Elle Fanning is 14 years old and adorable. She’s in the middle of a promotional tour for her new film, Ginger & Rosa, and these are photos of the film’s BFI London Film Festival premiere over the weekend. I actually try to avoid writing about Elle because… she’s only 14, dude. We can’t judge her fashion or her pictorials or her interviews by the same standards we can judge an adult woman’s. Not for lack of trying on the part of Elle, though. And not for lack of trying by Elle’s people, by her management and her stylists and her publicist, who often greenlight some looks and images that I consider inappropriate for someone so young. Remember that “Lolita” style photo shoot in Blackbook last year? Yeah.
So… Elle wore Rochas to the London Film Festival premiere. I actually think this is a really sweet look for someone so young, although I do have two minor quibbles. But first I want to talk about the look as a whole! I think the combination of a princess-y gown with a cute little cardigan is adorable and age-appropriate. I can remember, back in the 1990s, when this was an actual “thing” that adult women were doing – pairing gowns and eveningwear with normal sweaters and cardigans. If done well, it’s a really great look. I think it would have been cuter if Elle had actually worn the cardi rather than just using it as a cape to cover her arms, but still… it’s okay.
So here are my two quibbles. One, the lace choker. Two, the fact that the Rochas dress is in fact strapless. For the lace choker… it ruins the look stylistically, and I just don’t think 14-year-olds should be wearing chokers. At all. Ever. I associate chokers with “something George Clooney’s girlfriends wear.” Right? As for the fact of the strapless gown on a 14-year-old… it’s too much (or “too little” really). I don’t care that we can barely see that it’s strapless because of the cardi. I don’t care that the dress is still relatively modest up top. I still think some straps should have been added for Elle, simply because I don’t believe any 14-year-old should go strapless. Call me conservative, call me old-fashioned, call me whatever you want. I’m holding the line for straps and sleeves for our youths, and if I have to go it alone, so be it.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
The choker is absoutely TRAGIC
I feel like the choker accentuates the fact that the dress is strapless– it’s like showing off the whole of her bony chest
I totally agree that 14 is too young for strapless. She’s still a child and not ready to handle the sexual attention. I looked that adult at 14 and I remember how uncomfortable the attention of men made me. But, my mom sure as heck wasn’t letting me walk around in a strapless dress; I distinctly remember an occasion where a bikini I wanted was deemed “too adult”.
Yes indeedy. Dresses aren’t necessarily sexual, but strapless ones are, and she’s still a minor and will be for several more years. My opinion is if you’re not legally and adult, you shouldn’t be dressing like one.
On a separate note, I absolutely cannot stand this girl’s acting. I don’t know why, but I find everything I’ve seen her in to be put-on, phony, and overacted. I didn’t much care for her sister either, but she didn’t annoy me quite as much. It must be a Fanning family trait.
I recently went shopping for a homecoming dress for a 14 yr old… all you see now is strapless dresses. She specifically wanted a dress with straps. Do you have any idea how difficult it was to find one? I searched every single store in three malls. Everything was strapless and SHORT. This dress is incredibly demure compared to what’s being sold in juniors departments.
She is the most beautiful girl, but I agree, she is too young for a strapless dress.
I started and stopped wearing chokers around 14 lol. Its always been a young person look to me. I think its sweet with her outfit.
The strapless thing im out on. My mother didnt let me wear strapless until I was sixteen (I was a size D so kudos to her). I kind of get it but she has the cardigan on, you know what I mean?
I really think the whole outfit is tastefully done, and Elle is absolutely stunning. If it looked sluttier Id have a problem, but she looks amazing.
the whole ensamble feels like she’s the Sunshine Mina, the lace choker hiding bitemarks of the Cuddly Vampire Batty-bear.
You are not alone on this Kaiser, I agree. The entire look is that of an older woman. A choker and wannabe boob display strapless dress is inappropriate for a 14 year old kid. If you ever watch Elle Fanning’s interviews she comes across as a very YOUNG 14,more like a 12 year old not like her sister Dakota who is an old soul. I don’t know why her people and her parents are letting stylist dress her like some older experienced sexual being.
It’s inappropriate and slightly creepy to see cleavage on a 14 year old. Not a good look for someone her age.
yes, it would be better if the top didn’t have a V cut and was more substantial fabric.
Absolutely agree. 14 year old cleavage?? Never EVER ok.
I do agree with you ,strapless gown is a no no for a 14 yr old girl,co’z god forbid she steps on her own gown ,just imagine the disaster she’s gonna face in front of those people.It looks classy though ,especially with a cardigan over her shoulder,but the choker got to go.
I think that, too. It’s a bit overly-Harlow for a little girl. Attention all fourteen-year-olds: Yes, you are little girls, it’s not an affliction but a stage of life and we all did it, too. Fourteen is too young to not remember your hair colour, but it’s no like she’s a junkie or something equally devastating. Shouldn’t she be watching a Freddie Prinze Jr. movie, or something? Okay, no–but you see my belaboured point.
I like Elle a lot, there are so few teenager drama-free and talented! She looks fabulous and age-appropriate but yeah some straps would have been good.
Also minor complain, she bleaches her hair too much. She should go for a honey-blonde colour rather than platinum.
I agree about the hair bleaching. The darker, natural colour would be prettier, and her hair is going to be shot to hell in a couple of years if she keeps doing this. I know it’s Hollywood, so she can buy new hair, but still…
I agree….Although I don’t think straps are a big deal because she has relatively small breasts and isn’ t trying to show them off.
But the hair..on no. She’s SO beautiful and her current color looks like she does it herself and looks bad with her brows. She needs some lowlights mixed in and yes a honey color would be absolutely beautiful.
Looks more appropriate for an older teenager. Maybe she borrowed it from her sister?
I think it’s too low for a 14 year old but the caridgan goes a long way towards fixing it and making it more modest. At 14, I too would have been very uncomfortable with the sexualized message of that dress – i.e. men staring at my chest. I would have run back inside and done up all the buttons on my sweater.
I don’t find the dress inappropriate for her, and the cardigan makes it almost modest.
Me too! I think it’s quite romantic and lovely.
+1 on both posts
I fully agree with both of you. I think she looks great and not at all inappropriate.
The ensemble would be appropriate, I feel, if she actually wore that cardigan (and kept it on).
Youth is so precious – why do ‘we’ always try and make little girls look like women and women look like little girls? This dress is a disgrace – much like that horrid perfume advert her sister did last year. Too much too soon. The parents seemed to have good judgement in guarding their daughters’ innocence and youth until lately. I wonder what changed? 14 is still a very young girl.
I don’t mind the dress – I HATE the cardigan draped over the shoulders. It’s so dowdy. Love cardigans with dresses generally, I just wish she’d worn it properly instead of doing the old-lady-shawl thing.
I don’t think its that bad considering what other 14 yr olds wear these days. In comparison, she’s extremely decent.
I’ve seen mothers sex up their young daughters, even calling them sexy but when a sicko makes an inappropriate comment they get all defensive, WTF?
Thank you for saying that! In the ‘real world’ she would be a Freshman in high school and I can guarantee you, high schoolers wear much trashier clothes. Lucky for her she has access to gorgeous clothes and won’t have to look back at high school photos of her and genuinely be horrified at clothing choices!!!!
completely agree – I wore trashier clothes and heavier makeup when I was 14 than I do now as an adult!
Exactly! Many girls in grade 9 walk around in little jean shorts, minis and halters. Not to mention, skin tight jeans, tight and low cut t-shirts, and extreme black eyeliner.
Dakota’s dress, cardigan, and choker are completely age appropriate. How can anyone sexualize a white lace choker? A strapless dress on a girl with no cleavage is not sexual, and the cardigan make it even less so.
I know a lot of girls of that age who wouldn’t be caught dead in Dakota’s outfit. It’s too princess-like, too frou-frou.
Why isn’t anyone making comments about her bleached hair? Not sure if I would let my daughter (if I had one) start bleaching so young.
Omg I remember when I was 14 and this girl in my class came in with a skirt that barely covered her butt and she’d provocatively bend over as much as she could. My math teacher looked like she was about to faint.
she looks great. very appropriate. floral print makes it look demure, with cardigan, even better.
I don’t think that strapless = automatic no-no for young girls. It really only bares the shoulders. How revealing it is depends on how low it dips in front. If you add some spaghetti straps to that dress, it doesn’t provide much more coverage.
This does sit a little low on Elle, I think, but overall I don’t think she’s trying too hard to look grown-up. The light make-up is age-appropriate and I am so glad she hasn’t felt the need to do the whole spray tan thing. Some people give her flak for being pale, but it suits her.
The choker has to go. It basically ruins the whole look for me.
I like everything but the choker. It just looks odd. Hadn’t thought about the hair until someone mentioned it. I wish girls this young weren’t bleaching their hair, but it’s too late for that. I do like the color on her and like the cardigan over the shoulders.
I dont think strapless is that big of deal. First of all, she does have a sweater draped around her shoulders, and its a long ball gown as well. I have a cousin that age and her and her friends all wore short strapless dresses to their Grade 8 Grad. This dress, looks far more appropriate in comparison.
Besides, I dont think showing shoulders is an automatic “look at how sexual I am”.
Hi Marianne – wow, they wore strapless gowns to an eighth grade graduation. I truly am shocked – that is to young.
Did they give away free condoms at the graduation party or morning after pills for the girls?
The sexualization of children is appaling.
Please dont take offense at my comment – I know I am an old person with old fashion values and I am not criticizing you – it is just truly shocking to me about the strapless gowns and eighth grade.
I recall eighth grade very well and I was punching boys in the face if they touched me – indeed times have changed and in my opinion not for the better. (I am not saying that eighth grade people have sex but it certainly appears to me that sexuality is being encouraged.)
Oh I dont take offense, she’s my cousin I barely see…its not like Im her mom. I was saying tht this dress, is actually quite nice in comparison. My 8th Grade Grad dress was long, and spaghetti straps. It was red.
I have no idea about the condom thing, as I wasnt there. But at MY prom, there was.
@ ladybert62:
Are u really so naive that u think that in today’s society, 14 year old girls aren’t having sex, giving bjs, and/or getting drunk or high?
This is a perfect example of sexualizing children too young.
She should NOT be wearing a strapless gown – 14 is tooo young!
That choker is awful and makes her look like she is wearing a neck brace.
She is beautiful and will be a stunner in a few more years but right now she is only 14.
This is all because of the Kartrashians who let their 14 year olds to model in skimpy outfits, take them to their first bikini wax and put them on birth control. I guess people are no longer disturbed by the fact that these are young girls n not to be sexualized.
True There is this thing about this girl that raditate purity regardless.
I thinks she looks beautiful! I love the look. Is 14 years old too young? Maybe, but she looks quite nice, not “inpro” at all–considering what the alternatives are, example the Jenner girls.
You are not alone on the strapless issue.
My 14 year old was angling for one for homecoming. Most juniors’ dresses are not only strapless (or one shouldered) but also so shockingly short! Jeebus!! We found one with a sheer black sleeveless inset ( not sure if correct term) over the chest with a strapless sweetheart bodice attached. And- nearly knee length! She loved it, silver pailletes on black tulle ( and blinged up flats, textured hose- so damn cute).
Anyway…I’d like to add a quibble worthy point… the bleached hair. Ugh
I think it depends on the dress as a whole, and the attitude of person wearing it.
This dress (IMO) looks age appropriate on her. Especially with the floral print and cardigan covering her shoulders. Nothing about it screams trying to be sexy, or overdone.
Coming from someone who just got out of their teens about 2 weeks ago (Hello 20’s) I had to chaperone my friend’s little sister’s homecoming dance and I can say that kids her age are wearing far worse than what she has on.
It’s strapless, sure, but it’s not like she has any cleavage that would be pouring out from the top. She also has that cardigan to cover her shoulders, and the length isn’t short and tight. I think it’s pretty tame.
If you’re looking for a 14/15 year old who is trying too hard to look grown up then go Google Chloe Moretz’s red carpet pictures.
The choker is hideous, but I have no problem with the strapless gown. Her boobs aren’t pushed up or on display, the dress is full length and isn’t figure-flaunting, and the pattern is floral. I would prefer an actual cardigan over that shawl she’s wearing, but overall, the look is not inappropriate for a 14-yr old. I agree the hair color should be darker, though.
I kind of like the dress. I like the sweater also. But the choker has to go.
I don’t think it’s a big deal. She probably shows way more skin at the beach. And the dress is super long and not showing her legs at all. It’s not like she’s wearing a strapless mini dress.
She even put a cardigan over it to cover her shoulders. To make it even more modest! I don’t like the way she is wearing it and I hate the choker but this is nothing. I get why people got upset over her previous photoshoots but getting upset over this I don’t understand.
looks like a doll , she is cute but that dress… not so good for 14
I think the look’s cute, except for the choker. No problem with the strapless, she’s all covered by up that cardi anyway so she’s showing a lot less than many girls her age. If she’d been a fuller cup size or if the dress had been short, I’d be iffy, but everything is in place, fits well, and has good proportion so I think it works.
Normally I would agree that she should have straps, however, I think she looks adorable and I’m giving her a pass.
HATE the choker. But I think she wore it to have a little more “coverage” and not show so much skin.
The dress however, is very cute and not inappropriate. I’d have a problem with it is she was wearing a stuffed push-up bra, if the neckline was sitting much lower, and if the dress was short.
I think she looks lovely. I would normally say a strapless gown on a girl so young is inappropriate. But with the print of the gown and the colors used in gown and cardi – well… (It would be different if it were red or black somehow.) The overall effect is romantic and chaste. I think the choker adds to the romantic feel of the outfit, and perhaps it also serves to break up the amoutn of bare skin shown at neck and shoulders. I like it for her but I’d have to think long and hard before I’d let my own daughter (who is the same age) wear this:)
I don’t see the uproar. The choker is a young choice, style-wise, and she’s young. I wore them when I was 14-16 myself. It’s demure in that it’s white and lacy…rather than a black leather collar type choker. I don’t like chokers, personally, but that’s my personal opinion.
The dress is fine! It shows shoulders–actually not–she’s wearing a sweater over it. The end result is that you can see almost no skin at all. There is zero cleavage showing, as well.
She looks fine. 14 isn’t 8. Sleeveless isn’t the problem–it’s the sum total of an outfit that can be a problem. Sleeveless like she did it here is age appropriate. Had she done sleeveless LBD with cleavage showing…yuck.
The dress is lovely and not at all inappropriate, especially with the added cardigan. To me it seems completely normal; when I was 14-25 I wore tube tops and bare-shoulder shirts often. But the choker is unfortunate.
My feelings exactly. At my son’s school girls are allowed to go strapless as long as they don’t show cleavage. Girls wear preppy strapless all the time at summer dances around here as well
Love this look on her!!
She looks adorable. I see nothing trashy here.
I like the dress, very romantic and feminine.
Elle looks like a 14-year old playing dress up. She’s not giving provocative looks nor is she posing like a starlet. Nothing in her outfit, save for the dress perhaps, can be seen as her being sexual or inappropriate.
Her makeup is very light and soft. Her hair just kept loose and straight. The color of the dress is light and neutral; not black, red, violet or other bold colour. She’s not wearing a push-up bra to enhance her cleavage.
She looks more like she’s wearing a costume/themed outfit with the dress, lace choker, and the cardigan.
If anything, I’ll say she looks very chic and elegant. Except for the choker, the outfit is effortlessly sophisticated.
Elle herself gives off this ‘old soul’, very high fashion/couture vibe. I can see her being like one of those celebs who endorse Chanel, Prada, or Valentino when she’s older.
I think she looks beautiful, like a fairy tale princess. By todays standards, the dress is fine~
She’s a very pretty girl.
She looks fine and she looks beautiful and the dress is long with nothing on show. if she wore a boob tube and shorts she would show a lot more, and kids her age do. The lace is kinda cute, she loves Paris and fashion so prob thinks it’s an antique touch. She’s 14, it’s what they do! I’m more concerned with the dreadful bleach jobs both of these girls get to their hair. They had this shade hair as tiny kids, but not at this age. It looks nice here as it’s styled, but in most of her pics in her own time it looks a dry mess. At 14 I wouldn’t want my hair ruined. The shade doesn’t suit her at all normally, but here is looks good.
What a nasty gaggle of catty bitches. Grow up !
Allow the young woman her moment – she looks adorable.
I think the dress is okay, but the choker looks inappropriate for some reason. Maybe its too wide, or too white, but it cuts her off at the neck. She’s very sweet looking.
Seriously? You’re against strapless? That’s just a bit ridiculous. Did all of you forget what you were like at 14? Maybe being born in the 80s has jaded me more than some others on here, but I know at 14, girls in my high school were doing a lot worse than not wearing straps. This girl looks great and age-appropriate. She’s not dressing like Courtney Stodden or even Miley Cyrus, plus she has a classy older sister who recently went through all this. Stop trying to “sexualize” anything and everything.