Nicole Kidman’s dramatic lace gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Practical Magic 2 did more than channel the film’s mystical aesthetic—it offered an early clue to what Pieter Mulier’s new Versace era could look like.
Nicole Kidman arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of Practical Magic 2 looking every bit the glamorous witch, but her latest red-carpet appearance carried significance beyond the sequel’s much-anticipated return.
The actor wore an asymmetrical, lace-heavy gown with a dropped waist, wide lace choker and deliberately tousled hair. The romantic yet slightly gothic styling fitted perfectly with the supernatural atmosphere surrounding the Practical Magic franchise.
At the same time, the look served as one of the earliest public signals of Pieter Mulier’s creative direction at Versace.
Mulier took over the creative leadership of the Italian luxury house earlier this year, but fashion audiences have yet to see his first runway collection for the brand. His debut is expected to arrive next year, making celebrity dressing one of the few ways to get an early sense of the designer’s approach.
Nicole Kidman channels the season of the witch
Kidman’s premiere outfit could have been lifted from the fictional world of Gillian Owens, the free-spirited witch she plays opposite Sandra Bullock’s Sally in the franchise.
The gown combined delicate lace with an unconventional asymmetrical silhouette and dropped waist. Rather than appearing traditionally glamorous, it leaned into something more romantic, mysterious and slightly otherworldly.
A broad lace choker reinforced the gothic undertone, while Kidman’s loose, textured hair kept the overall styling from feeling overly polished.
It was a particularly appropriate fashion choice for a film whose visual identity has increasingly become associated with autumnal colours, witchy interiors, vintage romance and bohemian femininity.
The outfit gives Versace watchers an early clue
The most intriguing part of Kidman’s look may be what it says about Versace.
Mulier has inherited one of the most recognisable names in Italian fashion, with the enormous challenge of establishing his own vocabulary without losing the house’s identity.
Because his first full collection has not yet reached the runway, appearances such as Kidman’s can function as informal previews.
The gown does not necessarily reveal exactly what Mulier will present in his debut collection. But it does offer a glimpse into the kinds of silhouettes, textures and mood that could become part of his interpretation of Versace.
The look feels less dependent on the overtly bombastic glamour traditionally associated with the house and more interested in atmosphere, sensuality, texture and a darker romanticism.
That makes the Practical Magic 2 premiere an unexpectedly useful fashion preview.
Why Practical Magic 2 is the perfect setting
The connection between the film and Kidman’s fashion moment is particularly strong.
The original Practical Magic, released in 1998, did not immediately become the cultural phenomenon it is today. Its reputation grew gradually, helped by repeated television screenings, home viewing and the enduring appeal of its central characters.
Over the years, the film developed a devoted following.
Its combination of witchcraft, sisterhood, romance, female friendship and distinctive production design eventually transformed it into a cult favourite.
The Owens sisters’ fictional world also became a source of fashion inspiration. Slip dresses, lace, oversized knitwear, flowing silhouettes and dark romantic styling have repeatedly appeared in online mood boards and autumn fashion trends inspired by the film.
Kidman’s premiere appearance therefore tapped into an aesthetic that audiences already associate with the Practical Magic universe.
The sequel brings 1990s nostalgia back into fashion
The renewed attention around Practical Magic 2 is also part of a larger nostalgia cycle.
The original film belongs to a period when celebrity premieres were generally less dominated by meticulously planned fashion narratives than they are today. Modern red carpets have become extensions of film marketing, with actors, stylists, designers and fashion houses often working together to create looks that generate a second wave of coverage.
That makes the sequel particularly valuable territory for fashion storytelling.
Kidman’s appearance connects three powerful cultural forces at once: nostalgia for the original movie, interest in the sequel and anticipation surrounding a major fashion house’s creative transition.
Maisie Williams and the Practical Magic fashion conversation
Kidman was not the only cast member using fashion to engage with the film’s legacy.
Maisie Williams has also attracted attention during the press tour, including through a look referencing Sandra Bullock’s earlier style.
That kind of fashion callback demonstrates how the promotional campaign for Practical Magic 2 is operating on more than one level.
The cast is promoting a new movie while simultaneously revisiting the visual culture surrounding the original.
For audiences who grew up with the 1998 film, those references offer a direct connection to the past. For younger viewers discovering the franchise now, they create a visual language through which the film’s cult status can be rediscovered.
Versace has used celebrity dressing as a preview before
Using high-profile celebrity appearances to introduce a new creative direction is not an entirely new strategy for luxury fashion houses.
Designers can use carefully selected red-carpet moments to introduce elements of a new aesthetic before an entire runway collection is revealed.
The approach allows fashion audiences to see individual garments in a highly visible setting while generating conversation around the designer’s future direction.
For Versace, the strategy is particularly useful during a period of transition.
Mulier’s first collection will ultimately provide the clearest statement of his vision. Until then, celebrity appearances can act as pieces of a larger puzzle.
Kidman’s gown is therefore worth watching—not necessarily as a definitive representation of Mulier’s future Versace, but as an early indication of the atmosphere surrounding the transition.
Can Pieter Mulier bring a new energy to Versace?
The appointment of a new creative director at a heritage luxury house inevitably raises questions about identity.
Versace has spent decades building an unmistakable image around glamour, sensuality, bold prints, body-conscious silhouettes, metallic accents and a rebellious approach to luxury.
Mulier now has to negotiate that legacy while establishing a contemporary point of view.
Kidman’s lace gown suggests one possible direction: a more atmospheric expression of femininity that still feels glamorous but relies less on obvious visual spectacle.
The romantic darkness of the Practical Magic 2 styling also feels timely. Gothic romance, witchy fashion and autumnal dressing continue to resonate strongly with contemporary audiences.
Whether that mood becomes part of Mulier’s larger Versace vocabulary remains to be seen.
Nicole Kidman’s premiere look leaves the right question hanging
The most successful fashion previews do not reveal everything.
Kidman’s look works precisely because it creates curiosity without providing a complete answer.
The lace, asymmetry, dramatic proportions and dark romantic mood feel appropriate for Gillian Owens, but they also offer fashion watchers a small window into the possibilities surrounding Mulier’s Versace.
His runway debut will be the real test.
For now, Nicole Kidman has delivered something arguably more valuable: a first taste.
And if this is an early spell from the new Versace era, fashion audiences will be watching closely to see what comes next.
