Spanish influencer Dulceida wore a navy military peplum suit by Elisabetta Franchi to the Forbes Best Content Creators 2026 gala in Madrid on Tuesday.
The digital creator, whose real name is Aida Domènech, arrived at the Embassy of Italy in Madrid alongside her partner Alba Paul for the annual fashion and media awards ceremony. Paul is also a well-known Spanish content creator who frequently accompanies Domènech to major red carpet galas.
Domènech is widely recognized as one of the pioneering figures of fashion blogging in Spain. Having launched her online presence in 2009 under the name Dulceida, she built one of the country's largest digital followings across social media platforms over more than a decade and a half.
During the event on September 29, Domènech addressed attendees to reflect on her extended career in digital media. She recalled her earliest days on the internet more than 17 years ago, when the content creation industry did not exist in its current form.
She told the audience that early creators managed to turn a personal hobby into a legitimate profession long before that line of work even had an official name or established business model.
For the evening awards ceremony, Domènech selected a high-end navy blue co-ord set from Italian luxury label Elisabetta Franchi. The ensemble combined a sharply tailored peplum jacket with a matching midi skirt.
The midi skirt featured a dramatic high side slit that revealed an inner mini-skirt layer beneath, adding a daring, modern touch to the tailored silhouette. She completed the look with a pair of black pointed-toe stilettos from Paris footwear brand Aurevoir Paris.
Military Details and Corset Construction
The navy jacket forms the centerpiece of the outfit, cut to fit closely against the torso. It tightly accentuates the waistline before flaring outward over the hips to create a defined peplum silhouette.
Several distinct structural elements give the piece a strong military aesthetic. The design features a stiff high collar, structured shoulder padding, and decorative flap pockets set across the front panels.
A prominent vertical row of polished golden buttons runs down the front, contrasting sharply against the dark navy wool. These metallic embellishments give the jacket a commanding visual presence while anchoring the upper half of the look.
The garment is crafted from high-grade cold wool and carries a retail price of 1,400 euros. According to Elisabetta Franchi, the internal architecture of the jacket takes direct inspiration from traditional corsetry construction.
Tailored pleating across the bust expands outward into a flared panel over the hips. This specialized pattern-making technique enhances the visual contrast between the narrow waist and the outer hem of the peplum.
Elisabetta Franchi is an Italian fashion designer who founded her eponymous luxury house in 1998 near Bologna. The brand is celebrated across Europe for its Italian tailoring, dramatic eveningwear, precise corsetry panelling, and signature gold hardware details.
Cold wool is a lightweight, finely woven fabric crafted from high-quality wool yarns. Designers frequently choose the material for formal trans-seasonal tailoring because it maintains crisp architectural lines while providing comfort and breathability indoors.
The Autumn Comeback of the Peplum Trend
Domènech's choice comes as the peplum silhouette makes a major return to seasonal fashion trends this autumn. The waist-defining cut has steadily gained traction on international runway shows before moving into celebrity wardrobes.
However, the 2026 revival of the peplum differs markedly from the versions that dominated women's fashion over a decade ago. Fashion analysts note that early 2010s iterations relied heavily on soft, oversized fabric ruffles attached around the waistline.
By contrast, contemporary designs feature a far more structured and minimalist aesthetic. The subtle volume is integrated directly into the structural tailoring of the jacket rather than applied as a separate decorative frill.
The jacket worn by Domènech highlights this modern evolution. The military accents and rigid tailoring steer the piece away from traditional romantic styles, giving the peplum a powerful, modern power-dressing presence.
Fashion commentators point out that the mix of feminine shaping and structured utility is what makes the trend's return compelling. A silhouette that once seemed difficult to modernize has returned with a clean, updated identity.
Historically, peplum jackets first rose to prominence in 1940s couture when designer Christian Dior featured waist-nipped jackets in his famous New Look collection. The style resurfaced in 1980s business attire and early 2010s fashion before taking on its current structured form.
Forbes Gala Venue and Footwear Styling
The Forbes Best Content Creators gala is an annual ceremony organized by Forbes Spain to celebrate leading influencers, digital entrepreneurs, and media personalities. The 2026 edition took place in the grand reception rooms of the Embassy of Italy in Madrid.
Situated in Madrid's central Salamanca district, the historic palatial embassy offered an elegant backdrop for the red carpet arrivals, photo calls, and evening awards presentation.
Domènech paired her Elisabetta Franchi suit with footwear from Aurevoir Paris. The French brand specializes in handcrafted footwear, and the sharp pointed-toe stilettos helped elongate the leg line created by the skirt's high side slit.
As autumn fashion takes hold, tailored co-ord sets featuring structured blazers and defined waistlines are expected to be key staples for formal evening events. Stylists anticipate that military-inspired outerwear and corsetry elements will continue to feature prominently throughout the season.
The combination of classic Italian tailoring, military accents, and modern corsetry underscores how legacy trends are being adapted for contemporary red carpet appearances. Domènech's look reinforces peplum as a key silhouette for autumn 2026.
