In September 2019, Meryl Streep attended premieres of The Laundromat at both the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada and the Venice Film Festival in Italy, wearing two dramatically different outfits united by bold footwear choices.
While her elegant red satin pumps in Venice were widely praised, her pearl-embellished Mercedes Castillo “Violah” kitten heel pumps at the Toronto premiere divided fashion critics and remain one of the actress’s most talked-about red carpet shoe moments.
Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, and Meryl Streep at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Laundromat held at Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, Canada, on September 9, 2019 (Credit: WENN / Avalon / Jaime Espinoza)
For the Toronto premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Streep wore a floral wool-and-silk dress from Valentino’s Pre-Fall 2019 collection, styled by Micaela Erlanger.
Meryl Streep accessorized her Valentino Pre-Fall 2019 floral dress with round gold-rimmed sunglasses, sculptural Dinosaur Designs resin earrings, and a black Swarovski crystal-embellished Valentino Garavani Rockstud Spike shoulder bag at the Toronto International Film Festival
She finished the look with resin-and-silver earrings from Dinosaur Designs, a black Swarovski crystal-embellished Valentino Garavani Rockstud Spike shoulder bag, and the distinctive Violah faux pearl-embellished kitten heel pumps by Mercedes Castillo.
Meryl Streep paired her Valentino floral dress with Mercedes Castillo “Violah” faux pearl-embellished kitten heel pumps, one of the most polarizing celebrity shoe designs of the 2019 festival season
Fashion commentators described the pearl-trimmed Mercedes Castillo “Violah” kitten heel pumps as distracting compared with the elegance of the dress, illustrating how polarizing footwear can become the defining element of a red carpet look.
The Mercedes Castillo “Violah” pumps were introduced as part of the designer’s 2019 collection and featured faux pearls wrapped around a low kitten heel, combining sculptural detailing with a pointed-toe silhouette.
The pearl-embellished “Violah” pumps reflected the same sculptural approach seen throughout Mercedes Castillo’s collections, from the debut “Katrina” sandals to the architectural “Noni” slingback pumps, although the Violah’s oversized faux pearls proved far more divisive among fashion critics.
Mercedes Castillo Today: After operating her namesake label for seven years, designer Mercedes Castillo announced in spring 2024 that she would pause new seasonal collections and close the brand’s primary e-commerce website. As a result, her original designs are now available primarily on the secondary market.
Mercedes Castillo “Violah” slingback pumps combined a pointed black velvet toe with a sculptural cream leather vamp, finished by a faux pearl accent and an architectural kitten heel that made the design one of the brand’s most distinctive—and divisive—2019 creations
Earlier that month at the Venice Film Festival premiere of The Laundromat, Streep took a completely different approach. She wore a modified floor-length silk caftan-style gown from Givenchy’s Fall 2019 collection, designed by Clare Waight Keller, featuring a high mock neck, voluminous sleeves, and a painterly floral print.
She echoed the dress’s rich red tones with satin pumps, then finished the look with oversized square sunglasses and Dinosaur Designs jewelry for a relaxed, resort-inspired red carpet ensemble that earned widespread praise for its effortless elegance.
Meryl Streep paired her flowing Givenchy Fall 2019 gown with vibrant ruby-red satin pumps at the premiere of The Laundromat during the 2019 Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on September 1, 2019
Meryl Streep’s Most Memorable Designer Shoe Moments
Whether she’s embracing unconventional statement heels or timeless pointed pumps, Meryl Streep has consistently let her footwear complement rather than compete with her distinctive red carpet style. If you enjoyed this look back at her Mercedes Castillo and Givenchy ensembles from The Laundromat press tour, explore more of her standout designer shoes and fashion moments through the years.
👠 Explore Meryl Streep’s Best Shoe and Fashion Moments:
- 📏 Standing at 5’4¾” (164.5 cm) and wearing a US shoe size 9, Meryl Streep often relies on pointed pumps, restrained sandals, and clean footwear lines to sharpen her red carpet silhouettes.
- 🐆 Her Gianvito Rossi “Sofia Sling” pumps brought a precise finish to a cheetah-print Givenchy ensemble, with sharply pointed toes, curved heels, and gold buckle details reinforcing the look’s fashion-forward appeal.
- 👡 At the 2015 Academy Awards, Streep paired Jimmy Choo “Kuki” platform sandals with a custom Lanvin tuxedo-inspired look, balancing the tailored jacket and column skirt with crossed straps and a slim stiletto heel.
- 🖤 For the Ricki and the Flash premiere, she coordinated a black-and-white Valentino dress with L.K. Bennett “Bonnie” d’Orsay pumps, using the two-tone footwear to echo the dress’s graphic piping.
- 🧥 Streep returned to Miranda Priestly-style power dressing in black Stuart Weitzman “Power” booties and a scarlet Givenchy cape dress, allowing the pointed toes and slim heels to add structure beneath the dramatic silhouette.