For the first time in a decade, Vanity Fair has published its list of the 70 best-dressed people in the world for 2026.
Alongside the usual lineup of Hollywood stars and global pop icons, Pope Leo XIV makes a wholly unexpected appearance.
Pope Leo XIV: The Looks That Stood Out
His most memorable moment came in a Vatican-produced documentary, where a brief shot shows him wearing a pair of Nike sneakers underneath his signature white papal vestments.
Vanity Fair fashion correspondent José Criales-Unzueta, who took part in compiling the list, noted that the team was struck by the “innate American style” the Pope’s image projects.
A Devoted Fashion Following
The Chicago-born pontiff has built a devoted following in the fashion world, thanks to his love of both handcrafted vestments and vintage accessories, according to The Guardian.
Beyond the sneakers, he favors simple black Oxford shoes over the traditional red papal footwear. He also wears a discontinued Swiss quartz watch, carries his own well-worn briefcase, and in June 2025 appeared with a Chicago White Sox baseball cap over his papal skullcap during a public audience in St. Peter’s Square.
For more formal occasions, he relies on Italian designer Filippo Sorcinelli, who has previously designed papal vestments for both Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
The pontiff appears in the “Originals” category, reserved for figures who stand out as “the most eccentric and innovative in their dressing,” with “a singular point of view.”
Who Else Stood Out for Their Style Choices
Also featured in the same category are director Spike Lee and singers Björk and Rosalía.
Late last year, the Pope was included on Vogue’s list of the best-dressed people of 2025, alongside A$AP Rocky and Bad Bunny. The New York Times also named him one of the “67 most stylish people of 2025.”
