Halle Berry's Haute Couture Gown Is the Most Ornate Take on the Naked Dress Trend

Publish date: 2024-06-06

Can we please pause a moment to marvel at the incredible haute couture creation that Halle Berry just wore on the red carpet?

For the closing night of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, the Bruised director turned every head within a 10-foot vicinity by showing out in this incredible Elie Saab gown.

Pulled from the designer’s Fall 2023 haute couture collection, the piece is an ornate, rococo take on the “naked dress” trend. It features a completely see-through mesh bodice stitched all over with intricate embroidered designs in sparkling gold, silver, and black sequins, extending from the high turtleneck and pointed shoulder pads to the voluminous floor-grazing skirt. Think Marie Antoinette meets Joan of Arc.

jeddah, saudi arabia december 07 halle berry attends the red carpet on the closing night of the red sea international film festival 2023 on december 07, 2023 in jeddah, saudi arabia photo by tim p whitbygetty images for the red sea international film festival

Tim P. Whitby//Getty Images

jeddah, saudi arabia december 07 halle berry attends the red carpet on the closing night of the red sea international film festival 2023 on december 07, 2023 in jeddah, saudi arabia photo by daniele venturelligetty images for the red sea international film festival

Daniele Venturelli//Getty Images

Berry let her dress do most of the talking by keeping her glam to a minimum. She wore her caramel hair in a neat updo, with some curled wispy strands left down to frame her face, as well as shimmery eye shadow and a glossy dark brown lip.

in this handout photo released by the red sea international film festival rsff, us actress halle berry walks the red carpet of the closing ceremony for the 3rd red sea film festival in jeddah on december 7, 2023 photo by ammar abd rabbo red sea film festival afp restricted to editorial use mandatory credit "afp photo red sea film festival " no marketing no advertising campaigns distributed as a service to clients

AMMAR ABD RABBO//Getty Images

Berry has a long history of making sheerly magnificent fashion statements with Elie Saab.

She famously wore another gown by the Lebanese designer to the 2002 Academy Awards ceremony, where she made history as the first and to date only Black woman to win an Oscar in the Best Actress category. The award-winning gown was yet another semi-sheer look, consisting of a maroon mesh bodice embroidered with brown floral and green leaf appliqués. The bodice extended into a column maxi skirt and attached train made out of crimson taffeta.

Headshot of Chelsey Sanchez

As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset. 

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