Tate McRae is no stranger to sleek pop aesthetic and edgy fashion choices, but her latest red carpet look may not have landed quite the way she hoped. The rising star made a glamorous appearance at the 2025 TIME100 Next Gala in New York City, wearing a nude-toned Valentino dress that drew as much debate as admiration. While McRae’s presence was undeniably striking, the design itself sparked a wave of divided opinions online, with fans questioning whether the dress lived up to the luxury label’s reputation.
Fans think Tate McRae’s Valentino number for TIME100 Next looks ‘kinda cheap’
Tate McRae arrived on the TIME100 Next red carpet in a sand-colored Valentino dress from the fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2026 Ready-to-Wear collection. The gown featured a sheer base, overlaid with a lattice of silver crystal embellishments that cascaded down into a ruffled train. Its draped cowl neckline and body-skimming silhouette were clearly designed for drama. However, on the red carpet, the effect didn’t quite translate as intended.
In photos from the event, the neutral hue of the gown closely matched McRae’s complexion, creating a somewhat washed-out look under the camera flashes. While the craftsmanship of the piece was evident, the fabric’s delicate texture and visible creasing left most unimpressed.
Under a viral Reddit thread on r/whatthefrockk, one user bluntly stated, “How is this Valentino? It looks kinda cheap to me.” Others chimed in with similar sentiments, pointing out issues with the gown’s fit and fabric. “Up close is even worse,” one commenter noted. “The way the fabric is crinkling in between the crystal is doing my head in.”
Still, the Canadian singer’s hairdo and makeup look were widely celebrated. McRae wore her honey-blonde hair in a sleek, side-parted style that framed her face elegantly. Moreover, her bronzed, minimal makeup perfectly highlighted her youthful glow.
Many praised McRae’s poise, flawless hair, and soft glam. “Hair & makeup are flawless, body is bodying,” one fan said, before adding that a looser fit might have elevated the look. Another user observed that the dancer seemed slightly uncomfortable in the ensemble. They wrote, “I love this theoretically, but it just isn’t working in person.”
This isn’t the first time McRae has taken fashion risks on high-profile stages. While this Valentino moment might not have landed, it certainly got people talking.
Originally reported by Zahrah Patel on theFashionSpot.
