Star stylist Erin Walsh worked with the actress and an iconic design house to create a gown inspired by one of Hathaway’s most popular films.
Roughly 30 hours before the red carpet opened for Saturday night’s 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards, Anne Hathaway was on the front row at the debut of Versace‘s latest collection in Milan, wearing a red leather dress that echoed a design seen amid Donatella Versace‘s dynamic, powerful designs for fall/winter 2024.
But all too quickly, Hathaway and star stylist Erin Walsh were back on the plane, jetting toward Los Angeles so the actress could appear onstage at Shrine Auditorium alongside Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt, her co-stars in 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada. “We are going to SAG direct from the Milan Versace show; [Anne] is getting ready at the Private Suite at the airport,” Walsh exclusively told The Hollywood Reporter while still in the air, name-checking the luxury experience (rebranded recently as PS) that enables VIPs to bypass the main terminals at LAX.
Once it was confirmed that Hathaway, Streep and Blunt would team up onstage as an homage to the blockbuster comedy based on Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling 2003 novel, Walsh explained the decision was made to lean into one of the film’s best-known scenes. “This is a very funny undertaking,” Walsh said. “We wanted to take it back and throw a bit of a curveball — how about a little nod of archive cerulean blue Versace on the occasion of her presenting with some old friends?”
Anne Hathaway at the 2024 SAG Awards “This look was guided by a practical reality: I was literally stepping off a plane and onto the carpet, so I needed something visually impactful but friendly on the body,” Hathaway explained to THR. “Also, given who I was presenting with, I asked for a very specific color.”
Donatella Versace likewise was game to create a gown that blended a 2018 design from the Versace archives with the cerulean blue hue at the heart of a now-iconic style lecture delivered by Streep’s Miranda Priestley in the film. “What an honor to work with Donatella on red carpet moments,” Walsh said. “She is such a gracious, kind and inspirational human.”
On the red carpet, Hathaway coyly pointed out both the color of the dress and the addition of the belt, the latter detail also playing into Streep’s monologue in the scene, while adding that it was Streep who extended the invitation to join her as a presenter. “Meryl said, ‘Do you think you can make it to the SAG Awards, and I told her, ‘I will do anything to be there,’” Hathaway told E!’s Laverne Cox.
With fittings and construction taking place in Versace’s Milan workrooms, the dress was completed not long after Friday’s runway show and then placed into a carry-on bag to accompany both the actress and stylist on their return to L.A. What does Walsh love in particular about the design? “It feels a bit fashion superhero; that feels fitting,” Walsh noted. “I think Annie is one of our modern-day superheroes. Any woman rocking it through all the roles we are expected to wear on the daily with a smile is a superhero. Versace makes clothes for super heroes. You have to love that. Who doesn’t want what they wear to make them feel empowered?”
A global ambassador for Bulgari since 2022, Hathaway is wearing what Walsh called “major sparkle” from the Italian jewelry house with her Versace gown, including a high-jewelry Serpenti necklace, earrings and bracelet embellished with diamonds and a high-jewelry ring highlighting a 6.52-carat sapphire. Hathaway finished the look with what Walsh dubbed “magic shoes” by Gianvito Rossi.
Bulgari Serpenti earrings worn by Anne Hathaway at the SAG Awards
Hathaway and Walsh have been working together since 2022, working in sync to create high-wattage moments for the red carpet and other events. “It’s always fun, elevated, surprising, supportive and electric,” Hathaway said of working with Walsh. “She’s one of my favorite people. We light each other up and have such deep respect for each other.”
“It’s fun. We listen and riff off of each other. We trust each other,” agreed Walsh. “I particularly love the love, care and attention to detail [Anne] devotes to every person in her life, every project she undertakes, every look she deigns to rock. Everything is done with complete conviction.”
That extends to a SAG Awards look that playfully pays tribute to one of the actress’ best-known roles, resulting in a vibe Walsh said should feel like “love and joy — that’s the point.”
“It made me feel special and it made me smile,” Hathaway added. “What more can you ask?”
