Salma Hayek Receives Giving Tree Award in a Sparkling Emerald Bottega Veneta Gown and Black Platform Heels

On November 11, 2023, Salma Hayek arrived at the Baby2Baby Gala at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles—an annual event known as much for its red-carpet glamour as for its mission to support children and families in need.

That evening, the actress and philanthropist was honored with the Giving Tree Award, recognizing decades of humanitarian work and sustained advocacy for women’s rights, children’s welfare, and immigrant communities. Her recognition placed her among an influential group of past recipients, including Amy Adams, Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Chrissy Teigen, Kerry Washington, and Drew Barrymore.

Before taking the stage, the From Dusk Till Dawn actress commanded attention on the red carpet, arriving alongside fellow high-profile attendees such as Hailey Bieber, Demi Lovato, and Sofia Richie Grainge. Her appearance seamlessly blended fashion impact with the evening’s broader significance—setting the tone for a night that celebrated both style and purpose.

Salma Hayek makes a striking entrance at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles, pairing her custom emerald Bottega Veneta gown with sleek black platform heels that subtly elevate her stature and anchor the floor-length silhouette on November 11, 2023 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Salma Hayek Elevates a Custom Bottega Veneta Gown With Sleek Black Platform Heels

Dressed in a mesmerizing Bottega Veneta emerald gown, custom-designed to perfection, she effortlessly showcased her incredible figure.

The sequined masterpiece, adorned with emerald-colored sequins, boasted a twisted halter neckline with a bow, adding glamour to the evening.

Styled by Rebecca Corbin-Murray, whose clientele includes Lily James, Florence Pugh, and Gemma Chan, Salma complemented her ensemble with exquisite Boucheron diamond drop earrings and a Gucci cocktail ring.

While hidden beneath the hem of her floor-length gown, the Septembers of Shiraz star slipped her feet into black platform heels, enhancing her stature.

Peeking out from beneath the floor-length hem and back slit, the elevated platform silhouette added stability and lift—an elegant, practical counterpoint to the dress’s dramatic color and fluid movement—while keeping the focus on clean lines rather than flashy embellishment.

Salma Hayek completes her custom emerald Bottega Veneta gown with sleek black platform heels, subtly boosting her height and providing balanced support beneath the floor-length silhouette at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

This wasn’t a one-off styling choice. Salma Hayek has long relied on black platform heels to anchor dramatic gowns, from towering Gucci “Angel” platform pumps at the Tale of Tales premiere to sleek black Gucci platform sandals at the British Fashion Awards and other red-carpet moments where height, balance, and comfort matter as much as visual impact.

Time and again, platforms have proven to be her go-to solution for enhancing proportion beneath floor-length silhouettes—delivering lift without distracting from the clothes themselves.

Soft Glam Finishing Touches: Hair and Makeup That Complemented the Look

Hairdresser Jennifer Yepez styled Salma’s raven hair in an elegant half-up, half-down fashion, framing her radiant face with loose waves.

Makeup artist Sofia Tilbury added the finishing touches with a pink-nude lip, a bronzy glow, and sparkly green eyeshadow perfectly mirroring the gown’s color.

Salma Hayek’s beauty look consisted of an elegant half-up and half-down hairstyle, a pink-nude lip, sparkly green eyeshadow, and Boucheron diamond drop earrings (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Salma Hayek Honors Baby2Baby While Accepting the Giving Tree Award

Expressing gratitude for the prestigious award, Salma, in a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter in September, conveyed, “I am so honored to be receiving the Giving Tree Award from Baby2Baby.”

She reflected, “My 39 years of involvement in supporting the well-being of women and children give me a deep appreciation and admiration for their heartfelt commitment and efficiency to get the job done. I am very proud to share their mission and am eager to keep learning from these remarkable women.”

During the ceremony, Salma delivered a heartfelt speech on stage, introduced by her Magic Mike’s Last Dance co-star, Channing Tatum.

She said, “I cannot tell you how thrilled I am that you guys included me in this so very special night. I am such a big fan of this organization. I have a lot of respect for it.”

Salma Hayek was honored with the Giving Tree Award at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)

Salma took a moment to thank Baby2Baby co-CEOs Kelly Sawyer Patricof and Norah Weinstein, praising their “impressive and inspiring” work with the nonprofit.

Her words resonated with a powerful message: “We have a responsibility. They call in their hearts our future. They are our hope. And when we talk about essentials, I want to say something to you—those of you who bought a pack of diapers or any of the essentials. Dignity is essential. Diapers are dignity. Make no mistake, love is an essential.”

In a poignant conclusion, Salma asserted, “It’s not just money, it is love. It is compassion. It is caring. We are all interconnected, Baby2Baby. Thank you very much.”

Her enduring commitment to various social causes, from lobbying for the Violence Against Women Act to co-founding The Kering Foundation and supporting initiatives in Syria and Mexico, underscores Salma Hayek’s unwavering dedication to making a meaningful impact.

Salma Hayek’s Platform-Heel Strategy, From Red Carpet to Street Style

While her emerald Bottega Veneta gown made an undeniable visual statement at the Baby2Baby Gala, Salma Hayek’s look was ultimately anchored by a familiar styling principle she has perfected over decades: strategic footwear.

From concealed platform heels beneath sweeping gowns to bold, height-boosting pumps and sandals on the red carpet, Hayek consistently uses shoes to enhance proportion, posture, and presence—proving that footwear is never an afterthought, but a defining element of her fashion identity.