Ella Ballentine attended the Vampire Lestat premiere in a black corseted gown with sheer sleeves and red crystal jewelry. The Gothic vibes are there. The fit? That's where it gets complicated.
There’s a fine line between “intentionally gothic” and “costume rental that didn’t get pressed.” Ella Ballentine’s look for the AMC premiere of The Vampire Lestat: One Night Only at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on June 2, 2026, lands somewhere in the middle of that line. She’s clearly going for dark romance — corset bodice, sheer billowy sleeves, red crystal jewelry. The pieces individually work. The problem is how they sit together.
Let’s start with what’s strong. The top half of the gown has a structured, bone-channeled corset bodice with an open keyhole neckline tied at the center bust. That part is sharp. The sheer black sleeves are long and draped, gathering at the upper arm before flaring out into loose cuffs. In a vacuum, those are good elements. They read as romantic without being fussy.
The issue is the fit across the bodice. The boning looks like it’s digging slightly at the top edge, and the sheer fabric over the bust sits a little loose — not in an intentional, off-shoulder way, but in a “this was adjusted five minutes before the carpet” way. It pulls attention away from the face and toward the construction, which is not where you want attention on a red carpet. The open tie at the neckline feels less intentional and more incomplete.
The lower half of the dress is a multi-paneled maxi skirt with high front slits that reveal sheer, lace under-panels. That part works better. The lace isn’t overwhelming, and the slits break up what could otherwise be a heavy, blocky black skirt. The sheer under-layer gives it a nice depth — it reads as layered, not cheap.
She paired the look with an antique silver collar necklace featuring cascading rows of teardrop-shaped red crystals. That’s the best accessory choice here. The red against the black is what saves the look from being completely swallowed by the darkness. It gives the eye somewhere to land. The jewelry is doing real work.
The hair is up in a loose, messy bun with curtain bangs, and the makeup is clean — a red lip that plays off the necklace, soft brows, minimal eye. That part is solid. The styling choices outside the dress itself are all correct.
So here’s the honest take: The intention is right. Gothic, romantic, slightly theatrical — that’s the correct lane for a Vampire Lestat premiere. Ella Ballentine in premiere styling is clearly leaning into her role as Baby Jenks, and that’s smart. But the execution on the bodice needed another fitting. It’s a small thing, but on a celebrity red carpet, small things are the only things that matter. The collar necklace and the sheer skirt panels are strong enough to carry it, but next time, I’d ask for the tailor to take a second pass at that top edge.
Share what you think