Jenna Ortega wears steel-boned, crystal-fringed Elias Matso gown to New York screening of 'Klara and the Sun'

The look

Actor Jenna Ortega wore a corset gown made largely of steel boning to a New York screening of the film "Klara and the Sun" on Oct. 19, 2026, according to fashion coverage published Oct. 20. The event took place at the Crosby Street Hotel, where she appeared alongside co-star Amy Adams and director Taika Waititi. ^{[3] [4]}

The dress has a sculpted bodice, a plunging neckline and a floor-length cascade of beaded strands, according to Free Press Journal. W magazine described a twisted bodice, a structured hourglass shape and dense lacing up the back. Ortega paired it with nude heels, restrained jewelry and straight, centre-parted hair. ^{[5] [2] [3]}

Designer and construction

The gown is by Elias Matso, a 24-year-old designer who recently graduated from the Polimoda fashion school in Italy, Marie Claire and W reported. It is the finale look from his "Melt With Me" collection, which he made as his thesis project, Marie Claire said. ^{[1] [2]}

Marie Claire reported that Matso began the piece in late November 2025 and that it took about 300 hours, with help from freelancers, friends and family. The magazine listed steel boning cut into thousands of pieces, a beige bodysuit shell covered in iron, and 6,500 blue, pink and clear crystals from Preciosa. Free Press Journal said the crystal beads are each mounted on galvanised steel wire and that the gown also uses cotton coutil and viscose jersey. ^{[1] [5]}

Ortega's longtime stylist, Enrique Melendez, connected with Matso in May 2026, Marie Claire reported. Ortega told People, as quoted by Marie Claire, "This is a one-of-one dress." W quoted her on the red carpet saying it was handmade and "very fitting for the film." ^{[1] [2]}

The film

"Klara and the Sun" is based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel and is directed by Waititi. Ortega plays Klara, a solar-powered artificial companion; Adams plays the mother of Josie, who is played by Mia Tharia. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi and Natasha Lyonne, Celeb Tattler reported. ^[3]

The News International, citing remarks Ortega gave People, reported that the film is due in theaters on Oct. 23, 2026. That date comes from a single outlet in this reporting and was not independently confirmed against the studio. ^[4]

Material discrepancy

Sources differ slightly on the main material: Marie Claire describes steel boning cut into thousands of pieces, while W refers to steel rods and galvanized wire. Ortega told W the dress was handmade and "very fitting for the film," in which she plays an artificial companion. ^{[1] [2]}