Nicole Kidman Debuts Pieter Mulier’s First Look for Atelier Versace

Pieter Mulier won’t make his official runway debut at Versace until next year, but Nicole Kidman offered a first glimpse of his vision for the house at the Practical Magic 2 premiere in Los Angeles. The actor arrived in a black Atelier Versace gown rendered entirely in hand-intarsia lace—a look that felt appropriately witchy for the occasion and, perhaps more significantly, like a prologue to a new chapter in Versace history.

The black lace layered over a nude-hued base created a chic, sheer illusion, while the asymmetrical skirt highlighted both her leg and her coordinating lace stiletto pumps. The effect was sultry without being overt—a compelling preview of how Mulier might interpret the signature sensuality that has long been central to the Versace vocabulary.

The Belgian designer spent five years at Alaïa, where his technically precise, body-conscious designs produced multiple memorable fashion moments for Zendaya, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber, among other red-carpet favorites. That experience should serve him well at Versace, a house with Hollywood glamour woven into its history. From Elizabeth Hurley’s safety-pin dress and Jennifer Lopez’s jungle gown to numerous Met Gala stunners and an entire chapter of Lady Gaga’s famed fashion mythology, few labels have been as closely intertwined with high-impact celebrity style.

Fittingly, Mulier, who was appointed as Versace’s chief creative officer in February, will make his runway debut next year reportedly with the return of Atelier Versace—the first time it's been on the Paris haute couture calendar in more than a decade. His ready-to-wear debut is expected to follow in February. Although Kidman’s gown is Mulier’s first public statement for the house, it already suggests he understands one of Versace’s most enduring strengths: sometimes a single red carpet dress can make as much noise as an entire runway.