In the months leading up to The Little Mermaid premiere on May 26, Halle Bailey and her stylist Nichole Goodman have seemingly crafted each red carpet look to channel her starring role in the Disney live-action film. From a myriad of blue tones, to sheer wispy fabrics, to sparkles, and to the form-fitting silhouettes, it’s obvious each look has been carefully styled as the lead up to Bailey’s magical debut as a mermaid princess. Let’s take a look back at the times Halle Bailey channeled Ariel on the red carpet.
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In February at the MusiCares 2023 Persons of the Year Gala, which honored Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, Bailey opted for a form-fitting Gianni Naazar gown that had strategic cut-outs and bursts of blue, green, and gold beading over a sheer underlay. The colors hearken back to the cool tones of the ocean and marine life. In addition, the beads were applied to the gown in a shape reminiscent of a seashell.
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At the 95th Annual Academy Awards, Bailey wore a custom Dolce & Gabbana gown. The princess ball gown was very intentional, with the shape representing a classic Disney princess dress and the sea foam lightweight fabric moving like the waves of the ocean. At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party later that evening, Bailey donned a custom Maison Yeya dress that was sculptural and reflective and reminiscent of the inside of a seashell.
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Goodman styled Bailey in a dreamy white Gucci gown and cape on fashion’s biggest night – the Met Gala. The ruffled cape evoked a jellyfish essence while the shimmery white sequins along the gown were reminiscent of scales. The fitted silhouette of the dress, the volume of the cape, and its placement around Bailey’s elbows reflected the shape of a mermaid – slender until you reach her tail at the bottom.
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For the gala afterparty, Bailey chose a Georges Hobeika dress with iridescent metallics and sparkly features all over, a high slit, and tulle detailing. The contrast between the bodice and skirt is similar to the the bra often worn in modern mermaid tales and her scaled tail.
While these red carpet looks were very subtle depictions of a mermaid, Bailey went into full-fledged method dressing for The Little Mermaid premieres across the globe.
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For the world premiere in Los Angeles, Bailey poured herself into a metallic blue Valdrin Sahiti gown, sticking with the pattern of a shell-like bra, corseted bodice, and fabric that moves like flowing or splashing water.
At the Mexico City premiere, she wore a Georges Chakra dress embellished with pearls and a sheer billowing skirt with net detailing. The skirt has a floating effect, and the net represents the human effect on the oceans.
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Bailey looked magnificent in a custom white embellished gown with sheer detailing and a shell-like headpiece by Miss Sohee for the London premiere. The sparkle details formed large shells down Bailey’s dress, and the sheer-detailed bodice was also shaped like a shell.
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For the Australian premiere, which was the last stop on Bailey’s press tour, the actress and singer wore a custom Off-White by Ib Kamara satin gown with a long sheer overskirt in a perfect baby blue. Bailey’s silhouette in the look, once again, was reminiscent of a mermaid, albeit one with dazzling crystal-encrusted barnacles at her waist.
Halle Bailey and her stylist Nichole Goodman certainly had fun channeling Ariel for the red carpet events leading up to the release of The Little Mermaid in theaters, but fortunately, the stunning looks never veered towards costume territory.
