Gold Sequins, Sculptural Chains & Sky-High Heels: Inside Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dakota Johnson’s Gotham Awards Style

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s acclaimed adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter made a defining splash at the 31st Gotham Awards in New York City on November 29, 2021, where it earned four out of its five nominations.

The evening marked a milestone for Gyllenhaal: her directorial debut won Breakthrough Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Feature, while lead actress Olivia Colman received Outstanding Lead Performance for her compelling work in the film.

Olivia Colman portrays Leda Caruso in The Lost Daughter, capturing one of the film’s most emotionally raw and sun-drenched moments on the Greek coast (Credit: Netflix)

As Leda Caruso, Colman navigates the film’s unsettling emotional terrain, her fascination with a young mother—played by Dakota Johnson—serves as its central thread. The drama moved from festival acclaim to a Netflix release, drawing viewers to Gyllenhaal’s thoughtful, character-first approach.

That sense of artistry set the stage for a red carpet rich with bold fashion choices.

Maggie Gyllenhaal Radiates in a Gold Sequin Rodarte Gown

Maggie Gyllenhaal wins Breakthrough Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Feature for her directorial debut, The Lost Daughter, at the 2021 Gotham Awards on November 29, 2021 (Credit: Mega / WENN)

For the occasion, the Crazy Heart actress turned heads in her boldest look yet, flashing her cleavage and underboob in a gold sequin Rodarte Fall 2021 gown.

The dazzling short-sleeved gown is covered in shimmering gold sequins and features a daring chest-and-waist cutout anchored by a thin black halter strap. Its fitted bodice flows into a long, easy-moving skirt that concealed her heels—subtly adding height to Maggie Gyllenhaal’s already statuesque 5’9″ (175.3 cm) frame.

Maggie Gyllenhaal turns heads in a gold sequin Rodarte Fall 2021 gown with a daring cutout bodice, her concealed heels letting the dress’s full shimmer take center stage (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Styled by Sandra Amador, Maggie added more sparkles to her look with jewelry from Grace Lee and Los Angeles-born jewelry designer Anita Ko. She wore statement gold earrings, thin gold bangles, and a few gold rings.

Beauty-wise, Maggie wore her short chestnut tresses in a sleek bob, care of hairstylist Matthew Monzon, while makeup artist Daniel Martin accentuated her features with eyeliner and a swipe of bright red lip color.

Maggie Gyllenhaal pairs her gold sequin Rodarte gown with a sleek, sculpted bob and bold red lipstick for a polished, modern finish

Maggie was joined on the red carpet by her husband, Peter Sarsgaard, and Dakota Johnson, who both star in her directorial debut.

Another attendee was Thandiwe Newton, who sparkled in a silver sequin-embellished Oscar de la Renta Resort 2022 outfit paired with Giuseppe Zanotti Betty metallic silver platform pumps.

Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Dakota Johnson pose together at the 31st Annual Gotham Awards, with Dakota adding a sleek touch in minimalist black ankle-strap sandals (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Dakota Johnson Stuns in a Black Schiaparelli Dress & Sleek Sandals

Dakota, who plays Nina in the acclaimed movie, looked stunning in a sleek black dress from Schiaparelli’s Spring 2022 collection.

Highlighting her slender frame, the long black dress features a chunky gold chain halter neck and a gold-tone triangle accent at the neck.

Dakota Johnson wows in a sleek black Schiaparelli Spring 2022 dress with a chunky gold chain halter neck (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Her stylist, Kate Young, kept the look classy with minimal jewelry, including statement rings from Ana Khouri.

A Closer Look at Dakota Johnson’s Gianvito Rossi ‘Bijoux’ Sandals

The American actress completed her outfit with a pair of Gianvito Rossi “Bijoux” black sandals, which offered a glimpse of her minimalist foot tattoos.

Dakota Johnson’s black ankle-strap sandals highlight her clean pedicure and subtle foot tattoos on the red carpet (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Named after the label’s jewelry-inspired design, these sandals from the popular women’s shoe designer feature buttery-soft padded leather straps, a back zip, and a stiletto heel that measures about 4 inches. They are also available in gold at Mytheresa.

These trendy Gianvito Rossi ‘Bijoux’ sandals feature buttery soft padded leather, a back zip, and a high stiletto heel

Hairstylist Kevin Ryan styled Dakota’s tresses straight with her signature fringe framing her face. Accentuating her beautiful features, makeup artist Maki Ryoke gave her winged eyeliner, mascara, and pink lip color.

Dakota Johnson styles her tresses down with her signature fringe framing her beautifully made-up face (Credit: Mega / WENN)

Explore More Dakota Johnson & Maggie Gyllenhaal Shoe Moments

As their red-carpet looks at the Gotham Awards show, both Maggie Gyllenhaal and Dakota Johnson bring a sharply defined sense of personal style to every appearance—whether it’s minimalist black gowns, sculptural jewelry, or standout heels that command close-up attention.

For readers who want to dive deeper into their signature footwear choices, the following curated highlights spotlight some of their most talked-about shoe moments across film premieres, fashion events, and street style.