Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson took completely different fashion approaches for the New York premiere of their new psychological thriller, Verity, at AMC Lincoln Square on September 29, 2026.
I loved the contrast between their looks, with Hathaway leaning into dark, romantic glamour in black Atelier Prabal Gurung with minimalist black heels, while Johnson went for something much more playful and flirtier in white Calvin Klein with matching strappy sandals.
Interestingly, the two stars have remarkably similar proportions: Anne Hathaway stands 5’7″ (170 cm) and wears a US shoe size 8.5, while Dakota Johnson is also about 5’7″ (170.2 cm) with a US shoe size 8.5. Their Verity looks show how dramatically different styling choices can work on similar frames.
Anne Hathaway contrasts a dramatic black Atelier Prabal Gurung gown with Dakota Johnson’s crystal-fringed white Calvin Klein two-piece at the Verity New York premiere (Credit: Dave Allocca / Starpix / INSTARimages)
Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, Verity follows struggling writer Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), who is hired to finish bestselling author Verity Crawford’s (Anne Hathaway) book series after a mysterious accident leaves her unable to work. While staying with Verity’s family, Lowen discovers a disturbing unfinished manuscript that makes her question Verity’s mental state and whether some events in her writing connect to real life.
Anne Hathaway’s Dark Romance: Prabal Gurung Gown & Barely-There Black Heels
Anne Hathaway took a dark, romantic approach to the New York premiere of Verity, wearing a custom Atelier Prabal Gurung gown with minimalist black heels.
She slipped into what appeared to be Aquazzura’s “So Nude” sandals, a barely-there design reduced to a slim strap across the toes and a delicate slingback. The silhouette has become a recurring red-carpet choice, with Daisy Edgar-Jones showing how Aquazzura’s So Nude sandals can disappear beneath an elaborate statement gown.
Hathaway’s black pair featured a slim stiletto heel that added height without visual weight beneath the floor-length dress. I thought the minimalist design worked particularly well here because almost all of the visual drama came from the gown.
A glimpse beneath Anne Hathaway’s floor-length Prabal Gurung gown reveals minimalist black sandals that appear to be Aquazzura’s So Nude style, with a slim toe strap and stiletto heel (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
If the identification is correct, the shoes continue Hathaway’s strong relationship with Aquazzura. Just weeks earlier, she paired two-tone Aquazzura Gia pumps with another dramatic Prabal Gurung look at The End of Oak Street premiere, making the combination of Prabal Gurung clothing and Aquazzura footwear particularly familiar territory for her in 2026.
Anne’s custom Prabal Gurung gown highlighted her growing baby bump with a fitted mermaid silhouette. The strapless sweetheart neckline shaped the bodice, while the dropped waist opened into a dramatic, full floor-length skirt.
Beyond the flattering fit, the dress featured intricate shredded chiffon florals, crystal beads, and sequins, creating a sparkling, raw texture across the bodice and around the hips. Below, diagonal pleated tulle panels added volume while keeping the skirt looking light and airy.
Making the gown even more dramatic, a sheer pleated tulle cape covered in more crystal embellishments flowed down the back and into a long, sweeping train.
As a global ambassador for Bulgari, Hathaway finished the look with Art Deco-inspired emerald and diamond teardrop earrings, a Serpenti bracelet, and a matching Serpenti Viper ring.
She wore her brunette hair half-up and half-down, with soft waves cascading down her back, while polished nude-toned makeup completed her elegant red-carpet look.
Anne Hathaway embraces dark romance in a custom Atelier Prabal Gurung gown, combining a fitted sweetheart bodice with shredded chiffon florals, crystal embellishments, and a voluminous pleated-tulle skirt (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Dakota Johnson’s Modern Showgirl Moment: Calvin Klein Fringe & White Strappy Heels
Dakota Johnson moved in the opposite direction, bringing a modern showgirl vibe to the New York premiere of Verity in a playful yet glamorous all-white Calvin Klein look.
She wore custom white Calvin Klein strappy sandals with a sleek, minimalist design that showcased her foot tattoo. Slim straps crisscrossed over the front of her feet, while open square toes gave the shoes a clean, geometric shape and added a modern touch to the delicate sandals.
A thin ankle strap wrapped around her ankle and fastened with a small adjustable metallic buckle, while a supporting vertical strap added structure along the outer side. The sandals were set on tall, slender stiletto heels that added height while preserving the barely-there effect.
That pared-back approach to evening shoes has long been part of Johnson’s wardrobe. Years earlier, Dakota wore Saint Laurent Jane sandals with the same minimalist combination of delicate straps and a leg-lengthening stiletto heel.
Dakota Johnson’s custom white Calvin Klein sandals frame her foot tattoo with delicate crisscross straps, a square toe, and a slender stiletto heel (Credit: Darla Khazei / INSTARimages)
The open construction also put Johnson’s distinctive foot tattoo on display. It is not the first time her choice of footwear has made the ink part of the look: she previously showcased her foot tattoos in strappy Jimmy Choo Kora sandals, another example of how barely-there heels suit her preference for understated footwear.
Johnson paired her white heels with a two-piece embellished Calvin Klein ensemble. The thin-strapped white bra top was covered in cascading layers of crystal and metallic beaded fringe, creating a shimmering effect around her torso.
It was paired with a matching high-waisted column skirt covered in the same silver-and-white fringe, with long layers cascading down to the floor to create a shimmering waterfall effect. A thigh-high slit broke up the long silhouette, adding a sultry touch while occasionally revealing the white sandals underneath.
As if the sparkles weren’t enough, Johnson accessorized with a $55,000 Roberto Coin Cobra necklace in 18k white gold and diamonds, along with matching $6,300 earrings. Rings, including the Roberto Coin Cento Circle of Life ring with diamond and ruby, decorated her red-manicured hands, while a 14k gold Miami Cuban link anklet from Zoe Lev Jewelry added another detail.
I loved her half-up, half-down hairstyle with a twisted knot and fringe, while her bright red lipstick added a playful, flirty finish to the glamorous look.
Dakota Johnson channels modern showgirl glamour in a custom Calvin Klein bra top and column skirt covered in cascading crystal and metallic fringe, paired with white strappy sandals (Credit: Dave Allocca / Starpix / INSTARimages)
Why Minimalist Heels Work on the Red Carpet: Hathaway and Johnson Show Two Approaches
Hathaway and Johnson made an unusually good study in how the same footwear principle can work with dramatically different clothes. Both are about 5’7″ and wear a US size 8.5, yet Hathaway’s black heels virtually disappeared beneath the dark volume and texture of her Prabal Gurung gown, while Johnson’s white sandals became part of the exposed, body-conscious geometry of her Calvin Klein look.
That helps explain why barely-there sandals have remained such a reliable red-carpet choice. Fine toe and ankle straps leave much of the foot exposed, creating a cleaner visual line from leg to foot, while the stiletto adds height without the visual weight of a heavier pump or platform. Just as importantly, a minimalist heel can sit quietly beneath sequins, crystals, fringe, sculptural tailoring, or an elaborate gown instead of introducing another competing design element.
It is the same principle behind the enduring appeal of minimalist red-carpet sandals, whose slender straps and unobtrusive silhouettes allow statement dresses to lead.
For Hathaway, that meant a black sandal almost vanishing beneath shredded chiffon and pleated tulle. Johnson used the same idea differently: her white square-toe sandals remained visible beneath the crystal fringe, but their delicate straps echoed rather than competed with the lightness of her Calvin Klein look.
- ✨ Stuart Weitzman’s Nudist became one of Hollywood’s defining minimalist sandals, with its slim toe strap and ankle strap creating a versatile silhouette designed to work with changing red-carpet looks.
- 🖤 Sandra Bullock paired black Nudist sandals with a heavily sequined Zuhair Murad jumpsuit, using a clean, leg-lengthening heel to balance an outfit already packed with geometric sparkle.
- 🎨 Chloë Grace Moretz grounded a graphic Christopher Kane dress with barely-there Stuart Weitzman sandals, letting the bold print and architectural silhouette remain the focus.
- 🍊 Hailey Bieber took the disappearing-shoe effect even further in clear Tamara Mellon Frontline sandals, pairing transparent straps with a vivid tangerine Jonathan Simkhai gown.
- ✨ Chrissy Teigen repeatedly returned to Stuart Weitzman’s Nudist sandals, showing how the same pared-back heel could move from couture gowns to more relaxed summer dressing.
- 🤍 Jimmy Choo’s Claudette offered another take on the barely-there formula, using an ultra-minimal construction to add height beneath statement fashion without competing with it.
Hathaway and Johnson ultimately arrived at the same solution from opposite directions: when crystals, fringe, texture, and movement are already doing the talking, the shoe does not have to shout. Whether nearly hidden in black or exposed in crisp white, a slender strappy heel can add height and lengthen the visual line while leaving the clothes firmly in control.