Gabrielle Union’s Style Evolution: From Casadei Cage Sandals to Valentino Haute Couture

On November 29, 2021, at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Gabrielle Union delivered a striking couture moment in neon Valentino—but it wasn’t an isolated fashion high.

Across three standout appearances—from a voluminous haute couture statement in London to sheer, modern black-tie elegance in Los Angeles and a sharply cut, minimalist premiere look in New York—Union reveals a consistent styling philosophy: bold silhouettes, intentional structure, and shoes that either disappear into the drama or define it from the ground up.

Together, these looks trace the evolution of her red-carpet identity—one that balances architectural fashion with equally considered footwear, whether hidden beneath layers of couture or commanding attention in strappy, sculptural heels.

Electric Couture Drama in Valentino at The Fashion Awards 2021

At The Fashion Awards, Union embraced high-impact elegance in a neon green Valentino Haute Couture gown from the Fall/Winter 2021 “Des Ateliers” collection.

The halter neckline and sweeping cape added movement and scale, while the voluminous taffeta skirt created a striking architectural silhouette.

She was joined at the event by Hailee Steinfeld, who styled her H&M sequined jumpsuit with Christian Louboutin’s popular black patent leather So Kate pumps.

Gabrielle Union, in a gown from the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2021 ‘Des Ateliers’ collection, attends The Fashion Awards 2021 at Royal Albert Hall on November 29, 2021, in London, England (Credit: WENN / MEGA)

Gabrielle Union completed the look with a sculptural, high-set bun and delicate Messika diamonds—keeping the styling intentionally minimal to let the saturated Valentino couture take center stage.

While the lime green gown commanded attention, her footwear remained largely hidden beneath the sweeping taffeta skirt and chiffon cape.

Given the scale of the silhouette and stylist Thomas Christos Kikis’s runway-aligned approach, she was most likely wearing towering Valentino platform heels—potentially from the Tan-Go family or a similar couture sandal—chosen to subtly lift the hem while maintaining the look’s uninterrupted drama.

Gabrielle Union wears her hair in an oversized bun with drop earrings by Messika (Credit: WENN / MEGA)

Union’s stylist, Thomas Christos Kikis, wanted to make sure her look incorporated “unapologetic glamour and joy.” Kikis also shared about Union, “She loves to try new things, she trusts me, she gives credit to her team…she gets it.”

Kikis and Union are a match made in heaven, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to work together in the future.

Gabrielle Union elevated her neon Valentino moment with a sculptural, high-set bun and sparkling diamond drop earrings, letting the clean, polished beauty look frame the gown’s dramatic silhouette (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

A few weeks earlier, on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast with Glennon Doyle, Gabrielle Union opened up about family life with Dwyane Wade, emphasizing consistency and presence as the foundation of their blended household.

Rejecting the label “stepparent,” Union described her role simply as “an additional adult,” focused on stability rather than replacement—an approach rooted in showing up the same way every day as their children adapt and grow.

Two months earlier, at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala in Los Angeles, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade delivered a strikingly modern take on black-tie dressing—balancing couture precision with directional styling.

Gabrielle Union’s Sheer Alexandre Vauthier Couture Meets Dwyane Wade’s Modern Gucci Tuxedo

Gabrielle Union wore a sheer black Alexandre Vauthier Fall 2021 Haute Couture gown, distinguished by its architectural, tiered tulle skirt and crystal-embellished collar, paired with Sarah Flint’s “Perfect Sandal” in black suede with a 100mm stiletto heel, finished with Le Vian, Kallati, and Djula jewelry.

Dwyane Wade complemented her in a sleek black Gucci tuxedo, subverting tradition by styling the jacket over a white mesh tank top and accessorizing with Tiffany & Co. jewelry, including his signature diamond necklace.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade stepped out in coordinated black evening looks, with Union floating in a sheer, layered gown paired with minimalist open-toe heels while Wade kept it sharp in a tailored suit and polished leather shoes, the couple delivering a sleek, modern take on red-carpet elegance (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

While her 2021 appearances leaned into the theatrical volume of Valentino and Vauthier, Union’s red-carpet mastery began years earlier with a leaner, more razor-sharp aesthetic.

This 2014 look proves that, before she embraced couture capes, she was already perfecting the art of the ‘power heel’—trading massive silhouettes for precision cutouts and footwear that commanded the spotlight from the ground up.

Cutout Confidence in Solace London and Casadei “Cage” Sandals (2014 Premiere)

Gabrielle Union and Chris Rock at the premiere of Top Five at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City on December 3, 2014 (Credit: Joel Ginsburg / WENN)

At the Top Five premiere in New York City, Union opted for a sleek, double-slit “Weaver” maxi dress by Solace London. The clean lines and strategic cutouts framed the body, creating a modern, streamlined silhouette.

Gabrielle Union sharpened the silhouette of her black Solace London “Weaver” maxi dress—defined by daring cutouts and thigh-high slits—with strappy, gold-accented cage sandals that added structure and edge to the sleek look (Credit: Joel Ginsburg / WENN)

She grounded the look with black Casadei “Cage” sandals—an intricate, strappy design with metallic hardware, open toes, and sky-high stiletto heels.

The shoes added edge and structure, reinforcing the dress’s architectural feel while keeping the palette sharp and monochrome.

Casadei “Cage” black leather stiletto sandals featuring sculptural elastic straps, gleaming gold hardware, an open toe, and a sky-high heel that delivers sharp, architectural elegance

More Gabrielle Union Shoe Moments Worth Revisiting

If this look is any indication, Gabrielle Union has long understood how the right shoe can sharpen an entire outfit. For a broader view of her style evolution—from strappy red-carpet heels to dramatic platforms and fashion-forward designer pairings—explore more of her standout shoe and fashion moments below.