At Live with Kelly and Mark in New York City, Elle Fanning paired an August Barron pastel look with a bow‑tied tulle skirt and satin mules, and the proportions are worth studying.
You can tell Elle Fanning came to ABC studios in New York City today to have some fun with fashion. This isn’t just another promo dress; it’s a full story in pastel.
She’s in a soft yellow polo top that looks like the August Barron Fall 2026 top from the collection notes — short sleeves, tiny horizontal stripes, and a relaxed, slightly boxy cut. The knit sits loosely over a high waist, which keeps it from feeling too preppy or literal. I might be wrong, but it feels like a deliberate “school uniform gone couture” move.
Then there’s the August Barron Fall 2026 skirt, which completely changes the mood. It’s a voluminous, layered tulle overlay in a pale ivory that catches light with a subtle shimmer, cut to a flared, almost ballerina shape that hits just above the knee. Over the waist, you get two exaggerated satin bows — one in creamy white, one in powder blue — wrapped around a wide sash-style panel so they jut out like sculpted ribbons. That bow situation basically carries the whole look into fairy‑tale territory.
She finishes things with pale blue Jimmy Choo Skye Satin Mules, open at the toe with a softly curved vamp that echoes the bows without copying them. The satin looks smooth and structured rather than slippery, so the shoes hold their shape even with all that movement from the skirt. And because the heel is visible but not skyscraper‑high, it keeps the outfit playful instead of costume‑level dramatic.
Hair and makeup stay light so the clothes can take the spotlight. Her hair’s pulled back into a neat updo with a white ribbon at the back (a small detail, but it quietly mirrors the skirt bows), and her makeup leans fresh: pink lip, a bit of flush, nothing heavy around the eyes. It all sits in that sweet spot between TV‑ready and storybook.
My read on this is that it’s a good example of how celebrity street style can lean theatrical without totally losing wearability. Sure, most of us won’t grab a tulle bow skirt for a Tuesday, but the formula — neat knit on top, statement volume on the bottom, shoes that pick up one accent color — is surprisingly adaptable. Swap the tulle for a structured A‑line and you’ve basically got an everyday version.
If you follow celebrity style closely, this kind of pastel, bow‑heavy, almost “grown‑up doll” look has definitely crept back into rotation this spring. And Elle’s always one of the first people directors call when they want that slightly whimsical edge, so it tracks that she’s the one road‑testing it outside a daytime show.
So no, it’s not subtle. But for a mid‑week TV taping in April 2026, it’s exactly the kind of outfit you remember three days later.
Would you keep the full tulle‑and‑bows skirt, or would you tone it down and let the yellow top be the only playful piece?
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