Few dresses in cinema leave such a lasting impression as Keira Knightley's unforgettable emerald green slip in the 2007 hit film Atonement. Since then, the dress has become an icon in both film and fashion.
On Friday night at Paris Fashion Week, Victoria Beckham reimagined the legendary piece for her SS25 show, watched on by her family: husband David, daughter Harper, sons Cruz, Romeo, Brooklyn and her daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz.
Beckham’s iteration played with structure, adding nips and tucks down the front and opted for wider shoulders, a departure from Knightley's delicate spaghetti straps.
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The fabric — thicker and more luxurious — was gathered and sewn on one shoulder to create an asymmetric drape, which cascaded down Gigi Hadid’s frame in Beckham’s commentary on the act of dress— and ultimately undress.
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True to her brand, Beckham made the dress available online as soon as the show ended, thanks to her see-now-buy-now mode — a strategy that has been key to her success. This approach ensures that runway moments don’t just remain on the catwalk; they quickly become part of wardrobes everywhere.
The original green dress, hailed as the greatest film costume of all time, has inspired many. Just this year, designer Nensi Dojaka put her spin on the gown for Alexa Chung at London’s Serpentine summer party, giving it a modern edge with spliced cut-outs.
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The choice of this specific green, a colour not often used in film costumes, carries its own significance. It exudes a sense of stealth wealth, which aligns with Knightley’s character, Cecilia Tallis — a headstrong aristocrat navigating a world of privilege and restraint. Beckham’s version is a fresh take on a classic, showcasing her ability to make a brilliant dress for the modern woman of today.
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