Simone Ashley Style Evolution: Her Best Red Carpet Fashion To Date

Published: April 22, 2026 Last Updated 17 minutes ago by Evelyn Adenike

Since her debut as Kate Sharma in Bridgerton Season 2, Simone Ashley has become a prominent figure in both acting and fashion. Her transformation from newcomer to red carpet standout is marked by a style evolution that moves from polished, romantic silhouettes to bold couture statements, blending classic elegance with a contemporary edge.

Simone Ashley’s red carpet appearances consistently showcase drama, femininity, and confidence. Her style choices are both aspirational and relatable, drawing attention from fans and critics alike. This overview traces her fashion journey, highlights key red carpet moments, examines the designers influencing her image, and explores what sets her apart as a leading style icon of the 2020s.

Early Days: Discovering Her Glamorous Voice (Pre-2022 Breakthrough)

Before Bridgerton brought her international recognition, Simone Ashley’s style already reflected her emerging confidence. Influenced by her upbringing in Surrey and Ojai, and inspired by bohemian icons like Stevie Nicks, her early looks combined clean lines, feminine details, and subtle rebellious elements, such as pairing leather boots with flowing garments.

Her first significant red carpet appearance was at the 2021 British Fashion Awards in a custom AZ Factory ensemble. Despite being early in her career, she displayed quiet regality. Ashley has noted she was still developing her style, but this look indicated her preference for thoughtful, artistic fashion over fleeting trends.

Stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray has played a key role in refining Ashley’s style, balancing her natural energy with high-fashion influences from brands such as Gucci and Valentino, as well as emerging designers. This collaboration has enabled Ashley to experiment while maintaining her romantic aesthetic.

The Bridgerton Effect: 2022 – Romantic Drama Meets Bold Colour

In 2022, Simone Ashley emerged as a notable presence in fashion. Her role as Kate Sharma, the “diamond of the season” in Bridgerton, influenced her off-screen style, which incorporated elements like corsets and floral embroidery, adapted to reflect her personal taste.

At the Bridgerton Season 2 premiere in March 2022, she wore a Gucci Love Parade look with sheer lace elements, pairing a black sheer skirt with a cropped white top. This ensemble captured the show’s romantic spirit while introducing a modern, sensual element, highlighting her affinity for texture and transparency.

At the 2022 BAFTAs, Ashley attracted attention in a vibrant hot-pink Valentino jumpsuit from Pier Paolo Piccioli’s monochromatic collection. This bold choice demonstrated her confidence with colour. 

She later wore a Valentino minidress at the BAFTAs afterparty, reinforcing her preference for the brand’s feminine, structured designs.

For her 2022 Met Gala debut, themed “Gilded Glamour,” Ashley wore a custom Moschino by Jeremy Scott ensemble featuring a gold embroidered bustier, high-waisted black satin skirt, and a dramatic black opera coat. The look combined classic elegance with theatrical flair. Ashley has described it as one of her favourites and praised Jeremy Scott for his collaborative approach. Her makeup, with bronzed tones and cool pink lips, complemented the overall regal effect.

At the 2022 Venice Film Festival for Bones and All, she chose a strapless vintage Giorgio Armani gown, demonstrating minimalist sophistication and versatility.

At The Fashion Awards, she wore a dramatic hooded maxi dress, and at another premiere, a Monot bandage dress showcased her appreciation for modern, body-conscious tailoring.

These 2022 appearances established key elements of Ashley’s style: romantic silhouettes, modern details such as sheer fabrics and bold colours, and a preference for designers like Valentino, Moschino, and Armani.

Rising Confidence: 2023–2024 – Couture, Sheer Trends, and Experimentation

With the promotion of Bridgerton Season 3 and other projects, Ashley’s style became increasingly bold and experimental, featuring sheer fabrics, statement embellishments, and dramatic couture.

At the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for Versace’s La Vacanza show, she wore a colourful, “watermelon-inspired” look with vibrant greens, pinks, and purples, embracing summer glamour. Ashley has expressed her enjoyment of outdoor, sunlit photos and a body-positive approach to fashion.

At the 2023 Fashion Awards and other events, Ashley supported both emerging and established designers, including 16Arlington, Harris Reed, Nensi Dojaka, and Prabal Gurung.

A highlight was her Tamara Ralph Couture dress at Vogue World, a beaded mesh gown embroidered with pearls, which she described as her favourite: “Totally impractical but a piece of art.” Dramatic peacock-feather details in Tamara Ralph designs added a sense of theatrical romance.

At the 2024 Met Gala, themed “Garden of Time,” Ashley wore a Prabal Gurung gown with cutouts, combining delicacy and strength. The purple beaded dress and ’70s-inspired makeup reflected her willingness to experiment with dramatic looks.

Other 2024 highlights included a Del Core sheer ensemble with exposed bra detail at the Bridgerton Season 3 premiere and a pastel green off-the-shoulder Blumarine dress that conveyed an ethereal, playful mood.

During the Bridgerton Season 3 promotional tour, Ashley showcased multiple looks in a single day, including butter yellow Hermès, tomato red Jacquemus, and double denim Prada.

These choices demonstrated her command of colour trends and her ability to mix luxury and casual elements.

2025–2026: Peak Glamour and Red Carpet Queen Status

By 2025 and 2026, Simone Ashley had established herself as a leading red carpet presence. Her appearances for projects such as F1: The Movie, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and ongoing Bridgerton promotions demonstrated her couture-level confidence.

At the 2025 F1 London premiere, she wore a gold 3D-printed Balmain gown, a sculptural piece that reportedly took four months to create, paired with Jimmy Choo heels. Ashley has shared her preparation rituals for such events, including a curated playlist and an espresso martini, emphasising the enjoyment and planning involved in her red carpet appearances.

In 2025, Ashley appeared at Cannes in archival Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and Prada at the closing ceremony. Additional appearances in Marine Serre and Chloé highlighted her ongoing support for innovative design.

In 2026, for The Devil Wears Prada 2 press and premiere in New York, Ashley wore a Chartreuse green Prada gown with metallic slingbacks, complemented by other vibrant press tour outfits from Dior, Maccapani, and more. Her involvement in the film, alongside Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, further connected her to the fashion world.

At the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Ashley wore a shimmering silver Tamara Ralph couture column gown with silver peacock feathers at the heart-shaped neckline. The metallic fabric and form-fitting silhouette created a striking, modern look. Paired with understated Buccellati diamond earrings and luminous, berry-toned makeup, the ensemble was both refined and impactful. Critics and fans praised it as one of her best, exemplifying the “quiet regality” that defines her red carpet style.

Other recent highlights include a sheer Victoria Beckham “sea princess” dress for The Little Mermaid premiere and various Prada, Balmain, and Chloé looks that blend tailoring with playful elements.

Signature Style Elements and Influences

Simone Ashley’s red carpet fashion consistently features:

• Romantic with a Modern Edge: Tea-length or column gowns featuring sheer panels, embellishments such as pailettes, beads, or feathers, and unexpected details like cutouts or exposed elements.
• Colour Confidence: A wide range of hues, from hot pink Valentino to butter yellow, tomato red, emerald green, and shimmering silver or metallics.
• Preferred Designers: Valentino for feminine structure, Prada, Versace, Tamara Ralph for couture drama, Moschino and Jeremy Scott for theatrical elements, Balmain for bold sculptural designs, Armani for timeless minimalism, and emerging names such as Del Core, Blumarine, and 16Arlington.
• Accessories and Beauty: Statement jewellery from brands such as Chopard, Buccellati, Messika, Piaget, and Tiffany & Co. archival, paired with Jimmy Choo or Giuseppe Zanotti heels. Her beauty look often features glowy, bronzed makeup with playful lips or eyes, and hair styled in soft waves or sleek finishes to complement her gowns.

Her influences include Dua Lipa, Zendaya, Stevie Nicks, Julia Roberts, and Cameron Diaz, all known for their thoughtful and diverse style. Ashley has stated she is now more daring and confident, willing to “give it a go and have fun.”

In an era dominated by fast fashion and algorithm-driven trends, Simone Ashley distinguishes herself through intentional choices. Her looks bridge Bridgerton-inspired romance with contemporary glamour, celebrate her British-Indian heritage, and embrace body positivity through thoughtful use of sheer and skin-baring styles.

Ashley works closely with her stylist and glam team, including makeup artist Alex Babsky, viewing red carpet appearances as creative extensions of her acting. Whether promoting Bridgerton, The Devil Wears Prada 2, or attending awards, her fashion choices remain authentic and genuine.

Fashion experts highlight her preference for “romantic silhouettes done with modern finishes.” This balance of dreamy and daring, feminine and powerful, makes her a source of inspiration for designers and fans alike.

Looking Ahead: A Style Icon in Full Bloom

As Simone Ashley continues with Bridgerton Season 4, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and new projects, including potential music ventures, her style evolution is expected to continue. Anticipate further couture collaborations, bold experiments with colour and silhouette, and ongoing support for both established and emerging designers.

Her journey demonstrates that red carpet fashion is a form of self-expression, confidence, and joy. From her first AZ Factory appearance to the Tamara Ralph gown at the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscars, Simone Ashley has established a legacy of memorable looks.

Throughout her career, Ashley’s presence on the red carpet remains consistent: regal, romantic, and poised for new opportunities. For those seeking style inspiration or the latest red carpet trends, Simone Ashley continues to deliver.

Fans can look forward to even more from this standout talent as her influence continues to grow.

Photo: Instagram/@simoneashley