Dakota Johnson has entered her post-Cannes New York era—and she’s doing so with the poise of a woman who knows she has nothing to prove, but plenty to show. The Materialists star, long hailed as a modern muse of quiet sensuality, made the streets of Manhattan her runway this week in an all-black Nensi Dojaka look that whispered rebellion through a sheer lens.
Veering away from the crystal-strewn naked dresses that have become red carpet staples, Johnson reinterpreted the see-through trend with studied restraint. Her look, composed of a gauzy, long-sleeved top that criss-crossed elegantly across the torso, was paired with a delicate tulle mermaid skirt—softly fluted and impossibly fluid. Beneath the transparency, a chocolate-brown bodysuit lent depth and contrast, elevating the ensemble from provocative to poetic.
It was sheer, yes—but make it sculptural. Architectural. Almost introspective in its sensuality.
Ever the Gucci devotee, Johnson accessorized with a black Jackie 1961 bag—an eternal emblem of low-key luxury—and finished the look with oversized black shades, bold gold hoops, and minimalist stiletto slingbacks. Her beauty remained effortlessly undone: a rose-tinted lip, barely-there blush, and her signature straight hair cascading alongside that perfect set of Parisian bangs.
It’s the kind of look that could only be worn by someone who is completely unbothered and fully in command. Johnson’s post-breakup glow—rumors of a recent split with longtime partner Chris Martin have been circulating—isn’t loud or performative. It’s polished defiance in tulle. No revenge dress needed when you’ve already mastered the understated art of the sartorial mic drop.
Of course, this isn’t her first flirtation with the sheer. Who could forget the loosely netted Gucci crystal gown from Madame Web, or her slinky, see-through slip dress at Cannes last month, shimmering under the chandeliers of the Kering Women in Motion Awards? But where those looks leaned toward cinematic drama, this Nensi Dojaka moment is distinctly downtown. Editorial, yet street-ready. Cool without ever trying too hard.
As she continues her press tour for The Materialists, one thing is clear: Dakota Johnson isn’t just wearing the clothes—she’s shaping the narrative. And the fashion world, as always, is taking notes.
