Styled by Kate Young, Johnson's gown featured a plunging neckline, voluminous bell sleeves, and a hood finished with glittery detailing. The dress was backless, but its most striking element was in front: two cutouts, the larger running from her neckline down to her stomach, and a smaller opening just below it, before the gown gathered into a soft skirt. She paired the look with diamond drop earrings, layered rings and a crescent moon necklace, keeping her signature bangs and a nude makeup look to let the dress lead.
Dakota Johnson stuns at Kering's Caring for Women Dinner #NYFW pic.twitter.com/Z6VmJMHYNN
— Variety (@Variety) September 10, 2026
Johnson joined a co-host lineup that included Salma Hayek Pinault, François-Henri Pinault, Pamela Anderson, Benicio Del Toro, Simone Biles, Nacho Figueras and Lorna Simpson for the event, which featured a live auction of items and experiences from across Kering's fashion houses, including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. The dinner has become a fixture of the NYFW calendar since its 2022 launch, consistently drawing a mix of Kering-affiliated talent and broader entertainment names.
For Johnson, the look continues a run of directional red-carpet choices that lean into architectural cutouts and dramatic necklines rather than conventional gowns — a style signature that has made her a consistent presence in best-dressed roundups this year. The Valentino pairing also reflects the dinner's broader role as a showcase for Kering's constituent houses; guests are frequently dressed by the group's designers as a way of tying fashion directly to the evening's philanthropic mission.
The Caring for Women Dinner's timing during fashion week gives it a distinct role on the September calendar: unlike runway shows, it's a red carpet built specifically around Kering's charitable arm, meaning the looks that emerge from it tend to be more overtly styled and photograph-ready than typical industry-dinner attire. Johnson's gown, with its combination of restraint (all black, minimal color) and boldness (the cutouts), fits that dual mandate well.
