Virginie Efira in Black Satin Saint Laurent in London

Virginie Efira is the best-dressed woman in French cinema, and the London premiere of All of a Sudden at the 70th BFI London Film Festival was the proof: Saint Laurent black satin, plunging to the waist, gathered at the hip, floor length, with a black clutch and black satin pumps. It is the least complicated look of the festival and the one to copy first. Below, why it works and the evening dresses on BranSpot that get you there.

The look

One colour, one fabric, one line. Red Carpet Fashion Awards logged it as a black satin Saint Laurent gown with a plunging neckline and a gathered waist (Red Carpet Fashion Awards). The gathering at the hip is what makes the satin move instead of cling, and the plunge is balanced by a floor-length hem, so the proportion reads elegant rather than exposed. Satin pumps and a small black clutch, nothing that competes.

How to wear it

Saint Laurent is in our network with close to two thousand pieces. The gown itself is not among them, but a black Saint Laurent mini with a belt gets you the house, and for the length and the satin, Alexander McQueen's hammered satin gown is the closest thing we found anywhere. Keep the accessories black and matte-to-satin: a satin ankle-strap pump and the Uptown clutch, which is the Saint Laurent clutch you see on every carpet, including this one.

Get the look

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  The gownMCQUEENMcQueen Hammered Satin Gown$2,280Hammered black satin to the floor with a deep neckline. This is the look-alike; if you buy one gown from this column, make it this.Shop the piece
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  The house, at cocktail lengthSaint LaurentSaint Laurent Black Mini Dress with Belt$1,386Same house, same black, same belt-at-the-waist attitude, at cocktail length. The Saint Laurent way in if you do not need the floor.Shop the piece
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  The quieter cousinLoeweGathered Dress in Satin€3,100Loewe's gathered satin dress has the drape at the hip that makes the Efira look move. Black, obviously.Shop the piece
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  ShoesManolo BlahnikSumba 105 Satin Ankle Strap Pumps€1,395Black satin ankle-strap pumps. She wore satin pumps; these are the ones.Shop the piece
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  BagSaint LaurentSaint Laurent Uptown Clutch in Grain Leather$800The Uptown clutch in black grain leather, the Saint Laurent clutch of every carpet.Shop the piece

This look is part of our 70th BFI London Film Festival coverage: BFI London Film Festival 2026 red carpet: the five best looks. More red-carpet looks on the BranSpot blog.

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