When Vivian Jenna Wilson walked the runway during New York Fashion Week, it was not just about striking looks—it was about identity, confrontation and transformation. Elon Musk’s 21‑year‑old daughter has long been outspoken, but her fashion choices this season have made it clear she’s stepping fully into her story.
A Runway of Statements
Wilson walked shows for designers like Prabal Gurung, Dauphinette, Chris Habana and accessory creator Alexis Bittar during NYFW, and each appearance carried weight. At Gurung’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, she wore oversized knits with maxi skirts, combining softness with statement footwear—clear heels that forced the gaze upward.
Then at Dauphinette, she wore an audacious ensemble: a bikini‑style top paired with a high‑low skirt adorned with green beetle motifs. The moment was loud and theatrical—intentionally so.
Her finale, at Chris Habana’s show, saw her in a metal- and leather-reinforced column dress featuring safety pins, chain latticework, and bold BDSM inspiration. It was not just clothes—it was armour, protest, and pageantry.
Beyond the Name
While the media often introduced her as “Elon Musk’s daughter,” what’s clear now is that Vivian Jenna is using fashion to go beyond legacy. Her public commentary, particularly earlier this year in Teen Vogue, signalled her refusal to be cast merely as a family function by calling out political and personal issues with brutal honesty.
But her NYFW takeover suggests that she’s not simply rebelling—she’s asserting.
Style as Disruption
More than aesthetic, Wilson’s wardrobe this season has leaned into disruption. The green beetles at Dauphinette were not chosen just for ornament; Olivia Cheng of Dauphinette told The Washington Post that those pieces were meant “to disrupt a pretty moment… Our society is in a critical place, and nobody, not even the fashion girls, can afford to rest on our laurels.”
The Chris Habana safety‑pin dress, leather straps and chain detailing leaned no less into provocation. These are pieces designed to be seen, to provoke thought, to speak.
What It Suggests for Fashion
Wilson’s emergence as a model is not just another celebrity guest walk; it’s part of a broader shift. Fashion is increasingly doing more than dressing—it’s interrogating identity, politics and boundaries. Contrast soft garments with hard metal; merge leather and lace; evoke BDSM, kink, and pageantry—all signals that the runway can be a site of activism and not just aesthetics. Vivian’s choices suggest that the audience wants this: honesty, audacity, and fashion that does not pretend neutrality.
Style Takeaways
For those inspired by Vivian Jenna’s runway journey, some takeaways for your wardrobe might be:
- Combine soft and hard elements: think safety‑pin detailing, chain hardware, and leather strips against flowing fabrics.
- Use symbolism: motifs (like the beetles) and provocative partnerships make a look more than clothing.
- Take risks with footwear or accessories: clear heels, statement bags, unconventional pairings.
- Let your comfort coincide with expression: oversized pieces, textures and layers that challenge traditional grooming or gendered styles.
Vivian Jenna Wilson’s NYFW debut was not quiet—it was loud, bold, and unapologetic. It signals a turning point for her as a public figure and for fashion at large: style is not just about looking good; it is about being seen, being heard, and being claimed. In walking those runways, Wilson did not merely model clothes—she modelled courage, conviction and transformation. Vivian Jenna Wilson has not just arrived—she has announced herself, and fashion will never look the same again.
