Maisie Williams certainly wasn't afraid to make a statement at the Practical Magic 2 premiere. On 31 August, the actress stepped onto the Los Angeles red carpet in a striking Maison Margiela look that was dark, theatrical and packed with eerie details. However, not everyone was feeling the fashion moment.
While the outfit fitted perfectly with the supernatural mood of the upcoming sequel, some fans were left scratching their heads. From the unusual silhouette to the bold bird-skeleton artwork, the look sparked a wave of mixed reactions online. Some viewers called it 'hideous' and even compared it to AI-generated fast-fashion clothing.
Maisie Williams Goes Gothic
Williams went all in on the gothic aesthetic for the Los Angeles premiere, wearing an avant-garde Maison Margiela dark-leather long-sleeved top and skirt set covered in an intricate bird-skeleton design.
The artwork shows skeletal bird imagery intertwined with striking blue ribbon-like details, creating a dramatic contrast against the black leather. The outfit also featured the kind of unusual construction and detailing that has become synonymous with Margiela, giving it a deliberately unconventional feel.
She paired the look with black pointed boots and kept her beauty styling equally dramatic. Her hair was slicked back, with a single curled piece sitting across her forehead, while bold dark lipstick added another gothic touch.
The styling was handled by Dino Bonačić.
Did Her Look Go Too Far?
The confidence may have been there, but some fans weren't convinced by the outfit.
One viewer said they actually liked the artwork but felt the fabric looked wrong and the garment did not appear properly tailored to Williams. Another wrote: 'This is hideous', while still praising the actress for having a strong attitude in the photographs.
Some fans also questioned the proportions, with one suggesting that the outfit might have worked better if Williams had been taller. 'If she was tall like Nicole [Kidman], she would be 10/10 in this. Alas. New stylist please,' one comment read.
Then came the AI comparison. A critic said: 'Why is this giving those AI Shein clothes that are just a print on cheap fabric instead of actual texture?'
Another fan took a more balanced view, saying they liked both the material and the artwork but didn't think the two worked together. They wrote: 'There's so much going on it's hard for the eye to focus on anything... The gown would be so much cooler if it were a solid color with emphasis on the construction.'
Still, there was plenty of love for Williams herself. One recurring compliment was directed at her hair, while others pointed out how much fun she appeared to be having on the red carpet.
More Red Carpet Looks From Cast
Williams' Margiela appearance comes after several eye-catching looks during the Practical Magic 2 promotional tour.
At the London premiere, she paid tribute to co-star Sandra Bullock by wearing a custom deep oxblood Ellie Misner gown inspired by a look Bullock wore to the 1999 Forces of Nature premiere.
The London carpet was packed with statement fashion, too. Bullock wore a dramatic leopard-print Givenchy gown, while Nicole Kidman opted for a custom Chanel design covered in sequins and cascading gold chains. Joey King also caught attention in a sheer butter-yellow Miu Miu dress.
