Kim Kardashian stepped out Saturday night in an archival Balenciaga gown that doubled as an Elizabeth Taylor tribute.
The Skims founder, 44, arrived at the Academy Museum Gala 2026 wearing a 1951 strapless design sourced from vintage purveyor Lily et Cie, complete with a pink sash, a large bow at the back and delicate lace detailing. Stylist Law Roach paired the look with a multi-layered 55.8-carat diamond Leviev necklace and oversized 10.2-carat diamond cluster earrings from Zydo Italy.
The bouffant hairstyle completed the dramatic Old Hollywood effect. Kardashian has long been open about her obsession with the fellow diamond-loving starlet; she released her docuseries “Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar” last year and often pays homage to the “Cleopatra” star. The Balenciaga choice carried extra resonance since she walked the runway for the brand in 2025 wearing earrings that once belonged to Taylor.
She was joined on the red carpet by sister Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Sabrina Carpenter among other A-listers. Taylor Swift, another noted Taylor fanatic, was set to perform during the evening’s event, which celebrates filmmaker and composer John Carpenter as well as Colman Domingo and Charlize Theron. The annual gala, now in its sixth year, is co-chaired by Tom Ford, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw.
Kardashian’s appearance marked a sharp contrast from her splash at the same event last year, when she chose a nude corseted Maison Margiela couture gown that included a matching face-obscuring mask. The dramatic look included winged sleeves, and the reality star added an enormous crystal choker, also Maison Margiela couture, as well as Lorraine Schwartz emerald pinky rings.
She revealed on that red carpet that, despite her face being completely concealed, she had a full face of makeup underneath and had flown makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic across the country for the event before deciding on the headpiece at the last minute.
“I’m sure he’s not so happy with it,” she said at the time, though she promised to lift the veil once inside.
Dedivanovic joked about the moment on social media afterward. Hairstylist Chris Appleton, who fixed her hair in a butt-grazing wavy style for the masked appearance, added on his own, “Behind every masked moment is a glam team silently crying 🥹.”
This year, the glam team is cheering instead.
The shift from concealed face to exposed Hollywood glamour bookends a year of Kardashian’s deepening engagement with fashion history and celebrity legacy. The archival Balenciaga selection, sourced specifically from Lily et Cie rather than pulled from a contemporary collection, signals a continued interest in wearing pieces with provenance and narrative weight.
