At the premiere of Dickinson at St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York City on October 17, 2019, Hailee Steinfeld leaned into the sheer dressing trend that dominated late-2010s red carpets, pairing a nude embellished Francesco Scognamiglio gown with crystal-covered Christian Louboutin ‘Degrastrass’ pumps.
Hailee leads the comedy web TV series, a modern-day retelling of the coming-of-age story of American poet Emily Dickinson.
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While the dress delivered the headline moment, the transparent pumps echoed the look’s barely-there palette and added extra texture through Swarovski detailing.
Hailee Steinfeld’s crystal-covered Christian Louboutin ‘Degrastrass’ pumps echoed the sheer sparkle of her Francesco Scognamiglio gown with transparent PVC panels and pointed metallic toes at the premiere of Dickinson at St. Ann’s Warehouse in New York City on October 17, 2019 (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)
Hailee Steinfeld Pairs a Sheer Francesco Scognamiglio Gown With Crystal Louboutin Degrastrass Pumps
Steinfeld’s Francesco Scognamiglio couture gown combined floral embroidery, a sculpted strapless bodice, and a sheer floor-length overlay that played into the transparent dressing trend dominating late-2010s red carpets.
Often incorrectly labeled as a Spring 2019 design, the look is more closely tied to the house’s Spring 2018 couture period, when illusion fabrics and barely-there layering became central to the brand’s dramatic eveningwear.
Instead of traditional sheer underpinnings, Steinfeld wore tonal leggings beneath the gown, creating the seamless “Barbie-crotch” illusion that sparked debate among fashion critics at the time. The styling choice softened the gown’s transparency while keeping the silhouette polished enough for a high-profile premiere.
The nude-toned Christian Louboutin heels blended almost seamlessly into the embellished gown, creating a continuous shimmering silhouette from hem to toe
Styled by Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn, Steinfeld finished the look with loose, side-swept waves by Laura Polko and a smoky neutral makeup by Sam Visser, keeping the focus on the gown’s shimmer and the crystal-covered pumps.
With Swarovski crystals scattered across the transparent uppers, Hailee’s Degrastrass pumps added texture and light without distracting from the dress’s sheer corseted bodice
Yeprem diamond jewelry, including a sculptural hand-piece, echoed the Swarovski sparkle of her Christian Louboutin ‘Degrastrass’ pumps without overwhelming the sheer embellished gown.
Peeking out beneath the glittering floor-length skirt, the crystal-embellished Christian Louboutin pumps reinforced the barely-there illusion of the overall look
Designed with transparent PVC panels, metallic leather trim, and Swarovski crystals, the pointed-toe heels mirrored the gown’s sheer construction without overwhelming it.
Christian Louboutin’s ‘Degrastrass’ pumps combined clear vinyl, metallic leather, and Swarovski embellishments for a modern Cinderella-inspired take on the classic pointed-toe stiletto
Gus Birney Balances a Gold Markarian Gown With Minimalist Giuseppe Zanotti Harmony Sandals
Actress Gus Birney, who has a recurring role in the series, attended the premiere in Markarian’s “Marianne” gown from the label’s Spring 2019 collection.
Crafted in gold silk dupioni, the dramatic design featured a plunging neckline, cascading ruffles, and a thigh-high slit that highlighted her minimalist Giuseppe Zanotti sandals.
Gus Birney’s metallic Giuseppe Zanotti ‘Harmony’ sandals brought a clean, barely-there finish to the dramatic gold silk gown and its thigh-high slit at the premiere of Dickinson in New York City on October 17, 2019
Birney styled the look with soft curls, Marlo Laz jewelry, and silver Giuseppe Zanotti ‘Harmony’ sandals, using mixed-metal accessories to break up the gown’s rich gold tones.
The slim triple-strap Giuseppe Zanotti heels balanced the volume of the ruffled Markarian dress with delicate metallic lines and a polished stiletto silhouette
Ella Hunt Grounds Oscar de la Renta Florals With Roger Vivier “I Love Vivier” Pumps
English actress Ella Hunt, who plays the role of Emily Dickinson’s sister-in-law Sue Gilbert in the web series, looked stunning in an Oscar de la Renta Resort 2020 black dress. The strapless, ankle-length gown has floral embroidery on the bodice and a layered, ruffled skirt.
Ella Hunt’s pointed black Roger Vivier pumps brought a clean, sculptural finish to her embroidered Oscar de la Renta gown, grounding the romantic ruffles with sharp, minimalist lines at the premiere of Dickinson in New York City on October 17, 2019
The actress coiffed her short hair in a ‘20s-inspired hairdo and kept the look simple with minimal black accessories.
She balanced on a pair of Roger Vivier ‘I Love Vivier’ pumps, which feature tapered toes, a two-toned heart-shaped interior, and about 3-inch lacquered heels.
The matte black pumps grounded the dramatic strapless dress with a clean, minimal silhouette and softly curved vamp detail
More Sheer, Crystal, and Minimalist Heels to Revisit
Steinfeld, Birney, and Hunt each took a different route with premiere footwear, from transparent crystal pumps to barely-there metallic sandals and polished black evening heels. Together, their looks show how a shoe can either disappear into the outfit or sharpen it with one clean detail.
👠 Explore Sheer Pumps, Crystal Heels & Minimalist Red-Carpet Sandals:
- 💎 Christian Louboutin’s Degrastrass pumps bring together transparent PVC, crystal sparkle, and the label’s signature red sole in a red-carpet silhouette worn by stars including Mila Kunis, Britney Spears, and Regina King.
- ✨ Tatiana Maslany’s neon Siriano gown gained extra shine from Christian Louboutin Degrastrass pumps, showing how crystal-dusted PVC heels can sharpen a bold color moment.
- 🪩 Leighton Meester’s Louboutin Degraqueen pumps offered a similar clear-PVC effect, with crystal embellishments that echoed her ornate Giambattista Valli dress without competing with it.
- 👡 Giuseppe Zanotti’s Harmony sandals remain a celebrity favorite for their clean three-strap shape, metallic finishes, and leg-lengthening stiletto heel.
- 🌙 Karen Gillan’s mirrored silver Harmony sandals show how the minimalist Zanotti design can add polish to a dramatic premiere dress while keeping the foot visually light.
- 🖤 Elle Fanning’s Roger Vivier “I Love Vivier” pumps spotlight the same sculptural, pointed-toe elegance seen in classic black evening pumps, with the house’s heart-shaped detail adding a playful finish.