Lily Gladstone’s shoes did more than shimmer at the “Alien: Earth” premiere in London on Tuesday. The Oscar nominee arrived in a pair of sculpted gold pumps from Dolce & Gabbana’s early 2000s archive — metallic, textural and topped with a three-dimensional leather rose at each toe.
The vintage pumps featured a pronounced pointed toe and gently curved midheight heel. Cracked gold leather formed the upper, with a brocade-like finish that gave the shoes a lived-in richness rather than a high-shine gleam. The standout detail: a raised floral appliqué crafted from curled leather petals, giving each foot a Baroque punctuation.
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It’s a different interpretation of summer metallics than what’s trending elsewhere. Where stars like Winnie Harlow and Keke Palmer have leaned into mirrored stilettos with razor-thin heels, Gladstone’s shoes felt tactile as opposed to reflective. At Wimbledon, Lily Collins wore Alaïa gold mesh ballet flats for an airy, sheer effect. Gladstone’s gold is heavier and more sculptural.
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She paired the heels with a sweeping caftan by Marina Rinaldi. The ivory gown featured a surrealist butterfly motif that spanned the front in tonal washes of mint, violet and slate. Draped and hand-painted, the dress added motion and softness to the look, balanced by the structure of the shoes beneath.
It’s not the first gold footwear moment for the “Killers of the Flower Moon” star. Last spring, Gladstone appeared on “Good Morning America” in metallic sandal heels styled with a Ralph Lauren x Naiomi Glasses coat honoring Navajo weaving traditions. From that collaboration to her frequent spotlighting of Indigenous designers like Himikalas Pamela Baker, Gladstone’s red carpet choices consistently lean into narrative and craft.
“Alien: Earth,” directed by Gareth Edwards, marks Lily Gladstone’s first major sci-fi role since her breakout in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Set in a near-future London overtaken by ecological collapse and alien terraformers, the film blends climate allegory with suspenseful world-building. Gladstone stars as Dr. Kaia Reece, an exobiologist caught between corporate extraction and first contact. The film premiered at The Barbican ahead of its Aug. 2 theatrical release.