Let’s talk about the real story of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping press tour: McKenna Grace and her absolute commitment to being the best-dressed person at every single event she attends. Seriously, is it too early to declare her the fashion girlie of the entire press tour?
As Grace prepares to step into the world of Panem as Maysilee Donner in the highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel, she’s already proving that she understands the assignment. From dreamy, colorful gowns to thoughtful tributes to the franchise’s most iconic fashion moments, every look is giving slay, and you can tell she’s having fun with it. The dresses, the colors, the little Hunger Games nods? Like, girl gets it.
And let me tell you, Pop Tellers, I love seeing an actress embrace the fashion side of a major film press tour. Zendaya set the bar sky-high with her method dressing for The Odyssey, and now Grace is giving us another reason to look forward to every new red-carpet appearance.
That’s what makes McKenna’s press tour looks so fun to follow. She’s not just wearing pretty dresses and calling it a day… girlie is giving us Hunger Games references, princess vibes, and looks I am absolutely talking about in my group chat. So, let’s get into it. Here are McKenna Grace’s best looks from the press tour so far.
What Has McKenna Grace Said About Her Press Tour Looks?
McKenna, who has been a huge Hunger Games fan for years, told Entertainment Tonight that experimenting with fashion during the press tour has been “healing,” adding that she’s “having fun with fashion versus it being something of anxiety.” She also described her outfits as “just homage to all the people that were a part of this franchise before I was.”
The Best Mckenna Grace Dresses for ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ Press Tour
1. McKenna Wears Baby Blue, Ruffles, and the Cutest Little Bow in L.A.
Back in early September, McKenna gave me the ultimate reason to obsess over her press-tour wardrobe with this baby-blue ruffled dress from SHUSHU/TONG. Styled by Molly Dickson for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping press tour in Los Angeles, the look was sweet, girly, and a little bit coquette.
And can we talk about that black bow? The contrast against the soft blue is EVERYTHING. Although it didn’t steal the show quite like her next look, something told me this was just the start of McKenna’s fashion takeover.
2. McKenna Pays Tribute to Katniss Everdeen in Paris
It got even better at the costume exhibition “Elegance is Authority: The Story, Style, and Power of Panem” in Paris on October 6, where Grace arrived in a white sculptural gown that was a direct nod to Katniss Everdeen’s iconic white wedding dress from Catching Fire.
Grace confirmed in an interview with E! News that the look was created using a vintage Monique dress, with silver pieces sewn onto it specifically to echo Jennifer Lawrence‘s unforgettable costume from the 2013 film.
As a tribute to the franchise she’s joining, it was perfect. As a fashion moment, it was a ten out of ten.
3. McKenna Brings the Romance to Sydney
She then followed it up with the ultimate look pulled straight out of a princess fairytale, which had people arguing over which look was better. Yep, exactly the kind of press tour drama I live for.
At the Sydney press tour on October 14th, McKenna Grace wore a gorgeous pink gown – styled with a Katniss braid, because the commitment to detail is relentless – alongside co-star Joseph Zada.
The pink tulle gown by House of Gilles felt youthful and playful while still delivering the kind of dramatic, princess-like glamour that makes a press tour look unforgettable.
4. McKenna Grace Goes Full Capitol Glamour in Lace
Most recently, she served full Capitol glamour in a Vera Wang lace dress paired with Chopard jewelry that made fashion Twitter collectively lose its mind. And can we talk about the flowers and butterflies woven into her hair? Adore the whimsical details!
One fan described her as having a fairytale quality, with others immediately casting her as Rapunzel in the Disney live-action, which says everything about the impression she’s making.
Another fan on social media captured the general feeling perfectly: “It’s only been a couple of press tour appearances, but The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is already my favorite McKenna Grace press tour so far. She looks SO excited to be here, and all her looks have been so colorful and full of life.”
5. McKenna Grace References Jena Malone
McKenna clearly knows her Hunger Games fashion history. During another press outing on October 15, the actress stepped out in a cream and gray color-block midi dress that looked straight out of Panem’s fashion archives.
But the twist I love most? Jena Malone, who played the iconic Catching Fire character, Johanna Mason, wore the exact same look to the film’s New York City premiere back in November 2013.
I love a full-circle fashion moment!
6. McKenna’s Butterfly-Adorned Navy Dress
Butterflies have become a recurring detail in McKenna’s Hunger Games press tour wardrobe, and I’m starting to think there’s a little Easter egg hidden in the styling.
For the 27th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival Honors and Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch event on October 18, Grace wore a strapless, tea-length navy dress adorned with delicate butterflies. The dreamy details popped against the deep blue fabric, which perfectly complemented the blue carpet at The Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, California.
7. Grace’s Red Gown Inspired by Jennifer Lawrence
McKenna took things up a notch at the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on October 17, stepping out in a figure-hugging red gown inspired by Jennifer Lawrence’s iconic Calvin Klein dress from the 2011 Oscars.
With its sleek silhouette and bold red hue, the look was a modern nod to one of Lawrence’s most memorable fashion moments. And considering McKenna is preparing to enter the world of Panem herself, the reference feels especially fitting.
Behind the Scenes, McKenna Is Just as Excited as We Are
Grace has also been sharing behind-the-scenes moments on social media, including getting matching shirts made with her fellow tributes and describing how “surreal” filming the Reaping Day scene was – and how it was somehow “fun” to be yelled at by Glenn Close.
Being yelled at by Glenn Close and describing it as fun is the most actor thing anyone has ever said, and I love her for it.
With more promotional appearances still to come, I’m officially seated and ready to see what McKenna wears next. Will she lean further into the Capitol aesthetic? Give us another iconic franchise-inspired look? Or surprise everyone with a completely new fashion direction?
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: McKenna is running this press tour, and nobody else should even try.
There are sections of this article that were written by Angela Stephanou.
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