Kendall Jenner Wears a Custom Polka Dot Valentino Gown With Matching Polka Dot Pumps to the 2026 Academy Museum Gala

Kendall Jenner went with polka dots at the 6th Annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, and she didn’t hold back. Her gown was custom Valentino by Alessandro Michele, and Danielle Goldberg styled her.

The dress was really two looks in one. The top half was a strapless black bodice, softly ruched, with white dots scattered across it in different sizes. Below the waist it switched to a glossy ivory satin skirt covered in huge black dots that looked beaded or sequined, so they caught the light as she moved. A peplum frill sat at the hip with a big satin bow knotted at one side, and a high slit ran up the front to show off her leg. The back of the skirt dragged into a long train, and in the side-on shot you can see the black lining on the inside of the slit, which was a nice touch.

Her shoes were the part people noticed most. She wore pointed-toe kitten heels in white with small black polka dots, a perfect match for the skirt, and the heel was striped. Her only jewelry was a pair of sparkly diamond earrings, and she had deep red polish on her nails.

Her hair was pulled back into a sleek updo with a straight center part and no flyaways. Her makeup was soft and fresh, with rosy cheeks, defined brows and a glossy pink-nude lip.

Kendall Jenner is a model and one of the most in-demand faces in fashion. She became widely known through Keeping Up with the Kardashians and has since walked for many of the big fashion houses, and she is also the founder of 818 Tequila. Plenty of her past red carpet looks are on the site, including her Chanel gown at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party.

The gala was held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Charlize Theron received the Icon Award, John Carpenter the Luminary Award and Colman Domingo the Vantage Award, and Taylor Swift performed. The evening raises money for the museum’s exhibitions, screenings and education programs.

She also wore a vintage Giorgio Armani gown at Venice not long ago. For more of the models she stands alongside, see our supermodels list.