Sydney Sweeney Channels Marilyn Monroe in Vintage Cream Dress on the Red Carpet

Sydney Sweeney arrived in Santa Barbara as one of the most buzzed-about honorees at the 41st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuosos Award ceremony on Feb. 8, 2026. The event celebrated a select group of actors whose recent performances have propelled them to cinematic prominence. And Sweeney received recognition for her work in the drama Christy alongside fellow honorees. On the red carpet, Sweeney turned heads in a vintage-inspired cream Ceil Chapman gown that nodded to classic Hollywood glamour. Here’s why everyone’s comparing Sweeney’s dress to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic style.

Sydney Sweeney turned heads in a vintage 1950s dress that mirrored what Marilyn Monroe previously wore

Sydney Sweeney can’t stop making headlines in 2026. While her new SYRN lingerie line is picking up, she’s still busy turning heads in her red-carpet looks.

According to Hello!, Sweeney wore a vintage 1950s Ceil Chapman gown to the 41st Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuosos Award ceremony on Feb. 8, 2026. The cream-colored off-the-shoulder dress came complete with a cinched waist, ruched three-quarter sleeves, and a signature brooch at the center. And it closely mirrored the gown Marilyn Monroe famously wore on the cover of Life Magazine in 1952, making it one of the most iconic American fashion moments of the era.

The actress completed the look with heels in a similar color to the dress. And she wore her hair in loose, cascading curls, which emphasized romance.

Ceil Chapman was a celebrated mid-century American designer known for elegant, figure-flattering evening dresses that emphasized effortless glamour. She was a favorite among Hollywood elites like Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Deborah Kerr. Her work often featured careful draping and gathered detailing that accentuated the female silhouette. This helped define 1950s couture and made pieces like Sweeney’s striking choice historically significant.

Vintage Ceil Chapman gowns can reportedly vary widely in value. Chapman dresses and gowns from the 1950s often show up in vintage boutiques and online shops and sell for $300 – $1,500 in good condition, according to Kovels Antique Trader. Some specific pieces with elaborate detailing or crafted from silk can go for $2,000 – $3,000. And pieces actually worn by Marilyn Monroe are known to go for hundreds of thousands of dollars.