Lily James brought high-drama minimalism to TIFF’s red carpet—her voluminous black gown fused classic couture with a whisper of architectural rebellion.
There’s a particular kind of red carpet magic that doesn’t rely on sparkle or skin—it’s all about silhouette, presence, and precision. At the premiere of Swiped during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Lily James delivered exactly that. Her look? A strapless black gown that felt like a study in sculptural restraint.
Designed by 16Arlington, the gown featured a fitted bodice that sculpted the torso with clean lines and subtle boning, giving structure without stiffness. The fabric—likely a silk faille or duchess satin—held its shape with quiet authority. But it was the skirt that stole the show: voluminous, gathered at the front, and draped with a kind of controlled chaos that felt almost architectural. It wasn’t just a dress—it was a shape.
James’ accessories were minimal, letting the gown speak uninterrupted. No necklace, no clutch—just a pair of earrings that added a glint of elegance without competing for attention. Her hair, styled in soft waves, framed her face with a touch of vintage glamour, while her makeup leaned classic: a defined brow, muted lip, and skin that glowed under the TIFF lights.
In a season where maximalism has dominated red carpet headlines, James’ choice to go monochrome and sculptural felt like a quiet rebellion. A reminder that elegance doesn’t need embellishment—it needs intention.
Amanda Seyfried’s TIFF red carpet moment was a romantic collision of old-world glamour and modern poise—floral embellishments, off-the-shoulder drama, and a necklace that practically narrated its own origin story.
Amanda Seyfried doesn’t just wear a dress—she animates it. At the premiere of The Testament of Ann Lee during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Seyfried stepped onto the TIFF Lightbox red carpet in a look that felt like a love letter to vintage couture, with just enough edge to keep it current.
Her gown: a black off-the-shoulder masterpiece with a fitted bodice and flared skirt, adorned with delicate floral embellishments that clustered across the neckline and chest like a garden caught in moonlight. The fabric appeared to be a structured satin or silk blend, holding its shape with regal precision while allowing movement through the skirt’s gentle flare.
The silhouette was classic—cinched waist, open neckline, and a skirt that skimmed the floor with just enough volume to suggest drama without drowning her frame. It’s the kind of cut that recalls Dior’s New Look, but with a 2025 sensibility: less corset, more comfort.
Accessories were where the look truly bloomed. Seyfried wore a statement necklace from Tiffany & Co.’s Bird on a Rock collection—a piece that sparkled with whimsy and gravitas, perched delicately at the collarbone. Diamond stud earrings and the Victoria Band Ring added quiet punctuation, balancing the necklace’s theatricality with restraint.
Her black open-toe heels peeked out beneath the hem, grounding the ensemble in simplicity. Hair was styled in soft waves, parted to one side, cascading with a kind of effortless polish. Makeup leaned luminous: dewy skin, a soft berry lip, and eyes subtly defined to let her natural features shine.
In a festival season dominated by metallics and sheer experiments, Seyfried’s look felt like a return to storytelling through silhouette and embellishment. It’s a reminder that red carpet fashion doesn’t need to be loud—it needs to be intentional.
At the Toronto Film Festival, Angelina Jolie redefined celebrity style, proving that the most powerful fashion statements are often the quietest with her choice of a Gabriela Hearst trench coat.
September 7, 2025, during the Toronto International Film Festival. I watched the live feeds with my morning espresso—a quiet ritual—and saw what I expected: a cavalcade of dazzling, over-the-top gowns. Then, she appeared. Angelina Jolie, arriving for the premiere of her film Couture , didn’t wear a gown at all. Instead, she presented an entirely different kind of statement, one that spoke not through shimmer and spectacle, but through quiet authority. It was a perfect piece of purposeful celebrity fashion .
This wasn’t a fashion choice made for fleeting headlines; this was a deliberate act of sartorial storytelling. In a sea of expected glamour, Jolie’s choice to wear a muted, almost monastic, chocolate brown Gabriela Hearst Houstt trench coat was a bold, and brilliantly subversive, move. It felt protective, a cocooning layer that shielded her from the usual spectacle and drew focus to the film’s deeper meaning.
The film’s narrative, centered on a filmmaker facing a breast cancer diagnosis, resonates powerfully with Jolie’s own well-documented journey with preventative surgeries and her tireless advocacy for womens health. This look, with its stark silhouette and serious tone, became a physical extension of that narrative. It’s an approach to red carpet dressing I’ve seen before—a handful of truly great actresses using their clothes to reflect the art they’re presenting—but rarely with this level of precision and poise.
I remember watching the Gabriela Hearst Fall 2025 collection; the clean lines, the use of ethically sourced materials, the way the fabrics seemed to fall with an almost sculptural grace. This Houstt trench, with its subtle texture and double-breasted cut, is a perfect example of that vision. It’s a coat designed for presence, not for fleeting trends. Paired with sleek black Christian Louboutin So Kate pumps and a flash of her impossibly long leg, Jolie managed to inject just enough of her signature allure to remind us of the movie star behind the message. This duality is what truly elevates the look, creating a tension between the quiet gravity of the coat and the classic, confident femininity of the stilettos.
Get the Look: Modern Minimalism with Purpose
If Angelina’s approach to dressing resonates with you, you’re in luck. This is a look built on timeless pieces and quiet confidence, not on the flash-in-the-pan whims of fast fashion. Here’s how you can channel her effortless, authoritative style.
- The Structured Trench: The trench coat is a true heritage piece, and a darker, structured version can serve as a sophisticated alternative to a blazer or light jacket. Seek one in a rich fabric like a wool blend or heavy silk, with clean lines and a strong shoulder. This isn’t just a coat; it’s a piece of armor for the modern woman.
- The Sleek Stiletto: A sharp, pointed-toe pump is a non-negotiable. The Christian Louboutin So Kate pump is a classic for a reason—its impossibly high arch creates a long, elegant line. However, any black patent or leather pump with a clean silhouette will do. The point here is to give the look a feminine edge and a touch of deliberate polish.
- The Barely-There Accessories: This look is all about subtraction. A simple pair of diamond studs, a single ring—thats it. The focus is on the silhouette and the quiet power of the overall ensemble, not on competing elements. It’s the kind of styling that says, “I have nothing to prove.”
Angelina Jolie has once again proved that true style isn’t about the most expensive gown or the most dramatic silhouette. It’s about substance, story, and the quiet, undeniable authority of a woman who knows exactly who she is, and what she wants to say.
