Unless you were living under a rock all weekend, you probably saw that Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary with a star-studded special episode and event in New York City. Sabrina Carpenter sang off-key (somehow), the very best of SNL's cast past and present joined forces on stage, and Kate McKinnon's iconic "Close Encounter" sketch from 2015 was brought back 10 years later. It was great, yet in the days since the celebration, the thing I've thought about most is Dakota Johnson's jaw-dropping Gucci dress that she wore to the event. I am a fashion editor, after all.
On Dakota Johnson: Gucci dress
To watch the show unfold and celebrate it afterward, Johnson wore a black one-shoulder gown that featured a striking slit—if you can even call it that—on one leg. In reality, the dress was sideless and held together by three of Gucci's signature horsebit closures made of brass. (According to The Fashion Law, Gucci's founder Guccio Gucci began decorating his leather goods with a horsebit after a stay in London, where he was inspired by the English racing set.) Between its sexy cutout, velvet material, and gold hardware, the dress immediately made me think of Tom Ford's designs for the Italian house between 1994 and 2004, one of its most beloved and renowned eras.
The longtime Gucci ambassador effortlessly pulled off the risqué yet classy gown, and her look undoubtedly took home my best dressed designation for the evening. Follow Johnson's lead by shopping the eight velvet dresses below.
Shop velvet dresses:
-
Fashionphile's Done the Research: These Are the It Bags of 2025The 2025 Resale Report is here.
-
Bella Hadid Just Put a Sexy Spin on the Runway Trend You'll See Everywhere in 2026Leave it to Hadid and Victoria's Secret Creative Director Adam Selman to reimagine a major ready-to-wear runway trend.
-
Sorry, Thongs—Gigi Hadid Just Brought Back This "Dated" Rival at the Victoria's Secret Fashion ShowUnderwear lines and all.
-
All the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Runway Looks That Have Our Jaws on the FloorThe night of glamour, wings, and fashion has arrived.
-
From Bayou Barbie to Victoria's Secret Model: Angel Reese Gets Her WingsWatch her make history alongside Olympic gold medalist Suni Lee at the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
-
It Girls on Both Coasts Wear This Anti-Trend Item When Looking Cool Is the GoalHailey Bieber was just spotted in it again.
-
Not Brown, Not Black—the Leather-Jacket Trend Everyone Chic Is Pairing With Jeans and Skirts for FallCool and sophisticated at the same time.
-
Just Wait—Everyone Everywhere Will Be Wearing This Unexpected Sneaker Color Trend in 3, 2, 1…Spotted on Hailey Bieber in L.A.
