This Week, Stars Found New Ways to Shine 

The minimal vs. maximal debate is as old as fashion, but who says you have to choose? Last week celebrities had fun switching from one extreme to the next with pared-down looks for day and glitzy evening wear laden with texture. On the streets of Milan and Los Angeles, leather trench coats emerged as a must-have thanks to trend conscious reality stars and models who headed to the season’s socially-distanced fashion shows and presentations in long versions with a retro appeal. Kim Kardashian-West went for glamour in an iridescent teal overcoat from Mowalola paired with a python top and skintight leather pencil skirt. A casual alternative to the look came from Imaan Hammam, who exited the Alberta Ferretti show in a chocolate brown version worn with jeans and Adidas sneakers.

On the red carpets in Europe, less was more. Katherine Waterston continued to dominate the festival fashion scene by heading to San Sebastian armed with the best in timeless American design. The three-piece cream suit from The Row, which she wore to promote The World to Come, was effortless and elegant. In Monaco, Sienna Miller brought cool-girl charm to the Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health in a velvet halter dress by Gucci and an embroidered clutch. Miller’s futuristic design—the opposite of the bohemian fare she’s known for—stood out amidst the sea of sequined ball gowns. 

For virtual attendees, embellishment reigned supreme. To take in Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’s first collection, designer Amina Muaddi paired her Julia transparent sandals with a crystal-encrusted shift from the brand’s fall/winter 2020 collection for a look that was a fairytale, right down to the glass slippers. At the virtual premiere of Miranda July’s latest, Kajillionaire, star Evan Rachel Wood didn’t need a filter (or a red carpet) to shine; her little silver dress from Ami brought more than enough sparkle. On paper, turtlenecks and long sleeves may not seem exciting, but the wealth of texture and detail in her dress proved electrifying.