From a revolutionary thong to a vulva-covered gown: Gillian Anderson’s risky looks on the red carpet

Gillian Anderson is one of the few celebrities who has the ability to maintain a low media profile while still keeping up her reputation as a prestigious actress committed to breaking new ground. It’s a feat she’s achieved by carefully choosing the projects she takes on — and with her daring sense of style, as seen with her bold looks on the red carpet.

This year, even though Anderson was not nominated for a Golden Globe, it was her look on the red carpet that garnered the most attention. The buzz over the dress was due to a detail quickly picked up by photographers at the event: the gown — designed by Anderson’s friend Gabriela Hearst — was embroidered with vulvas. The dazzling look was topped off by jewelry by Chopar.

The Sex Education star has already made it clear that she’s not afraid to take risks on the red carpet. And that she is able of turning looks guaranteed to fail into fashion triumphs. That was the case with the Versace red velvet dress that she wore to the 2023 British Fashion Awards, last December in London. The plunging neckline and her ease in the gown — that nearly blended in with the red carpet — were praised by fashion magazines.

Not many actresses dare to appear at movie premieres or important events wearing glasses. But Anderson has turned the look into her own. Just like Meryl Streep, she is not afraid to wear glasses. At Chanel’s pre-BAFTA party in 2015, Anderson turned heads my mixing a glamorous coat with fur lapels (also with a plunging neckline) and the glasses that made her look like a teacher.

But perhaps the most daring neckline was seen at the 1998 Golden Globes, when Anderson — in the heat of her success as in the TV show X-Files — wore a risqué Hervè Leger design with a vampy scalloped neckline.

But her most iconic look — which would turn her into a fashion icon — came later at the 2001 Vanity Fair Oscar party. At the event, she wore tinted glasses and a cropped dress with futuristic overtones. But the truly wild touch was the back of the dress, which revealed Anderson’s thong. The gown by Mexican designer Eduardo Lucero was later auctioned off, with the proceeds going to charity. Yet another original move by the actress.

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