Nicole Kidman unveils Pieter Mulier’s first Atelier Versace look in Los Angeles, offering an early glimpse of the designer’s renewed vision for the historic Italian house.
Nicole Kidman has become the first major star to publicly reveal what the next chapter of Versace under the creative direction of Pieter Mulier could look like. Although the Belgian designer will have to wait until next year to officially present his first collections for the house, the actress has offered an important preview at the Los Angeles premiere of Practical Magic 2.
For the occasion, Kidman chose a spectacular black Atelier Versace gown crafted entirely from hand-worked intarsia lace. It was a particularly appropriate choice for the film’s mysterious and supernatural aesthetic, but also a significant moment for the fashion world: this is the first public Pieter Mulier design for Versace.
The gown creates its impact through the contrast between delicate black lace and a nude-toned base, producing a sophisticated sheer illusion. The sensuality feels controlled rather than excessive, allowing the construction of the garment and the body itself to define the silhouette.
An asymmetrical skirt reveals one of the actress’s legs and draws attention to a pair of coordinating lace stiletto pumps. The look is completed with a choker in the same material, creating a cohesive image in which every element visually extends the main design.
The appearance is particularly interesting because it offers some early clues as to how Pieter Mulier might reinterpret Versace’s signature codes. Sensuality has always been an essential part of the Italian house’s DNA, but here it is expressed through a more refined, technical and suggestive perspective.
Mulier arrives at Versace after five years at the helm of Alaïa, where he built a reputation around precise construction, experimentation with form and an intense focus on the female body. During his time there, he created some of the most talked-about looks for stars including Zendaya, Rihanna and Hailey Bieber, while also demonstrating his understanding of the enormous influence of the red carpet.
That experience could prove essential at a house whose history is inseparably connected to Hollywood and celebrity culture. Versace has created some of the most recognisable dresses of recent decades, from the unforgettable safety-pin gown that turned Elizabeth Hurley into a global sensation to Jennifer Lopez’s jungle dress, which became a defining pop culture moment at the beginning of the new millennium.
The brand’s relationship with stars such as Lady Gaga, alongside its numerous memorable appearances at the Met Gala, has further strengthened a formula in which fashion, spectacle and sensuality work together.
Appointed Versace creative director in February 2026, Pieter Mulier now faces the challenge of writing a new chapter for one of the world’s most recognisable Italian fashion houses. His official runway debut is expected next year and could coincide with a particularly significant moment: the highly anticipated return of Atelier Versace to Paris Haute Couture after more than a decade away from the calendar.
He is subsequently expected to present his first ready-to-wear collection, offering a more complete picture of his interpretation of the Versace universe.
