When Rita Ora stepped into the role of the Queen of Hearts for the 2024 Descendants spin-off, Descendants: The Rise of Red, she brought the character’s royal intensity to the red carpet.
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Throughout the film’s promotional circuit in July 2024—spanning from the studios in New York City to the premieres in Los Angeles—Ora and stylist Pippa Atkinson used “method dressing” to bridge the gap between fantasy and high fashion.
Rita Ora does method dressing and wears red dresses and heels for the Descendants: The Rise of Red promotional tour in New York City (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images / Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
This thematic approach to style, popularized by icons like Zendaya and Margot Robbie, relies on a curated color palette and symbolic silhouettes. For Ora, this meant an unwavering commitment to crimson, specifically through a rotation of archival gowns and statement footwear that leaned into her villainous era.
From structured velvet jackets to the return of red-carpet staples like the Jimmy Choo Minny, here is a look at how Rita Ora mastered the monochromatic trend during her summer 2024 press tour.
Inside Descendants: The Rise of Red: How Rita Ora’s Queen of Hearts Inspired the Press-Tour Aesthetic
In the fourth installment of the Descendants franchise, the narrative shifts to the next generation of legacy characters. The film follows the unlikely partnership between Red (Kylie Cantrall), the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe (Malia Baker), the perfectionist daughter of Cinderella and King Charming.
When the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora) uses an invitation to Auradon Prep as a cover for a royal coup, the two girls must use a magical pocket watch to travel back in time. Their mission is to prevent the pivotal high school prank that originally led Red’s mother down a path of villainy. This time-traveling adventure provides the perfect backdrop for the “fire and ice” aesthetic seen throughout the 2024 press tour, contrasting Red’s bold crimsons with Chloe’s regal blues.
Descendants: The Rise of Red originally debuted on Disney+ on July 12, 2024, followed by its linear premiere on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024.
Regal in Red: Rita Ora Wears an Archival Elie Saab Gown with Jimmy Choo “Minny” Heels
Ahead of the Disney+ debut of her new musical fantasy movie, Rita Ora attended the film’s Los Angeles premiere at Walt Disney Studios on July 10, 2024.
As expected, she looked magnificent in a red ensemble, appearing regal in an archival Elie Saab gown that combines her sensuous yet edgy style with Disney’s conventional standards.
Ora chose an Elie Saab chiffon gown that gracefully drapes her physique, evoking a Grecian goddess. It’s modest with sheer panels that lend it an air of ethereal grace, an entirely covered bodice, diagonal draping, and cape-like sleeves.
The fiery number has an incredibly high slit that balances the modesty of the bodice and lets Ora flaunt her toned legs.
Rita Ora channels her inner Grecian goddess in a red drape dress from Elie Saab at the Los Angeles premiere of Descendants: The Rise of Red (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
Stylist Atkinson drew inspiration from Elie Saab’s Fall 2010 collection, which featured an abundance of airy pieces fashioned from gauzy fabrics reminiscent of the Grecian era.
I applaud Atkinson for accessorizing Ora’s eye-catching red gown with white gold jewelry. Red is a striking hue that can grab attention on its own, but balancing the appearance with neutral accessories, like gold, silver, or white gold, enhances the effect.
The You Only Love Me singer was decked up in several exquisite pieces from Cartier, including a pair of diamond chandelier earrings, a diamond cuff, and a few diamond rings.
Rita Ora’s red Elie Saab gown is made of sheer chiffon and features drapery across the front, a thigh-high slit, and a dramatic train (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
She completed the outfit with red satin shoes, which added the perfect finishing touch.
The artist decided on the classic Jimmy Choo “Minny” sandals, which creative director Sandra Choi first unveiled in 2015. They have since made several appearances on the red carpet, spotted on the likes of Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Julianne Moore, Reese Witherspoon, and more.
Unsurprisingly, they’re still in style today—they have minimal, adjustable straps, high stiletto heels, and a sleek appearance. Ora chose to wear modest heels so that the attention would remain on her outfit.
Rita Ora teams her red gown with red Jimmy Choo Minny sandals featuring two thin straps and stiletto heels (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
The Hot Right Now hitmaker lived up to my expectations with a breathtaking show of glitz and elegance. She complemented the ensemble with bold red lipstick, courtesy of Jezz Hill, with rosy eyeshadow and bronze blush for finishing touches.
Brent Lawler styled Rita’s honey-colored locks in wet-look curls and pulled them back into a low ponytail with a few strands framing her face.
She perfectly embodied the Queen of Hearts with her entire ensemble—from her glam down to her shoes!
Rita Ora styles her regal dress with opulent Cartier jewels and wears her honey locks in a chic but messy low ponytail (Credit: Faye’s Vision / Cover Images)
Avant-Garde Authority: Rita Ora’s Theunissen Jacket Dress & Statement Red Pumps
Rita’s preference for cutting-edge fashion is evident from her appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark.
She looked gorgeous in the “Karla” jacket dress by the Franco-Belgian brand Theunissen, which is renowned for its eye-catching silhouettes, daring cuts, and use of vivid colors, as seen in Ora’s outfit.
The structured jacket dress is cut from lush velvet and has exaggerated curved sleeves resembling a heart. That could have been a factor in Pippa Atkinson’s decision to have Rita wear this for her press run—a wise choice, if I may add.
The dress’s pronounced sleeves may have drawn attention away from her slender frame, but the cinched waist still made for an attractive silhouette.
It comes finished with decorative seams, a front button placket, and a straight hem that skims her thighs, allowing her to parade her flawless pins.
Rita Ora embraces her penchant for avant-garde fashion in a red Theunissen jacket dress with exaggerated curved sleeves, a collar, and a thigh-skimming hem at the Empire State Building following her guest appearance on Live with Kelly & Mark (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Rita showed up for a photocall at the Empire State Building sporting the same outfit.
It’s not easy to accessorize an avant-garde ensemble, but Ora and her stylist did so with ease. The only accessories they added to the look were a pair of crimson earrings with rows of dangling diamonds and a few white gold and silver rings that matched the buttons on her dress.
Her shoes, of course, were red, too. She chose to add a few inches to her already impressive height with a pair of shiny red pumps featuring pointy toes and towering stiletto heels.
Rita Ora teams her cutting-edge jacket with basic red patent leather pumps to balance out the look (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
She stayed true to the theme by wearing retro-futuristic red sunglasses that shielded her eyes from the sun. Her $585 Thierry Lasry “Kanibaly” sunglasses are handcrafted in France from authentic Italian acetate, feature a gray tortoiseshell accent, and have solid gray lenses.
Hair and makeup were impeccable, as usual. Rita sported the same bright red lipstick and wore her curly tresses half-up, half-down, accented with a red bow.
Rita Ora stays true to the avant-garde theme of her look by pairing her red jacket dress with silver and white gold jewelry and retro-futuristic Thierry Lasry sunglasses (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Ladylike Glamour: Rita Ora’s Georges Hobeika Sequin Dress & Jimmy Choo Heels
Rita Ora once again had us seeing red, literally, in a strapless red dress and heels as she stylishly left her Gansevoort Hotel ahead of her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
This time, the Fifty Shades of Grey actress went for a ladylike appearance, donning a form-fitting pencil dress that her stylist, Atkinson, picked out of Georges Hobeika’s Fall 2023 collection.
It’s seductive but gorgeous with a strapless crepe corset bodice and a fitted sequin pencil skirt. Its protruding sides, which resemble devil horns, make it the perfect outfit for method dressing since it captures her character as the evil Queen of Hearts.
The lower portion, on the other hand, has a scaly texture and is completely covered with sequins, giving it a mermaid-tail-like appearance.
Rita Ora leaves Gansevoort Hotel ahead of her Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon appearance in a red strapless Georges Hobeika dress with a scaly sequined skirt (Credit: BauerGriffin / INSTARimages)
Rita looked quite ladylike, and her Jimmy Choo “Minny” sandals were the ideal finishing touch, in my opinion. They’re minimalist, but they wonderfully enhance the ensemble’s femininity with their slim straps and stiletto heels.
Rita kept her accessories minimalist for the occasion, letting her striking outfit speak for itself. She eschewed earrings, left her neck bare, and wore only a ring and a bracelet.
She concealed her eyes behind a pair of red acetate cat-eye sunglasses and wore her signature red lipstick. Her gloriously unkempt locks of hair flowed down her back.
Rita Ora teams her ladylike red dress with Jimmy Choo Minny sandals, enhancing the look’s feminine appeal (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Flirty & Fearless: Rita Ora’s Selezza Tulle Set with Sergio Rossi Platform Pumps
Ora appeared on the Elvis Duran Show looking gorgeous as ever, sporting a flirtatious Selezza co-ord that seemed to be made of shearling at first glance. I thought the ensemble was too heavy and thick for summer; as it turns out, it’s made of tulle.
She donned the $756 “India” jacket, a classic piece with a romantic twist thanks to the exquisitely handcrafted tulle ruffles that give the appearance of 3D shearling. The British entertainer paired it with the $398 “Anya” mini skirt, which is composed of hundreds of delicate handmade flounces.
Rita Ora looks flirty in a fluffy red tulle Selezza jacket and matching mini skirt for her appearance on the Elvis Duran Show (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The mini skirt skims her thighs, showcasing a leggy look, and the tall platform heels add even more length to her stature.
Ora boosted her height with the Sergio Rossi “Si Rossi” slingback pumps made in Italy from Carmine Red patent leather, giving them a striking sheen.
The mini buckled straps on the front add to the pumps’ charm, while the buckled slingback straps fasten them to the foot. They also have trendy square toes and are perched atop thick platforms and towering sculpted block heels, about five inches high. These pumps are perfect for the bold woman.
Rita Ora showcases a leggy look in the tulle ruffled co-ord finished with sky-high red patent pumps by Sergio Rossi (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The ensemble doesn’t necessarily require any further styling. Rita’s red-framed cat-eye sunglasses are stylish, but I would definitely take off her earrings; they seem over the top.
Her cherry red lipstick and half-up ponytail completed her striking look.
Rita Ora wears her long curly hair in a half-updo and conceals her eyes with red-framed cat-eye sunglasses (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
More of Rita Ora’s Most Talked-About Shoe & Fashion Moments
From commanding red-carpet premieres to bold street-style statements, Rita Ora’s footwear choices consistently anchor her fashion narratives. If her crimson-heavy Descendants: The Rise of Red press tour sparked your interest, Your Next Shoes has documented many more of her standout heel moments—spanning designer sandals, sky-high pumps, and evolving red-carpet signatures worth revisiting.
👠 Rita Ora Shoe & Fashion Features on YourNextShoes.com:
- ⭐ Rita Ora’s Red Carpet Style: From Stuart Weitzman “Nudist” Sandals to Iconic Heels — A deep dive into Ora’s memorable designer shoe moments over the years.
- 👡 Rita Ora & Emma Bunton Shine at the Music Industry Trust Awards — Highlights from a bold pink-pumped red-carpet moment featuring Russell & Bromley slingbacks.
- 📏 Rita Ora’s Height vs. Her Heels — A perennial fan-favorite exploring how Ora uses towering heels to sculpt her silhouette.
- 👟 Rita Ora Rocks 7 Outfits (and Shoes) for “You Only Love Me” — Style breakdown including her footwear choices across multiple looks.