Dakota Johnson and Lily Allen Turn Heads at Star-Studded Valentino Show

Haute Couture Week in Paris is reaching its crescendo, and the front row at Valentino is proving that maximalism is the only way to say goodbye to an era. Following the recent passing of legendary founder Valentino Garavani, the fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2026 presentation drew an eclectic crowd of icons, though none commanded the room quite like the duo of Lily Allen and Dakota Johnson.

Allen stepped out in a look that was described by many as very Flintstones-core, pairing an electric rust-orange silk pussy-bow blouse with a striking emerald-green velvet midi skirt. The boxy shoulders and billowing sleeves of her top provided a structured contrast to the slim silhouette of the skirt, while an oversized black velvet bow at the collar anchored the bold polka-dot print.

The musician’s aesthetic for the evening was a deliberate nod to the sartorial themes found in her latest music. She completed the ensemble with a moss-green Valentino Garavani DeVain bag and a layered, 1960s-inspired beehive updo that gave her classic look a contemporary, “slept-in” edge.

Seated directly next to Allen, Dakota Johnson took a significantly different approach to the “head-to-toe Valentino” dress code. The Materialists actress went virtually pantsless, opting for black semi-sheer lace hot pants worn under a pair of floral-printed tights.

Dakota Johnson and Lily Allen at the Valentino show. 📷 pic.twitter.com/uf8lROytuJ

— GoldenSeries (@series_golden) January 28, 2026

Johnson layered two leopard-print blouses—both tied with delicate bows—underneath a dark brown metallic jacket that featured gilded sheen and a thick feather trim along the cuffs. She also endorsed the comeback of the 2010-era Rockstud Stiletto, choosing a pointy black pair that signaled the return of the brand’s most recognizable Y2K-era footwear.

For Allen, the appearance comes in the middle of a massive career resurgence following the release of her critically acclaimed 2025 album West End Girl. The record, which has garnered over 150 million streams, has reinvented her as a vulnerable yet biting storyteller, leading to a completely sold-out run of intimate theatre dates starting in March 2026.

Following those intimate shows, Allen is set to embark on the largest headline tour of her career this June, playing major arenas across the UK and Ireland. There are also reports that her new album is currently being adapted into a West End musical, a project she recently teased during an appearance on Saturday Night Live, where Johnson herself made a surprise cameo.

Beyond the rom-com genre, Johnson is set to lead the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s thriller Verity, scheduled for release in October 2026. She has also made headlines recently for her newfound role as a brand ambassador for Alessandro Michele’s Valentino, a partnership that seems to have reignited her passion for “eclectic maximalism” on the world stage.

As Valentino enters its first season without its founding patriarch, the presence of stars like Allen and Johnson serves as a bridge between the house’s storied past and its vibrant, unpredictable future. Their bold choices in Paris suggest that the era of “quiet luxury” may finally be giving way to something much louder.

Do you think Dakota Johnson’s “underwear-as-outerwear” look at Valentino is a high-fashion win, or have we officially reached the limit of the pantsless trend? Please share your thoughts in the comments.