How Ana de Armas’s Golden Globes Dress Channeled Old Hollywood
As a nominee in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama category at last night’s Golden Globes, Ana de Armas was one of the evening’s most-anticipated leading ladies. Her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik’s Blonde has been one of the most-discussed performances of the year. For the star, getting acknowledged by the Globes for the role made for a special night—especially given the part’s challenges. “What was most special about being a part of Blonde was the opportunity to work on a character that allowed me to push myself to my limits, and that made me work harder than ever,” says de Armas. “It taught me to be patient with the process and trust the team around me. It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and it changed my life forever.”
For the ceremony s red carpet, both de Armas and stylist Samantha McMillen wanted a formal look that paid homage to Marilyn Monroe’s signature Old Hollywood style through a fresh modern lens. To do so, they landed on an architectural dress and jewelry from Louis Vuitton (she serves as a brand ambassador for the label). Designed by Nicolas Ghesquière, her strapless bustier gown featured a graphic front panel that was embroidered with 3D sequins in a geometric pattern. It took a total of 150 hours, 25 meters of silk, and 800 sequins to complete the design.
“Even though it was black, it felt very light and effortless—in contrast with the beautiful modern centered panel in the front, with silver embroidery forming the unmistakable pattern of the Louis Vuitton flower,” de Armas says. “To me, it was elegant and made me feel comfortable and myself.” McMillen adds, “It combined modern Louis Vuitton details with a classic Old Hollywood elegance. It was the perfect gown for this occasion and looked effortless.”
De Armas is no stranger to wearing Vuitton on the carpet, of course. Over the course of her press tour for Blonde, the star wore many statement gowns by the French label—her pleated pink gown from Venice being a standout. The star says she enjoys the art of working with the designer. “Nicolas has a vision, and he is also a great collaborator. He always wants his people happy and feeling like themselves,” says de Armas. “For every red carpet we do, we share sketches, exchange ideas, and make little tweaks until the piece looks exactly how we like it. I think we complement each other very well because he understands my conservative side, and I love that he’s a risk taker and pushes me in that direction.”
De Armas’s beauty team—including makeup artist Mélanie Inglessis, hairstylist Jenny Cho, and manicurist Ashlie Johnson—wanted a simple look that ensured all eyes were on the dress. Inglessis wanted to create a Marilyn Monroe–inspired beauty look that combined classic glamour with a sense of ease and simplicity—just like her dress. “We wanted her skin to be luminous, complemented by a sharp cat eye and a perfectly stained rosy-mauve lip,” says Inglessis. “She is wearing the [unreleased] shade Stolen Heart [by Estee Lauder], a matte rosy-mauve.”
As for what’s next for de Armas? The actor is now right back to shooting her upcoming action-thriller film Ballerina, which exists in the John Wick universe and costars Keanu Reeves. She can’t tell us much yet—but she teases just enough to get us excited. “Ballerina is going to be a very fun movie, [with] lots of energy and stunning locations,” says de Armas. “[It’s] action-packed with a great original dramatic story and a strong character at its core.”
Below, a closer look at de Armas’s Golden Globes look.
Photo: Greg Williams1/7
Photo: Greg Williams2/7
