Over 425 Hours In The Making, The Story Behind Nicole Kidman’s Louis Vuitton Golden Globes Gown

As the virtual 2021 Golden Globes got underway, 15-time nominee Nicole Kidman took to her Instagram page to testify how happy she was to have an excuse to dress up once again. “Thank you, Louis Vuitton and Nicolas Ghesquière for bringing a little glamour back in my life. Haven’t done this in a long time,” she wrote, sharing a photo of herself at home in Sydney draping statuesquely over a sofa in her custom Louis Vuitton gown.

Ever the elegant presence during awards season, Kidman didn’t let the lack of red carpet end her run of discerning Golden Globe gowns, with her latest Ghesquière design proving a welcome return to form. Centred around the silhouette of her preferred high-neck fit, the black wool cady gown flared out in pleated silk georgette as two strands of chain embellishment — a signature insignia of Ghesquière’s Vuitton tenure — ran parallel down each side of the dress in iridescent glass beading.

Ghesquière and Kidman have a long-established working relationship. The designer was the mastermind behind the dress she wore at her 2006 nuptials, as well as many of the actor’s most memorable red-carpet moments to date. Her Academy Awards gowns in 2015 and 2007 spring to mind.

“I love the look as it is statuesque and so is Nicole,” Kidman’s stylist Julia Von Boehm told British Vogue via email. “I loved the beautiful embroidery and the back zipper detail, but it also has some softness to it as the side panels are pleated to give the dress a fluidity.”

Just as the Golden Globes ceremony was heavily impacted and readjusted, the design process also had to shift to make way for Covid-19 protocol with WhatsApp and video calls becoming key portals between Von Boehm, Kidman, and the Vuitton atelier in Paris. The stylist insists that this high-tech approach didn’t remove any of the romanticism of seeing Ghesquière’s design come to life. “It’s beautiful to watch how such a stunning dress comes together,” Von Boehm insisted. “We [had] a lot back and forth and a very constant exchange of images and little films. Louis Vuitton is very precise and I knew it would fit Nicole like a glove.”

“Precise” is perhaps something of an understatement. The embellishment on Kidman’s gown took the atelier’s petite mains over 425 hours to embroider, following the initial 15 hours of sketching time it took to perfect the placement of the chainlink detailing.

Personal touches within the overall look have piqued interest, too. The actor chose to re-wear a pair of recycled gold sword drop earrings by Cathy Waterman and wore and Omega watch from her personal collection for the virtual ceremony. “I love that we paired the Louis Vuitton gown with Nicole’s personal jewellery,” Von Boehm added. “And the little black ribbon in the hair tied it all together.”