Last night, Nicole Kidman served as a presenter at the 2026 Oscars ceremony, where the star reunited with her Moulin Rouge! costar Ewan McGregor in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary. “It’s always an honor to be asked [to present],” Kidman tells Vogue of the exciting Hollywood night. “It’s a celebration of form and art, and I am always in awe of all that is the film industry—in front of and behind the camera.”
But before all that, Kidman walked the red carpet in her showgirl best—a custom Chanel dress by Matthieu Blazy. The powder pink silk number featured a bustier embroidered with white and gray crystals and black beads and a peplum waist made of beige, pink, nude, and apricot feathers, which also cascaded down onto the skirt.
“Matthieu is exquisite, and to be in exceptional hands is a joy,” Kidman says of the elegant design. “There is a delicacy and beauty to what he does, which I love—the detail, the beading, the feathers, and the corsetry! I am so grateful that Matthieu and [my stylist] Jason Bolden understand my body and my personality. Therefore, all three of us working together can create something special.”
The custom design took 980 hours to make and features 18,900 embroidered elements. The silhouette is an evening iteration of Look 45 from Chanel’s spring 2026 couture collectsion, which originally featured a high-neck top. It was reworked to create a strapless bodice, but had the same pale pink feathered waist and train detail. Kidman accessorized with Chanel shoes and the label’s high jewelry pieces, including 18-karat white-gold knot earrings with cultured pearls and diamonds, as well as rings made of 18-karat white gold and diamonds.
For her beauty, meanwhile, it was all about playing into the soft and romantic feel of the dress. “It all started with the dress, from the intricate work of the feathers to the simple but timeless silhouette,” says hairstylist Adir Abergel. “The hair was all about shine, length, and undone cascading waves, with long curtain bangs framing the face.” Makeup artist Gucci Westman also drew from the blush-y tones of the frock to inspire her timeless beauty look. “I wanted to play off of that for gorgeous, radiant, ethereal skin,” says Westman. “I used various levels of beiges and soft pink for a polished and refined complexion. Clé de Peau is incredible at these sorts of products, to enhance the quality of the skin.”
It’s not Kidman’s first time wearing a standout Chanel dress, of course: Remember the Karl Lagerfeld–designed pink gown she wore in that 2004 Baz Luhrmann Chanel commercial, which she then rewore to the 2023 Met Gala? For last night’s Oscars, however, Kidman says it felt special entering into a brand-new Chanel era. “It’s my first year with Matthieu, and I worked with Karl so closely, so it’s nice to be able to work with Matthieu so closely,” Kidman says. “It really is a joy. It feels new, but the history I have with the house is something I love, and to be able to move with Matthieu in this new modern iteration of Chanel is an honor.”
As for what Kidman does with her knockout collectsion of memorable Oscar looks, including last night’s latest Chanel number? “A lot of them are archived and saved,” says Kidman. “They are a map of so much of my life and career, and mark different times for me. It’s so beautiful to be able to have my girls appreciate them—and hopefully wear them in the future.”
See Every Look From the 2026 Oscars Red Carpet:
