Elen Fanning Wears Sarah Burton’s Givenchy at the 2025 Oscars

For many, not anyone was perfectly placed to usher in Sarah Burton’s new era ate Givenchy than Elle Fanning- and no better occasion that the 2025 Oscars. At the 97^th Academy Awards, Fanning chose to wear the designer’s first-ever custom haute couture look as creative direction of the storied French house.

The moment came just ahead of Burton’s inaugural Givenchy show in Paris on March 7, but it was a landmark in Fanning’s career also. “Sarah has become a dear friend and collaborator.” Fanning revealed.“This year marks my first time ever attending the Academy Awards. And it’s an honor to be the first woman to wear a Sarah Burton couture Givenchy design.” The outfit received mixed reactions, some felt it was too predictable, too Elle.

The two are now entering a new chapter together. “There’s always an emotion, a feeling, when you put on the clothes. Fittings are the most important part to me, that’s when everything comes to life.” Burton says of realizing Fanning’s Oscars dress.

“When Elle and I were trying on the toiles, how she felt led us to the final choice.” Fanning agrees: “As usual, we started with sketches, which were all amazing, but the look really came alive when Sarah and I got in the room together. She flew to L.A. to fit me in person,” she says.

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For the big night, Fanning wore a white strapless lace dress with a trailing cape and adorned with a black bow. She revealed her look is the first public design from Sarah Burton’s tenure for Givenchy.

The former Alexander McQueen creative director will debut her first collection for the French fashion house during Paris Fashion Week this month. For an elegant final touch, Fanning completed the look with a Cartier necklace from 1958.

This year’s Best Supporting Actress category included Fanning’s co-star Monica Barbara (A Complete Unknown), Ariana Grande (Wicked), Felicity Jones (The Brutalist) and Isabella Rossellini (Conclave).

Despite the snub, she has maintained a strong presence this awards season, with standout appearances at the SAG Awards and Golden Globes, where she wore a champagne ball gown by Balmain with a leopard-print detail.

Burton brought the dress into the modern era with a corseted bodice, an updated take on a 1950s bra, and a Watteau-train cape. “It felt like kismet. It was another first: inspired by a lade dress from Hubert de Givenchy’s first collection.