When Elle Fanning arrived at the House of Cinema Villa Borghese in Rome on June 6, 2016, she provided a masterclass in styling avant-garde femininity.
Attending the photocall for the psychological horror film The Neon Demon, the actress leaned into a “modern-day princess” aesthetic that remains a standout moment in her fashion history.
Elle Fanning wears a floral crown over her hair at the photo call for “The Neon Demon” held on June 6, 2016, at the House of Cinema Villa Borghese in Rome (Credit: Daziram / Future Image / WENN)
Fanning was joined by the film’s director, Nicolas Winding Refn, but it was her ethereal wardrobe—specifically her choice of ornate footwear—that captured the attention of style enthusiasts.
A Regal Look: Giamba’s Cream Babydoll Frock
For this Roman event, Fanning chose a cream-colored babydoll frock from the Giamba Fall 2016 collection. The dress served as a soft, romantic counterpoint to the dark themes of her film, proving that high-fashion choices can effectively contrast a performer’s on-screen persona.
Nicolas Winding Refn keeps it sharp in a navy suit as Elle Fanning channels modern fairy-tale elegance in a ruffled ivory Giamba dress, finished with crystal-embellished gold Christian Louboutin “Bat Bat” heels at The Neon Demon Rome photocall
Behind the Scenes: Elle Fanning’s Role and Transformation
Elle Fanning was just 16 years old when she began filming her role as Jesse, the aspiring model at the heart of The Neon Demon. After celebrating her 17th birthday on set in Los Angeles, she was 18 by the time the film reached theaters in June 2016.
In the opening shot of The Neon Demon, Elle Fanning kept her eyes open for so long that her contact lenses were burned onto her eyes by the hot lights (Credit: Amazon Studios / Broad Green Pictures)
Elle’s Reflections on Beauty and Fashion
Elle Fanning explained that she didn’t lose a significant amount of weight for her role as Jesse in The Neon Demon because the character is portrayed as a fresh, baby-faced newcomer whom the pressures of the modeling world haven’t yet consumed.
“But I didn’t lose a crazy amount of weight. I think also for Jesse, she’s the new girl, she’s kind of fresh, so it’s OK if she kind of was baby-faced. She hasn’t really hit that world yet. She’s not really starving herself, she’s new to it,” she told WWD about her role.
She also shared that working on the film gave her a deeper understanding of the fashion industry’s intense focus on physical appearance, highlighting the pressure it places on young women.
“I grew up kind of admiring fashion and loving it and respecting the creativity of it and how beautiful it is. But then after doing this movie, it’s so interesting, because it’s like, ‘Wow, it’s just really all about the way you look.’ You know, it’s totally a physical aesthetic and it’s a lot of pressure on those girls,” Elle added.
Elle Fanning portrays orphaned sixteen-year-old model Jesse, who moves from small-town Georgia to Los Angeles (Credit: Amazon Studios / Broad Green Pictures)
“Our film is horror, but it’s not entirely a horror film in a way,” she said. “The horror of it is more that we’re kind of, like, telling the future of what could happen to this beauty-obsessed world, which is what makes it so terrifying, I feel, and what makes it horrifying.”
Finishing Touches: Accessories and Styling Choices
The thigh-skimming dress featured a ruffled skirt cinched at the waist by a pearl-embellished band. It also had a floral lace bodice with a cleavage-baring plunging V-neckline held by two thin spaghetti straps.
Elle Fanning shows off her fair skin in an ivory-colored Giamba babydoll dress (Credit: Daziram / Future Image / WENN)
Elle skipped the jewelry and instead accessorized with a floral metal headpiece by Twigs & Honey and a pair of crystal-embellished gold heels.
She wore her blonde locks down and kept her makeup light and simple, with only a hint of blush and a swipe of pink lip gloss.
Elle Fanning looks ethereal in a ruffled Giamba babydoll dress paired with gold Louboutin sandals at the Rome photo call for ‘The Neon Demon’ (Credit: Daziram / Future Image / WENN)
A Touch of Glam: Christian Louboutin ‘Bat Bat’ Sandals
Elle slipped into a pair of Christian Louboutin “Bat Bat” sandals. These gold leather shoes feature asymmetric front straps with handmade crystal-embroidered dragonflies, buckled ankle straps, and about 4.5-inch heels.
Elle Fanning’s feet sparkle in gold Louboutin ‘Bat Bat’ sandals, adorned with crystal-embroidered dragonflies (Credit: Daziram / Future Image / WENN)
Elle Fanning isn’t the only star to fall for Christian Louboutin’s whimsical “Bat Bat” sandals—over the years, the crystal-embellished heels have appeared on several high-profile red carpets, cementing their cult status.
Amy Adams famously stepped out in gold Bat Bat sandals while receiving her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, while Felicity Jones paired the ornate heels with a Dior gown at the Academy Awards.
The Bat Bat sandals remain one of Christian Louboutin’s most memorable red-carpet creations.
Elle Fanning’s perfectly pedicured feet shine in gold Louboutin ‘Bat Bat’ sandals, complete with height-boosting heels and intricate crystal details (Credit: Daziram / Future Image / WENN)
Where to Find Elle’s Stunning Footwear
While Elle Fanning’s crystal-embellished “Bat Bat” sandals appear to be a discontinued, archival Christian Louboutin design, fans can still explore the brand’s signature red-sole styles via our guide to Christian Louboutin’s most popular shoes, with current-season designs available at luxury retailers such as Mytheresa and Nordstrom.
This 100mm sandal in metallic gold is the perfect pair for a summer soiree
Gold Metallic Christian Louboutin Gold ‘Bat Bat’ Dragonfly Heels
Christian Louboutin sandal featuring a handmade crystal embroidered dragonfly with soft feather detailing
Black Christian Louboutin ‘Bat Bat’ Dragonfly Heels
Elle Fanning’s Most Memorable Shoe & Style Moments
From fairy-tale heels at international film photocalls to glittering red-carpet pumps, Elle Fanning’s fashion evolution is consistently anchored by standout footwear—especially her enduring love for Christian Louboutin.
👠 Curated Elle Fanning & Louboutin Shoe Moments:
- ✨ Elle Fanning’s Show-Stopping Style with Vivienne Westwood & Christian Louboutin Heels — archive of her glittered Louboutin pumps at a Hollywood Foreign Press Association banquet.
- 📏 Elle Fanning’s Height, Shoe Size & Best Red-Carpet Heels — a comprehensive look at her standout footwear choices, from Louboutin to Miu Miu.
- 👡 Elle Fanning at the Galveston Premiere in Christian Louboutin Iriza Pumps — classic red-carpet elegance in Oscar de la Renta and sleek Louboutin heels.
- 👠 Elle Fanning’s Red Carpet Look with Rodarte & Christian Louboutin Crystal Pumps — her Harper’s Bazaar celebration outfit anchored by sparkling Louboutins.
- 🎬 Elle Fanning Shows Off Her Shoe Wardrobe at the Cannes Film Festival — festival fashion featuring Christian Louboutin and other standout designer heels.