-literate, and deeply invested in the specific "dark luxury" aesthetic.
By dressing Ortega, Lanvin signals that its Spring 2026 collection is not just for the traditional couture client but also for the modern, edgy muse. The red one-sleeve gown creates a bridge between the house’s archival history of draping and the current demand for sharp, photogenic silhouettes. It is a mutually beneficial partnership: Ortega gains the credibility of a heritage French house, and Lanvin gains the viral energy of a global superstar.
Timeline of a Style Evolution
- The Wednesday Era (2022-2023): Ortega’s style is defined by literal references to her character—Peter Pan collars, lace, and an almost exclusive commitment to black. The "Goth" tag is solidified.
- The Scream Press Tour (2023): A shift toward sharper tailoring and deconstructed menswear. The palette remains dark, but the silhouette becomes more aggressive and less costumey.
- Marrakech Opening (Nov 2025): As a juror, she begins to introduce more classic shapes, signaling her role as an institutional figure.
- Marrakech Closing (Dec 2025): The Red Lanvin Moment. A breakout into bold color while retaining the heavy hardware of her previous eras. The synthesis of "Hollywood Star" and "Alt Icon" is complete.
Future Forecast: The 2026 Trajectory
What does this appearance signal for the coming year? First, we can expect the "Elevated Goth" trend to soften into "Dark Romance." The stark blacks will likely give way to deep burgundies, blood reds, and midnight blues—colors that convey the same moodiness but read as more expensive and varied on camera. We anticipate Ortega will double down on this aesthetic during the upcoming awards season.
Furthermore, expect to see Ortega at more European festivals—Cannes is a likely next target. Her team is clearly building a profile that appeals to the European luxury market, which may foreshadow a major campaign announcement. Whether she remains a friend of Lanvin or is courted by a house like Givenchy or Alexander McQueen remains to be seen, but the bidding war for her red carpet loyalty will undoubtedly intensify.
Finally, the platform shoe is not going away. As silhouettes for evening wear become more columnar and elongated in 2026, the extreme platform will remain the footwear of choice for actresses seeking to manipulate proportion. Ortega has validated the platform not just as a club shoe, but as a legitimate red carpet staple for the high-fashion set.
Written by Ara Ohanian for FAZ Fashion — fashion intelligence for the modern reader.
