Kristen Bell may have arrived at The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk about the third season of Nobody Wants This, but her gold Rachel Gilbert gown looked ready to steal the spotlight. The 46-year-old actress wore the Australian designer's Francesca Gown in Multi for her appearance on the late-night show. Styled by Nicole Chavez, the ankle-length column dress was covered from neckline to hem in colourful beads, crystals, and three-dimensional floral appliqués set in a glittering gold fabric.
Put all that gold, elaborate ornamentation, and colourful flora together, and the dress bears a striking resemblance to the work of another artist who knew his way around precious metals: Gustav Klimt. Nobody has officially announced that Rachel Gilbert actually based the Francesca gown on one of his paintings, but visually, Bell looked like she had walked straight out of his Golden Period and onto Fallon's stage.
Kristen Bell's Gown Looks Like a Painting in Motion
The Francesca gown may have a simple fitted silhouette, but almost everything happening on its surface is extravagant. Clusters of red, white, blue, and green embellishments are scattered across the gold base, with flowers interrupting intricate patches of beads and crystals.
Bell kept everything else comparatively laidback. Her blonde hair fell in her signature loose waves, while black Jimmy Choo pumps peeked out underneath the gown. Some might argue that the black pumps nearly disappeared under the artistic dress, while others think that the pairing was a match made in fashion heaven. Cocktail party on top, understated elegance on the feet.
The effect immediately calls to mind Klimt's famous Golden Period. The Austrian artist incorporated actual gold leaf alongside materials including silver, platinum, and gold powder into his work. His paintings combined those metallic surfaces with elaborate patterns and ornamentation.
His 1908-1909 masterpiece The Kiss might be the most obvious comparison. Its embracing couple is enveloped by richly decorated golden robes while standing on a flower-covered meadow.
Bell's dress is obviously couture rather than canvas, but the visual ingredients are remarkably familiar: a sea of gold interrupted by tiny explosions of colour, flowers, and intricate decorative shapes. From promoting Nobody Wants This to wearing a dress that possibly everybody wants now, Kristen Bell certainly knows how to make a statement.
'Nobody Wants This' Brought Bell to Fallon
Bell's more modern work of art arrived just in time for another return. Season 3 of Nobody Wants This premiered on Netflix on 22 October, bringing Bell back as Joanne alongside Adam Brody's Noah. The new season finds Joanne and Noah living together after recommitting to their relationship, with Joanne continuing her journey towards converting to Judaism.
Meanwhile, Morgan, Sasha, and Esther are navigating major changes of their own. Case in point: one of Netflix's most shippable couples is back to make people want what they have. Bell's Fallon visit was not entirely devoted to on-screen romance or couture. She also discussed husband Dax Shepard's cereal obsession and recalled how a neighbour once hired zombie actors to chase a Halloween hayride she was hosting.
Klimt's paintings belong in museums, of course. Bell's version simply came with a Netflix series to promote and better mobility. Gustav Klimt gave us The Kiss. Kristen Bell gave us Nobody Wants This. In this much gold, we'll happily take both.
