Lily Collins’ Reem Acra Gown & The Hidden Heels Behind Her Rules Don’t Apply Red Carpet Look

At the AFI Fest premiere of Rules Don’t Apply at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on November 10, 2016, Lily Collins embraced the silver-screen glamour that defined much of the film’s press tour.

Lily Collins stuns in a sheer black lace Reem Acra gown while Alden Ehrenreich keeps it classic in a sharp navy suit at AFI FEST 2016’s Rules Don’t Apply premiere in Hollywood on November 10, 2016 (Credit: Apega / WENN)

Playing aspiring actress Marla Mabrey opposite Alden Ehrenreich and director Warren Beatty, Collins arrived in a sheer embellished Reem Acra gown that subtly channeled the polished elegance associated with 1950s Hollywood starlets.

The premiere arrived during a particularly polished stretch of red carpet appearances for Collins, whose preference for vintage-inspired gowns, softly structured silhouettes, and elegant platform heels had started to define her fashion identity by late 2016.

Lily Collins and Alden Ehrenreich share an intimate moment in Rules Don’t Apply, capturing the film’s 1950s Hollywood romance vibe (Credit: 20th Century Fox)

While Rules Don’t Apply received mixed reviews upon release, Lily Collins’ performance as Marla Mabrey was widely praised and earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.

Rooney Mara and Felicity Jones were both considered for the role before Collins was cast.

By late 2016, Collins had developed a recognizable red carpet style centered on fluid couture silhouettes, sculpted tailoring, and cinematic evening dressing. Just days before the AFI Fest premiere, she wore an Old Hollywood-inspired David Koma dress at the 2016 Hollywood Film Awards.

For the Rules Don’t Apply premiere, she continued that direction in a sheer black Reem Acra gown layered with intricate silver beading, fluid lace panels, and a softly elongated silhouette that echoed the film’s vintage Hollywood mood.

Lily Collins looked captivating in a sleeveless sheer black lace gown from Reem Acra’s Fall 2016 collection, adorned with elegantly draped silver beading

The look also reflected the method-dressing approach that shaped much of the film’s press tour. Playing aspiring 1950s actress Marla Mabrey in Rules Don’t Apply, Collins consistently leaned into vintage-inspired silhouettes, softly sculpted hairstyles, and elegant evening heels that echoed the glamour of classic Hollywood starlets without feeling overly theatrical.

While the floor-length Reem Acra gown concealed Lily Collins’ shoes, the silhouette strongly suggested she wore elevated platform pumps beneath the lace hem — a frequent red carpet choice for the actress during the Rules Don’t Apply press tour.

Just days later at the film’s San Francisco premiere, Collins paired a flowing Maria Lucia Hohan gown with towering Charlotte Olympia heels, one of the statement footwear brands she regularly favored in late 2016.

At 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm), the additional height would also have helped maintain the long proportions of the heavily embellished Reem Acra design while preventing the delicate lace hem from dragging on the carpet — a practical styling choice often seen with full-length couture gowns.

The dark lace, softly sculpted curls, and smoky makeup gave the entire look a refined silver-screen mood that complemented both the film’s period setting and Collins’ understated approach to eveningwear.

The intricacy of Lily Collins’ 1920s-inspired black lace dress was evident, especially with the silver beading and transparent panels giving glimpses of her hips, back, and ribs

Keeping the focus on the gown’s intricate beading and silhouette, Collins skipped a statement necklace and carried no visible clutch, relying instead on subtle diamond jewelry and the dress’s built-in metallic embellishment to frame the look.

Lily’s dress is Reem Acra Fall 2016, featuring gorgeous sheer lace adorned with heavy embellishments.

Lily Collins’ makeup was reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour, characterized by a sultry, smoky eye and full, well-defined brows

The metallic “harness” detail was actually integrated into the gown itself as part of Reem Acra’s Fall 2016 design concept.

Constructed as a sculptural silver bib layered over the sheer lace bodice, the embellishment created a striking contrast between hard metallic structure and soft, romantic fabric — a combination that recurred across several collections in the mid-2010s as designers blended armor-inspired detailing with ethereal eveningwear.

Lily Collins’ lustrous brunette hair was styled in a side-parted bob, with vintage curls delicately framing her face

Lily Collins’ Red Carpet Style Still Favors Vintage Glamour and Elegant Heels

From embellished couture gowns to sharply tailored evening looks, Lily Collins has consistently favored polished styling rooted in cinematic glamour and elegant red carpet proportions.

Whether she’s pairing sheer lace dresses with hidden platform pumps or finishing modern silhouettes with pointed stilettos, her red carpet wardrobe often balances soft vintage references with clean, structured footwear choices.