Juan Avellaneda rated Queen Letizia’s black Sybilla gown at the 2026 Premios Planeta a 9 or 9.5 out of 10. He said an updo would have shown off its sculptural neckline more clearly.
Before Letizia wore it in Barcelona, the black Sybilla gown had appeared on another red carpet. Juana Acosta chose the original full-length design for the Festival de San Sebastián. Letizia wore a customised, shorter version at the Barcelona gala on 15 October, where the sculptural neckline caught designer Juan Avellaneda’s eye.
The Planeta Prize held its 75th edition that evening. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia attended the ceremony and gala dinner, then presented the €1 million prize to Chilean writer Isabel Allende for her unpublished novel La hora antes del alba.
Avellaneda rated Letizia’s overall look a 9 or 9.5 out of 10.
His one suggested change was an updo. He said pulling her hair back would have exposed more of the unusual neckline and lifted the look to a 10.
Mujerhoy identified the gown as Sybilla’s Filigrana design. It is made from black crepe, with a fitted silhouette that opens into a flared, mermaid-style skirt. The architectural neckline uses geometric openings and interwoven bands across the upper body. Letizia’s midi-length version changed the proportions of the original long design, while her loose hair covered part of the neckline’s detail.
The literary awards in Barcelona have been part of Letizia’s calendar since 2011. This year’s gala came only hours after Felipe and Letizia completed an official trip through Ceuta and Melilla. Their Ceuta appearance also featured in recent coverage of the royal visit.
She kept the accessories understated. Letizia carried a Nina Ricci clutch first worn in 2019 and chose black pointed slingback shoes with a moderate heel. Semana reported that asymmetrical zirconia earrings by PDPAOLA completed the look.
Avellaneda also weighed in on an outfit Letizia wore during the Melilla visit. She paired a pink blazer, cut with structured shoulders and pronounced lapels, with black trousers. A softer-toned top sat underneath.
He thought the top’s loose shape and lack of a collar clashed with the jacket’s sharper construction. He would have opted for a raised mao-style collar or a white shirt, which would have given the outfit more definition and shown off the blazer’s cuffs.
