As London’s theatre district prepares for its next big hit with The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical, it’s only fitting that the upcoming stage production toast the opening with a dazzling display of fashion. The new show not only features original music from Elton John, but an assumed dress code of elegance appropriate for the pages of Runway—and Miranda Priestly’s watchful eye.
Proving this point in full was none other than Lily Collins, who arrived at the world premiere at the West End in a heavenly Vivienne Westwood couture column dress. There were no Andy Sachs-approved cerulean sweaters or scratchy pencil skirts in sight. Instead, a pure display of ethereal glamour as the actress took to the red carpet in a gilded chainmail gown.
The piece featured a sculpted silhouette with off-the-shoulder detailing, a ravishing draped corset bodice and a thigh-high slit that delivered the drama.
While the Emily In Paris star is connected to the original film given both the lauded drama series and iconic 2006 movie featured costumes designed by the legendary Patricia Fields, Collins didn’t rely on subtle homages to the projects in order to shine at the event. As we’ve seen with most of Collins’ ensembles, the 35-year-old tends to opt for timeless shapes that feature avant-garde twists, such as the sequin peplum Giorgio Armani Privé gown she wore to the recent season four premiere of the Netflix show.
Here, the look renders old Hollywood conventions in a chintzy chainmail fabric to make the style feel more modern. A similar effect was achieved when Margot Robbie wore a custom recreation of the luxuriate’s “Pirate Bride” dress from the 1998 archive to the 2024 AACTA Awards in Brisbane, Australia.
Given that both looks were styled by Andrew Mukamal and designed by the same atelier, it’s safe to assume this technique will soon become the trend du jour. With awards season coming up, there’s no better time to watch this space.
