If your first thought when you saw Nicole Kidman on the red carpet at the 2024 Gotham Awards was, “Who the hell is this?” trust me, you’re not alone. The gothic-inspired beauty look was a stark departure from her usual aesthetic, leaving her almost unrecognisable.
But the dramatic makeup—heavy eyeliner and a dark lip—does make sense when paired with her dress. Nicole resurrected a Dolce & Gabbana Fall 1998 black duchesse slip dress featuring hand-painted floral motifs, pulled straight from the archives. The makeup and the dress were cut from the same cloth, steeped in the glamour of the late 90s.
The decision to pair archival Dolce & Gabbana with such a bold beauty look feels deliberate, almost theatrical. The vampy lip and heavy eyeliner could easily have felt out of place on some of her more recent red carpet outings, but here, it works.
Was it Nicole Kidman as we know her? No. But that’s what makes this moment intriguing for me.
For some, the stark beauty look may feel divisive. It’s not every day you see Nicole leaning this far into this aesthetics. But when viewed as a tribute to the dress’s era, it’s easier to appreciate.
It might not have been the most recognisable version of Nicole, but it’s undeniably one of her most daring.
Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage / Theo Wargo/Getty Images / FirstView / Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images
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