Nicole Kidman arrived at the Los Angeles premiere of Practical Magic 2 expecting attention for a major fashion first, but some social-media commenters quickly shifted the conversation towards her appearance. Wearing the first publicly seen Versace creation from new creative chief Pieter Mulier, the actress stepped onto the red carpet in a dramatic black gown that drew both praise and pointed reactions online.
The 31 August 2026 appearance marked an early public glimpse of Mulier's direction for the Italian fashion house, long before his first full runway collection is expected. While fashion lovers focused on the intricate gown and gothic styling, some non-verified commenters on social media made unkind comparisons about Kidman's appearance, including one reference to the 'Lion Queen'.
Kidman Makes a Dramatic Versace Entrance
Kidman chose a striking black Atelier Versace gown for the Los Angeles premiere, immediately giving her appearance a dark and theatrical quality that fitted the supernatural world of Practical Magic 2. The design featured hand-intarsia lace, an asymmetric floor-length skirt and a deep rounded neckline finished with black satin ribbon.
Nicole Kidman attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Practical Magic 2". pic.twitter.com/AvSs9tP5nm
— 21 (@21metgala) September 1, 2026
She paired the gown with a black choker and Manolo Blahnik heels, while her softly waved hair added a more relaxed touch to an otherwise highly dramatic look. Rather than looking like a conventional Hollywood premiere dress, the styling leaned into the film's witchy atmosphere and made the appearance particularly memorable.
Some Commenters Turned to Her Appearance
The conversation did not remain entirely focused on the clothes, however, as some people responding to a social-media post criticised Kidman's appearance rather than discussing the design itself. One particularly harsh commenter compared her look to the 'Lion Queen', while other comments took aim at her overall styling.
The plastic surgery is out of control. She looks like the lion queen. pic.twitter.com/4DVLRH86Uc
— La Pfeiffer 🇵🇸 🕊️ (@Brandodea) September 1, 2026
Those remarks should be treated as individual social-media opinions from non-verified commenters, not established facts about Kidman's appearance or personal choices. The reaction was also far from universal, with other users praising her hair, gown and overall red-carpet presentation.
Mulier Gets His First Public Versace Moment
Behind the online reaction was a much bigger moment for Versace, as the gown represented Mulier's first publicly seen design for the house. The Belgian designer officially became Versace's Chief Creative Officer on 1 July 2026 after previously leading Alaïa.
His appointment comes as Versace begins a new creative chapter under Prada Group, which acquired the fashion house and selected Mulier to lead its creative direction. His eventual runway debut will offer a much broader picture of where he plans to take the label, but Kidman's appearance provides an early taste of his approach.
The Gown Matched the Practical Magic Mood
The choice of a black lace gown also worked particularly well for Kidman's return as Gillian Owens in Practical Magic 2. Alongside Sandra Bullock, Kidman reprises her role in the sequel, making the film's promotional appearances an ideal opportunity for fashion moments with a darker edge.
The choker, lace detailing and flowing silhouette helped create a gothic glamour that felt closely connected to the film's supernatural themes. That does not necessarily mean the outfit represents Mulier's entire Versace vision, but it was a smart way to introduce his work through a highly visible Hollywood appearance.
Versace Begins a Fresh Creative Chapter
Mulier's arrival follows a period of significant change at Versace, including Dario Vitale's short tenure as creative director before the Belgian designer took over. Prada Group has positioned Mulier's appointment as part of the next stage of the brand's creative development.
For the designer, the Kidman gown offered an opportunity to introduce his work outside the traditional runway calendar. For Versace, it placed the new creative direction on one of Hollywood's most recognisable red carpets, giving audiences an early look at the aesthetic before a complete collection arrives.
Kidman's Red Carpet Look Gets People Talking
Ultimately, Kidman's Versace debut generated two very different conversations. The gown attracted attention for its intricate construction and dramatic styling, while some non-verified social-media commenters chose instead to make personal remarks about the actress's appearance.
The 'Lion Queen' comparison remains a comment made by an individual online user, rather than a consensus among fans or a factual description of Kidman. Whatever people thought of the styling, the appearance successfully put Mulier's first publicly seen Versace design in the spotlight and gave the fashion house plenty to talk about ahead of his larger creative debut.
