Angelina Jolie didn’t need embellishment to make an impact on the red carpet in Rome on Saturday night. Instead, she relied on subtle cutouts for both her dress and her footwear choice. The actress and activist arrived at the “Couture” premiere during the 20th Rome Film Festival in pointed black patent ankle boots — a silhouette that’s appeared in various textures and cuts this season.

The boots had a slim stiletto heel, a tapered toe and a structured shaft that ended just above the ankle. A subtle V-cut vamp opened the front, playing off the silhouette of the back of her dress — a custom Alberta Ferretti cape dress designed by Lorenzo Serafini. The black gown featured a draped cape overlay and an open back, with a soft cocoon shape through the skirt and discreet pockets at the sides.

Patent and matte leather ankle boots have been spotted on red carpets and front rows all month. FKA Twigs wore Schiaparelli’s Western Keyhole boot in Paris at the beginning of October, styled with tailored leather trousers. Solange Knowles followed in Milan at Ferragamo’s spring 2026 show, wearing a pointed black pair trimmed with gold hardware. Jolie’s appearance adds another turn to that streak, pushing the silhouette beyond its streetwear origins and into more formal territory.

The premiere also spotlighted “Couture,” directed by Alice Winocour and backed by Chanel. The film follows women working behind the scenes of Paris Fashion Week, with Jolie starring as Maxine Walker, a filmmaker who learns she has breast cancer during the trip.

Chanel granted Winocour full access to its couture salons and workshops — the first time the house has opened them to a fictional film. “I wanted to give a voice to women who have no voice, who are just bodies,” Winocour told WWD. Costume designer Pascaline Chavanne added that “every piece of clothing we picked carries meaning,” opting for timeless silhouettes over branding. Real atelier staff and models Mona Tougaard, Yuliia Ratner and Anyier Anei appear alongside the cast.