From Coco Jones in Richard Quinn to Anok Yai in Ashi Studio couture, the April 23 red carpet
The 2026 TIME100 Gala took place on April 23 at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, gathering a cross-section of honorees and guests whose influence spans entertainment, sports, fashion, public health, and beyond. Among this year’s honorees were Coco Jones, Keke Palmer, Sterling K. Brown, Zoe Saldaña, model Anok Yai, and health advocate Precious Matsoso. The red carpet, as it tends to do at this particular event, told its own story.
Coco Jones in Richard Quinn
Jones stepped onto the red carpet in a gown from Richard Quinn’s Spring 2026 collection, a strapless design with a structured black corseted bodice accented by a bold red rose detail. The voluminous white tulle skirt made the silhouette dramatic and romantic. The contrast between the fitted black top and the soft white volume below gave the look a deliberate tension that read well in photographs and in person. Jones is an honoree this year, and the choice of Quinn, whose work sits at the intersection of British maximalism and precise tailoring, felt like a considered statement rather than a pulled look.
La La Anthony in gold fringe
La La Anthony arrived in a cascading gold tassel gown with corseted boning for structure, while sculptural fringe draped across her neckline, bodice, and hip before flowing into a sweeping skirt. She accessorized with black cat-eye glasses and gold sculptural earrings from Guzema Jewelry. The sunglasses at a formal evening event could have felt like a misstep. Instead, they sharpened the look, cutting the formal silhouette with something that registered as intentional and confident. The fringe moved with her on the carpet in a way that photographs rarely capture fully.
Keke Palmer’s textural contrast
Palmer leaned into contrast, pairing a corseted black top with a velvet checkered skirt that played with texture and shape. A lace-trimmed slip detail added softness to the structured look, while her finger-waved pixie and diamond accents kept the styling sharp and polished. The combination of vintage hair technique with contemporary structural dressing is the kind of balance that does not always work. On Palmer, it did.
Anok Yai in Ashi Studio couture
Model Anok Yai commanded attention in a green crocodile-textured gown from Ashi Studio’s Spring/Summer 2026 couture collection. The sculptural neckline framed a diamond statement piece, while the structured skirt created a silhouette that felt both modern and regal. Yai is among this year’s honorees, and the choice of a couture piece from a Spring 2026 collection fresh off the runway signaled a deliberate approach to the night. The green reads as an unusual choice for a formal evening, which is exactly why it worked.
Others who registered on the carpet
Isan Elba wore a red gown with long sleeves, soft draping, and gold hardware at the waist, paired with a short flipped hairstyle. Sterling K. Brown, also a 2026 honoree, arrived in a coral jacket over a crisp white shirt and dark pants, sharp and clean without overreaching. Gayle King wore a lavender off-the-shoulder gown with a fitted bodice and soft flared hem, finished with layered necklaces and a metallic clutch. Hailey Bieber wore a semi-sheer blue lace dress with a balconette top and fitted skirt, accessorized with diamond jewelry.
The overall tone of the night leaned toward structure, whether through corsetry, sculptural necklines, or precision tailoring, with guests using color and texture to distinguish their looks. The event has always attracted a crowd that dresses with intention, and the 2026 edition was consistent with that history. Jones and Yai, both honorees, delivered the two most discussed looks of the evening, which is not always how these nights resolve. Usually the guests outshine the honorees on the carpet. This time, the list held its own.