Celebrity Optical Illusion Dresses Captivate: From Emma Watson to Celine Dion, an Astonishing Collection
18 Optical Illusion Celebrity Dresses: A Fashion Revolution
In the world of high fashion, designers are constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity, and none more so than those who specialise in optical illusion dresses. These innovative creations play with perception, using layering, print, texture, and sheer elements to create visually stunning garments that challenge the eye. Here are some examples of optical illusion dresses worn by celebrities on the red carpet and at prestigious events.
Firstly, Hunter Schafer stunned at the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show, wearing a design by Daniel Roseberry that resembled an oil-painted body based on his original artwork. The dress was a true masterpiece, a testament to the power of illusion in fashion.
Elsa Hosk turned heads at the red carpet for La Passion De Dodin Bouffant at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing a Viktor & Rolf gown that appeared to be two different dresses at once. This dress, like many optical illusion creations, played with the viewer's perception, creating a sense of wonder and intrigue.
Emma Watson chose a light blue Loewe dress with a wired bodice for a recent event, a design that created the illusion that the elements of the dress were floating in the air. The dress was a beautiful example of how fashion can transcend the mundane and enter the realm of the fantastical.
Jada Pinkett Smith wore a sheer, floor-length Iris van Herpen dress with the "hypnosis" technique to the Los Angeles premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The dress, with its mesmerising patterns, was a feast for the eyes, a true embodiment of the power of illusion in fashion.
Tracee Ellis Ross wore a bright red 3D top from Sportmax's Spring-Summer 2025 collection to W magazine's Best Performances Party, a design that looked like a censor to cover her seemingly bare chest. The top was a bold statement, a daring exploration of the boundaries of fashion and the human form.
Janelle Monáe wore a mind-blowing minidress designed by Tony Ward at the 2024 NFL Honors, a dress that was a true spectacle. The dress, with its intricate detailing, was a visual feast, a testament to the power of innovation in fashion.
Storm Reid wore a multi-colored blue Iris van Herpen dress with textures that looked like cascading water to the 2019 People’s Choice Awards. The dress, with its flowing lines and vibrant colours, was a true work of art, a testament to the power of illusion in fashion.
Lastly, Kim Kardashian wore a Thierry Mugler dress to the 2019 Met Gala that was designed to look like it was dripping wet, and was a homage to Sophia Loren's wet look in the 1957 film, Boy On A Dolphin. The dress was a true spectacle, a testament to the power of innovation in fashion.
Other celebrities who have embraced the world of optical illusion fashion include Jenna Ortega, who wore a red dress from the Oscar de la Renta Fall 2025 collection on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which appeared to be made of real glass but was actually hand-painted and embroidered polyamide. Demi Moore wore a pinstriped Thom Browne dress that was actually a giant tie at the 2025 Met Gala.
Bella Hadid closed out the Coperni SS23 show for Paris Fashion Week in a dress made entirely out of spray-on fabric called Fabrican, applied by Dr. Manel Torres live on stage. Kendall Jenner wore a David Koma minidress that looked like it was missing a top on a boat in 2023.
Emma Corrin wore a JW Anderson minidress that resembled a goldfish floating in a plastic bag at the European premiere for My Policeman at the 66th BFI London Film Festival. Salma Hayek wore a bodycon dress with blue and green flowers printed on the front and black fabric on the sides to an event, creating the illusion of a tiny, cinched Jessica Rabbit-like waistline.
Céline Dion wore an Iris van Herpen collab with artist Anthony Howe that looked like it was vibrating during a Paris Fashion Week show at Elysée Montmartre. Gwendoline Christie wore a "Suminagashi" ink dress from Iris van Herpen at the premiere of The Personal History of David Copperfield during the 2019 BFI London Film Festival.
Lady Gaga wore a silver metallic Rabanne dress and flying saucer hat from Philip Treacy that made her body look split when she performed and accepted the award for Best Female at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards. Cynthia Erivo wore a Thom Browne black gown to the Mexico City premiere for Wicked that created the optical illusion of two extra shadowy hands.
Designers like Iris van Herpen are renowned for combining technology, 3D printing, and innovative fabrics to create dresses that seem to morph and shift visually. Thom Browne often employs structural tailoring that distorts proportions as an optical twist. For a comprehensive list of 18 specific illusory dresses by these and other designers, fashion magazines such as Marie Claire, Vogue, or InStyle often publish curated editorials exploring this theme seasonally. From the current data, Nicole Kidman’s and Jenna Ortega’s recent appearances are prime examples of optical illusion fashion in 2025.
These optical illusion dresses are a testament to the power of fashion to push boundaries, challenge perceptions, and create awe-inspiring spectacles. They are a reminder that fashion is not just about clothes, but about art, innovation, and the human spirit.
Evergreen in the world of pop-culture, optical illusion dresses continue to captivate celebrities, such as dib-celebs like Janelle Monáe and Kim Kardashian, who have been known to wear these visually stunning garments on the red carpet. Entertainment outlets like 'Marie Claire', 'Vogue', and 'InStyle' often feature optical illusion creations made by designers like Iris van Herpen and Thom Browne, showcasing how fashion continues to be a platform for artistic innovation and fashion revolution.
