James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to Avatar, The Way of Water, finally hit theaters on December 16, 2022—13 years after the original became the highest-grossing film of all time.
While the film made waves at the box office, it was Zoe Saldaña who turned heads during the London promotional tour with her bold, darkly romantic red carpet looks.
Below, we revisit two of her most unforgettable fashion moments from the Avatar: The Way of Water premiere and photocall in London:
1. Zoe Saldaña Stuns in a Gothic-Chic Alexander McQueen Gown at the Avatar Premiere
The then-44-year-old actress glided down the blue carpet in a stunning black corset dress from Alexander McQueen. She attended the event with her husband, Marco Perego, who kept close to her during the premiere.
Zoe Saldaña in an Alexander McQueen corset dress with husband Marco Perego at the Avatar: The Way of Water premiere held at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London on December 6, 2022 (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
This Pre-Fall 2022 creation featured blue, black, and silver beaded embellishments on the corset. It also had a deep neckline, cut-out detailing, and swirling leaf-shaped embroidery. The flowing sheer black skirt had subtle sequin embellishments for a bit of sparkle.
Although her shoes couldn’t be seen underneath her dress, she seemed to be wearing towering platform heels that gave her (168.9 cm) height a stylish boost.
Zoe Saldaña stuns in a gothic-inspired Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2022 corset gown with sheer panels, intricate beading, and sky-high black platform heels (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
For her beauty look, Zoe Saldaña stayed true to the water theme and opted for soft, cascading waves. She also had smoky eyes and glossy nude lips, and Cartier jewels provided the finishing touches to her stunning look.
Zoe Saldaña with Cartier jewels, cascading waves, smoky eyes, and glossy nude lips (Credit: PA Images / ISNTARimages / Cover Images)
2. Zoe Saldaña Embraces Sheer Elegance in Victoria Beckham and Tamara Mellon Heels
Zoe Saldaña attended the photocall with some of her castmates in London a few days earlier. This time, she went for sultry elegance in an all-black look.
The mother of three wore a sheer circle top from Victoria Beckham’s Spring 2023 collection layered over a black lace bralette. She styled it with a sheer black midi skirt from the same collection, which featured satin panels and an asymmetric design.
Zoe Saldaña exuding sultry elegance in an all-black Victoria Beckham Spring 2023 look at the Avatar: The Way of Water photocall held at the Corinthia Hotel in London on December 4, 2022 (Credit: Matt Crossick / PA Images / INSTARim / Cover Images)
The Marvel star styled her hair in tousled waves to complete her look. She also wore sheer black tights with floral embroidery, Jessie Thomas jewels, and Tamara Mellon heels.
Zoe wore the High Point platform pumps, crafted from soft black satin and designed with pointed toes, thick front platforms, buckled ankle straps, and soaring stiletto heels. While this exact style is no longer available, similar platform pumps can be found at Zappos to recreate her elevated red carpet style.
Masterfully crafted in Italy, these platform pumps feature Cloud Cushion insoles with 6mm of ultra-foam padding for relieving pressure points as you walk
Stepping Out in Style: Zoe Saldaña’s Most Iconic Heels
Zoe Saldaña consistently captivates with her impeccable fashion sense, particularly her choice of footwear. Here are some of her most memorable shoe moments:
Zoe Saldaña’s Futuristic Glamour in Maison Margiela & Louboutin
- Event: London Critics’ Circle Film Awards
- Outfit: Zoe dazzled in a Maison Margiela Artisanal 2022 Couture dress, featuring avant-garde elements and a netted skirt.
- Footwear: She completed the look with Christian Louboutin x Maison Margiela Tabi Pumps, known for their distinctive split-toe design and signature red soles.
- Read more: Zoe Saldaña’s bold transformation at the Critics’ Circle Film Awards
Power Dressing in Saint Laurent and Tamara Mellon
- Event: 10th Annual Filming Italy Los Angeles Festival
- Outfit: Zoe embraced power dressing with a sheer black Saint Laurent blouse paired with wide-leg trousers.
- Footwear: She elevated her ensemble with Tamara Mellon High Point patent leather pumps, featuring thick platforms and high heels.
- See more: Zoe Saldaña masters power dressing in Tamara Mellon heels
Zoe Saldaña Wins Best Supporting Actress at the 97th Academy Awards
In a career-defining moment, Zoe Saldaña took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Pérez. After wowing on the red carpet, she returned to the spotlight during the press room celebration, beaming in a showstopping Saint Laurent gown while holding her golden statue.
Zoe Saldaña stuns at the 2025 Oscars in a custom Saint Laurent gown featuring a rhinestone mesh bodice, dramatic burgundy bubble hem, and sheer opera gloves (Credit: Etienne Laurent / The Academy)
Romantic Lace and Saint Laurent at the 2025 BAFTAs
- Event: 2025 BAFTA Awards
- Outfit: Zoe graced the red carpet in a romantic lace dress by Saint Laurent, featuring a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline.
- Footwear: She complemented the ensemble with Saint Laurent La Scandale platform pumps in shiny black satin.
- Discover more: Zoe Saldaña’s striking appearance at the 2025 BAFTAs
Effortless Elegance in Valentino and Louboutin
- Event: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ London Premiere
- Outfit: While pregnant, Zoe radiated elegance in a flowing Valentino gown with a delicate print.
- Footwear: She paired the dress with Christian Louboutin ‘Audrey’ sandals in black suede, adding a sleek contrast to her ethereal look.
- See her look: Zoe Saldaña’s pregnancy glow in Valentino and Louboutin
All-White Chic with J. Mendel and Louboutin
- Event: ‘Live By Night’ World Premiere
- Outfit: Zoe embraced monochromatic elegance in a textured white ensemble by J. Mendel.
- Footwear: She completed the look with Christian Louboutin ‘Iriza’ d’Orsay pumps, showcasing her timeless style.
- Explore her style: Zoe Saldaña’s all-white elegance at the ‘Live By Night’ premiere
These moments highlight Zoe Saldaña’s flair for combining fashion-forward choices with classic elegance, particularly through her standout footwear selections.
🎬 Avatar: The Way of Water — A Cinematic Milestone in a Post-Pandemic Era
Avatar: The Way of Water premiered in theaters on December 16, 2022, marking James Cameron’s long-awaited return to the world of Pandora.
In interviews at the time, Cameron expressed his hope that the film would symbolize a turning point after years of global uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. For him, the movie wasn’t just a sequel—it was a celebration of resilience, creativity, and the return of communal cinematic experiences.
“Thanks for coming. I don’t know about you, this is a pretty surreal moment for me that we are done with the film. Five years of production and five years spanning a really dark period. The pandemic hit, we were shut down completely. I was despairing this art form I love that I dedicated four decades to was over. We finally got back to work but we didn’t know if there would be movie theaters. Was it over? But here we are,” James Cameron said at the premiere in London.
James Cameron and his wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, attend the “Avatar: The Way Of Water” World Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on December 6, 2022, in London, England (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
“Theaters are full again and moviegoers of the world have declared resoundingly that we need this. We need this ability to gather together to sit in these great dark spaces and to dream together with our eyes wide open in a cinema. To me tonight is not about a new Avatar film. It’s about cinema, and here you are in your black-tie finery. It’s a celebration of this art form that we love so much. It’s back it’s alive and it’s as great as it’s ever been.”
The Way of Water follows Avatar, which remains the highest-grossing film of all time with over $2.9 billion in global earnings. The original film’s cultural impact even inspired a themed ride at Walt Disney World’s Pandora – The World of Avatar in Orlando, Florida.
With a staggering production budget of $400 million, Avatar: The Way of Water aimed to match or exceed its predecessor’s success. While it didn’t surpass the original’s box office record, the sequel was still a major commercial hit and solidified the franchise’s place as one of the most ambitious and visually groundbreaking in cinema history.
🌊 Record-Breaking Feats and Emotional Tributes Behind the Scenes
Kate Winslet made headlines for performing all of her underwater stunts in Avatar: The Way of Water. She even broke Tom Cruise’s previous record for the longest underwater breath-hold in a film—holding her breath for an astonishing seven minutes and fourteen seconds, surpassing Cruise’s six-minute record from Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
The film’s sweeping score was composed by Simon Franglen, who stepped in following the tragic death of original Avatar composer James Horner in 2015. Franglen, a close collaborator of Horner’s, carried the emotional legacy forward while infusing the sequel with a new depth of sound that matched its expanded world and themes.
Kate Winslet in a sequined charcoal-colored Badgley Mischka Fall 2015 gown at the “Avatar: The Way Of Water” World Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on December 6, 2022, in London, England (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / INSTARimages / Cover Images)
James Cameron is confident about the movie’s length, stating to Total Film, “The goal is to tell an extremely compelling story on an emotional basis. I would say the emphasis in the new film is more on character, more on the story, more on relationships, more on emotion. We didn’t spend as much time on relationships and emotion in the first film as we do in the second film, and it’s a longer film because there are more characters to service. There’s more story to service.”
“People say, ‘Oh my God, a family story from Disney? Just what we want.’ This isn’t that kind of family story,” Cameron added. “This is a family story like how The Sopranos is a family story.”