Dakota Fanning Exudes Elegance in Oscar de la Renta Canvas Dress and Strappy Red Jimmy Choo Heels at The Watchers London Press Tour

Despite her hectic schedule, Dakota Fanning is trying to look her best on the promotional tour for her upcoming supernatural horror film, The Watchers.

At the movie’s Wednesday photocall in London, she looked stunning in a canvas dress that radiated springtime elegance.

The Watchers: Escaping from the Mysterious Creatures in the Dark

Fanning plays the lead character, Mina, in the film, who ends up lost and stranded in an untouched Irish forest. While looking for help, she comes across three strangers who appear to be hiding from an unknown threat that may be lurking in the shadows.

The three tell her of their situation inside a bunker, protecting them from mysterious creatures that appear at night to watch them.

The Watchers, directed by Ishana Night Shyamalan, will be released by Warner Bros. Pictures on June 7.

Dakota Fanning’s Natural Canvas Dress

Fanning, whose net worth is $12 million, has been wearing a lot of floral spring ensembles during the press tour for The Watchers, and her most recent look was no different.

Her Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2024 dress, available for $2,490 at Farfetch, is a comfortable option for warm springtime weather. It’s made of naturally breathable canvas cotton.

While those with fair skin usually opt for dark outfits to enhance their complexion, the Ripley actress bravely chose earth tone, which is only a few shades darker than her. Still, I love how her gorgeous pale complexion blends into the canvas’s natural taupe, giving her an air of refinement and sophistication.

Dakota Fanning attends the London photocall for The Watchers in a springtime canvas dress by Oscar de la Renta (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

I especially love the earthy, natural vibe her Oscar de la Renta dress exudes, seemingly a nod to the fact that her movie is set in a forest.

The neutral dress’s classic A-line silhouette alone oozes elegance. It has a square neck, self-tie shoulder straps, and a tonal skinny buckled belt that highlights Fanning’s waist. It then transitions into a delicately pleated ankle-length skirt, producing a summery, feminine look.

The dress appeared quite basic, but what drew my attention were the beautiful Ebru tulips, which I think are the dress’s standout element. They were created using the artisanal Turkish Ebru marbling method featured on Oscar de la Renta’s Pre-Fall 2024 runway.

Ebru marbling is like painting on water. It’s a technique in which paints or inks float over a liquid surface to create a unique print before transferring to an absorbent surface.

Dakota Fanning’s taupe canvas dress features lovely Ebru tulips on the softly pleated midi skirt (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

Matching Red Hot Heels

I love how The Runaways star complemented the red tulip pattern with her red satin Jimmy Choo “Etana” sandals. They have square open toes and a sleek, strappy upper. Their crisscross straps go around the foot and culminate in a clasped slingback strap.

A contemporary take on a classic strappy sandal design, these Jimmy Choos are finished with sculptural drop heels that are about 3.5 inches high.

They are offered in tan, black, apple green, and silver leather at Jimmy Choo and Farfetch for $1,075.

Dakota Fanning complements the tulip pattern on her dress with red satin Jimmy Choo “Etana” sandals (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

Minimalist Jewelry and Makeup

Samantha McMillen, who also styles Dakota’s sister Elle Fanning, Kirsten Dunst, Brie Larson, and Kate Bosworth, put together Dakota’s minimalist but classy photocall ensemble.

Interestingly, they decided to forego elaborate jewelry save for a ring and a pair of gold and emerald drop earrings by Jessica McCormack. If I’m honest, I would have liked the look more if they had included a necklace or bracelet.

Mary Greenwell gave the Twilight actress a soft makeup look to complement her classic outfit. She used pink eyeshadow, mascara, and eyeliner to accentuate her blue eyes and finished her glam with pink lipstick and a hint of pink blush.

Carlos Ferraz, meanwhile, styled her blonde hair down, letting it fall around her shoulders in natural waves.

Dakota Fanning opts for minimalist glam, wearing her blonde hair in natural waves and highlighting her blue eyes with mascara (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)

Painterly Maxi Dress

The day before, Fanning attended the London premiere of The Watchers wearing a painterly sleeveless midi dress that didn’t appeal to me.

The dress is from Erdem’s Fall 2024 collection, inspired by opera singer Maria Callas. While I adore how the paint-like abstract blue-and-black design contrasted with Fanning’s complexion, I feel it’s too old-fashioned for her. It features a slim fit, a crew neck, and a gathered waist, highlighting her slender figure.

I would have probably loved the ensemble if Fanning had worn the black leather opera gloves from the original styling that was seen on the runway.

Completing the look were jewelry by Jessica McCormack and black pointy pumps by Saint Laurent.