Amy Adams has long favored understated elegance on the red carpet, whether she’s wearing crystal-embellished Jimmy Choo platform sandals, timeless Christian Louboutin pumps, or the sophisticated designer heels featured throughout her most memorable fashion moments.
While promoting the final episodes of the psychological thriller miniseries Cape Fear in New York, she continued that polished approach with two monochromatic looks built around minimalist black sandals.
Amy Adams embraces dark, mysterious glamour in Ami Paris and Max Mara dresses with Jimmy Choo heels at the Cape Fear New York screening and SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations on July 20-21, 2026 (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
For the New York screening, Adams paired a sheer Ami Paris blouse with a satin maxi skirt and sleek crisscross heels.
The previous day, she opted for a fluid Max Mara shirt dress styled with Jimmy Choo’s barely-there “Leo” sandals for the Cape Fear conversation at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation. Together, the appearances highlighted the refined, minimalist aesthetic that has become a hallmark of her red-carpet wardrobe.
Amy Adams Pairs Black Crisscross Sandals With a Sheer Ami Paris Blouse and Satin Skirt
At the New York screening of Cape Fear at the DGA Theater, Amy Adams exuded understated elegance in an all-black ensemble that balanced sophistication with a hint of allure.
She wore minimalist black leather sandals featuring sleek crisscross straps across the front. I loved the crisscross design, especially how the straps tapered from one side to the other for a sleek, contemporary look.
Slim ankle straps with delicate buckle closures kept the sandals secure, while the open square toes gave them a sleek, contemporary edge. They were set on tapered heels that gave the design a modern, architectural finish.
Amy Adams slips her feet into a pair of black leather sandals with crisscrossing tapered straps, square open toes, slim ankle straps, and high heels (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Adams paired the sandals with a two-piece black Ami Paris ensemble. It included a semi-sheer long-sleeved blouse that gave the look a hint of sensuality, with the lightweight fabric revealing a glimpse of her black camisole underneath. It was finished with a pointed collar, front buttons, and cuffed sleeves that brought a tailored touch to the sheer design.
Amy tucked the blouse into a high-waisted satin wrap-style maxi skirt, creating a nice contrast with the sheer top. Its smooth, glossy fabric elevated the monochromatic look, while the wrap design gave the skirt a more fluid shape. It was finished with a frayed thigh-high slit that brought a slightly edgy touch.
I especially liked how the skirt skimmed Amy’s figure, highlighting her curves while still looking elegant.
She finished the ensemble with a delicate gold lariat necklace, tiny gold hoop earrings, a few rings, and soft auburn hair styled in side-parted waves, with one side cascading gracefully over her shoulder.
Amy Adams pairs her strappy heels with a black Ami Paris outfit, featuring a sheer collared shirt and a satin maxi skirt with a daring frayed slit (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Amy Adams Wears Jimmy Choo Leo Sandals With a Max Mara Satin Shirt Dress
For the Cape Fear Q&A at The Robin Williams Center in New York, Amy Adams embraced effortless evening elegance in a flowing black Max Mara dress that occasionally appeared navy under the lights, paired with sleek Jimmy Choo heels.
She completed the look with the Jimmy Choo “Leo” sandals, an elegant Italian-made style that has already appeared on another red carpet favorite, with Chloë Sevigny wearing the same design at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
Crafted from smooth black leather, Amy’s sandals featured slim overlapping front straps that formed a subtle geometric cutout, open square toes, and delicate adjustable ankle straps that created the collection’s signature barely-there aesthetic.
Set on a slightly curved 100 mm (3.9-inch) stiletto heel, the “Leo” strikes a balance between minimalist design and evening elegance, making it equally at home with tailored suiting, cocktail dresses, and formal gowns. The style remains part of Jimmy Choo’s current lineup and is available in several colors, materials, and heel heights through luxury retailers including Farfetch and Mytheresa.
Amy Adams wears the Jimmy Choo “Leo” sandals featuring a barely-there design with overlapping straps creating a rectangular cutout along the front, ankle straps, and stiletto heels (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Adams paired her black heels with the Max Mara “Pelota” fluid satin maxi shirt dress, which appeared navy under the lighting. The dress featured concealed front buttons, with the top few left undone to create a flattering V-shaped neckline. A classic shirt collar and long billowy raglan sleeves gathered at elastic cuffs gave the dress an elegant, relaxed look.
The dress also had an elasticated drawstring waist that added shape while keeping the silhouette soft and comfortable. Metallic blue piping running along the sides added a subtle contrast, while the front slit brought movement and offered a glimpse of her sandals as she walked.
Adams finished the look with minimal jewelry, including delicate gold hoop earrings. Soft pink makeup complemented her auburn hair, which she styled in loose, side-parted waves that framed her face.
Amy Adams teams her sandals with a Max Mara shirt dress featuring long billowy raglan sleeves, elastic cuffs, and an elasticated drawstring waist (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
Why Minimalist Strappy Sandals Never Go Out of Style
Amy Adams’ Jimmy Choo “Leo” sandals demonstrate why refined, barely-there heels remain a red-carpet staple.
Their clean lines, delicate straps, and versatile silhouette complement everything from fluid satin dresses to sharply tailored separates, making them a timeless choice for evening events.
Explore more celebrities who have embraced the same understated approach to designer footwear below.
👠 Explore More Minimalist Designer Heel Moments:
- ✨ Chloë Sevigny wears the same Jimmy Choo “Leo” sandals with an August Barron mini dress at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, proving how the barely-there silhouette works just as well with playful vintage-inspired styling as it does with Amy Adams’ understated monochrome look.
- 🤎 Kelsea Ballerini revives the archival Jimmy Choo “1998 Leo” sandals at the 2025 CFDA Fashion Awards, pairing the lower-heeled suede version with an espresso-brown Michael Kors dress for a modern take on minimalist evening dressing.
- 🌟 Discover why the Jimmy Choo “Lance” became one of fashion’s defining evening sandals, worn by stars including Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lawrence, Heidi Klum, Halle Berry, Sophia Bush, and Alessandra Ambrosio for more than a decade.
- 💎 See Emily Blunt’s elegant Jimmy Choo “Claudette” sandals, another timeless barely-there design that demonstrates the enduring appeal of clean ankle-strap heels on the red carpet.