Jenna Ortega red carpet fashion continues to set industry standards, emerging as both a creative exploration and a conversation on star power and style influence. From early collaborations with her longtime stylist Enrique Melendez to her most memorable 2025 red carpet moments, Ortega’s unique sense of fashion reflects thoughtful risk and effortless trendsetting, inspiring headlines and admiration alike.
How Jenna Ortega and Enrique Melendez Shaped Their Fashion Legacy
Jenna Ortega’s journey in the spotlight began at the intersection of youthful television stardom and an early partnership with stylist Enrique Melendez. Their collaboration dates back to when Ortega was just 14, embarking on starring roles for networks like the CW and Disney Channel. Approaching a decade as a team by 2025, this creative duo has developed a distinct approach to red carpet dressing, blending unconventional design with fashion history.
The rapport between Ortega and Melendez is one of shared vision and open dialogue. Melendez emphasizes the collaborative nature of their process:
“I don’t just show up and say, ‘You’re going to wear this today.’ It’s very much a conversation.”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
Their selections regularly meld inventive fabrics and silhouettes with garments steeped in fashion legacy, such as the iconic newsprint Dior dress Ortega donned for the ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ premiere. Each ensemble becomes more than a garment; it’s a narrative expression, co-created by star and stylist.
Rather than pursuing shock value, Ortega and Melendez focus on authenticity and mutual excitement about each look. As Melendez expresses,
“If we were really excited about something, I think that naturally showed,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
a philosophy they continue to maintain as their partnership moves into another year of red carpet appearances.
Looking ahead to 2026, Ortega’s filmography — including titles like ‘The Gallerist,’ ‘Klara and the Sun,’ and J.J. Abrams‘s ‘Ghostwriter’ — promises more creative opportunities, though the team remains unfazed by external responses. Melendez explains,
“If people love it, great. If they don’t love it, that’s OK, too,”
and reaffirms,
“What’s important is that we feel good about it.”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
As the industry eagerly anticipates another wave of Jenna Ortega red carpet fashion, Melendez sheds light on the artistry and intent behind her most celebrated looks of the past year.
Turning Heads at the Vanity Fair 2025 Oscars Party
Ortega’s year began with remarkable style at her inaugural Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Melendez, accessing Donna Karan’s storied archives for the occasion, selected a draped Resort 2004 gown distinguished by its airy ruffles and sheer train. He reimagined the styling for a modern twist, allowing one strap to elegantly fall off Ortega’s shoulder, enhancing the neckline’s freshness. As Melendez puts it,
“We wanted to make it a little more youthful,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
signifying their commitment to tailoring classic fashion to suit Ortega’s individuality.
Commanding Attention at the 2025 Met Gala
The 2025 Met Gala, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” provided a canvas for Ortega’s most innovative look yet — a custom Balmain gown. Melendez instantly felt this was the perfect occasion for the fashion house, declaring,
“This feels like an Olivier [Rousteing] moment. We haven’t had that yet,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
A sculptural bodice, ingeniously constructed from metal rulers, formed the centerpiece of the look. This literal nod to the event’s tailoring motif was a daring choice, as Melendez observes,
“It was truly made to measure,”
and recalls Ortega’s initial hesitation,
“Jenna was a little on the fence about the rulers, because she felt it might’ve been too on the nose,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
Public reception initially wavered, with Melendez remarking,
“she didn’t make it into a lot of the [best-dressed] roundups of the evening.”
and further reflects,
“people were confused why she wore a metal dress to this particular theme.”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
However, as the creative intent became clear, appreciation for the ensemble grew. In Melendez’s words,
“I think art is meant to be [inspected] from afar and then also appreciated in detail later on,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
Illustrating how Ortega’s willingness to embrace conceptual fashion sets her apart from her peers.
Wearing Fashion History at the ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ Premiere
Just days after the Met Gala, Ortega appeared in New York City wearing an authentic Dior newspaper dress from John Galliano’s Fall 2000 collection, immortalized by the character Carrie Bradshaw. Melendez, inspired while walking Madison Avenue, immediately recalled the garment as a symbol of Manhattan’s fashion heritage. Despite initial resistance from the fashion house, Melendez persisted, citing his mother’s wisdom:
“If you don’t ask, you don’t get,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
With the support of HBO and Lionsgate, Melendez secured the piece on the condition that it remained unaltered — due to its value and rarity. When the dress arrived moments before the premiere, it fit Ortega perfectly, prompting an emotional response from Melendez:
“I was almost in tears, because it fit like a glove,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
He shares further,
“Jenna understands the culture behind Sex and the City, but she also knew how much I loved it. So she said, ‘I’ll definitely wear this, no problem.’”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
This event underscored Ortega’s role in bringing fashion history to contemporary audiences while honoring its provenance and impact.
Evolving Looks on the ‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Press Tour
With the second season of ‘Wednesday’ approaching, Ortega and Melendez decided to depart from the gothic motifs that defined their earlier press tour styles. As Melendez explains,
“I wanted to show up with something that felt a bit more curated for Jenna.”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
Inspired by Ortega’s affinity for ’90s fashion, Melendez referenced looks from icons like Winona Ryder, Cristina Ricci, and Kate Moss. Their efforts culminated in Ortega debuting Ashi Studio’s dramatic finale gown from the Couture Fall 2025 collection, featuring striking snake-scale detailing and a bold silhouette that captured the spirit of both nostalgia and modern edge.
For a Netflix and Spotify celebration, Ortega stunned in a custom GapStudio creation designed by Zac Posen and Melendez. This grunge-inspired dress, crafted from charcoal grey cotton jersey and featuring an in-house tumble wash, exemplified improvisational ingenuity, as Melendez reveals,
“We were still working on it until the night of the premiere,”
He credits Ortega for hands-on involvement, adding,
“Jenna took part in slashing some of the slits.”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
This piece, with its hand-finished flourishes, exemplified their fluid, co-creative approach and willingness to experiment even moments before an event.
Making a Statement at the 2025 Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards offered Ortega another opportunity to showcase her evolving style. Melendez earmarked a bejeweled bodice from Givenchy’s Fall 2025 line the instant it graced the runway, taking inspiration from the look’s previous campaign appearance on Kaia Gerber. The one-of-a-kind illusion top, detailed with an array of gemstones, arrived with strict limitations on alterations. Ortega contributed her own ideas by pairing the statement piece with a skirt, noting its suitability for the occasion:
“a little more elegant for the Emmys,”
— Jenna Ortega, Actress
A dramatic thigh-high slit was added at the last moment, reinforcing the team’s flair for balancing high drama with personal expression.
Pushing Boundaries at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala
For one of her final red carpet appearances in 2025, Ortega extended the bold-top motif with a futuristic ensemble from Grace Ling, selected after reviewing this designer’s Spring 2026 New York Fashion Week collection. The outfit, defined by a chrome-plated one-shoulder top reminiscent of a giant leaf and a sculpted skirt, prompted anxiety about its similarity to previous Emmys attire. Melendez shares his concerns,
“Even up to the night of the event, we worried it was too similar to the Emmys look, because it was a hardware top and column skirt,”
but confides his dedication to distinctiveness,
“I was losing sleep over it, because I didn’t want her to feel like she’s wearing [the same thing] back to back,”
— Enrique Melendez, Stylist
Once the look was revealed on the red carpet, however, Melendez felt reassured that the risk had paid off.
Why Jenna Ortega’s Approach Resonates in Red Carpet Fashion
Jenna Ortega red carpet fashion continues to generate excitement due to the mix of fearlessness, mutual trust, and genuine experimentation that governs her style choices. From rare vintage pieces and inventive couture to collaborations with renowned creative directors like Zac Posen and houses such as Balmain and Dior, her looks speak to a sense of purpose and narrative.
The ongoing partnership with Enrique Melendez — supported by acknowledgments from fashion outlets, designers, and fans — ensures that every appearance is a conversation about the past, present, and future of fashion. Ortega’s effortless confidence and willingness to blend history with forward-thinking design cement her as both a red carpet fixture and an industry muse, setting a standard for how stars can dress without ever seeming to try too hard. As new film projects arrive and red carpet events return, industry watchers and admirers alike await Ortega’s next sartorial evolution with keen anticipation.
