Actor Alexander Skarsgard drew significant attention with unconventional footwear at the London screening of his upcoming film Wicker on October 8, 2026. Stepping onto the red carpet at the BFI Southbank as part of the 70th BFI London Film Festival, the 50-year-old actor paired a metallic gold suit with transparent Saint Laurent shoes. This look brought a daring runway design into the spotlight and generated mixed reactions across social media platforms.
A Bold Ensemble on the Red Carpet
According to reports from major entertainment outlets, Skarsgard wore the statement metallic gold suit without a shirt underneath. He completed the striking outfit with Saint Laurent’s elongated-toe, transparent vinyl derby shoes. His appearance offered a sharp visual contrast to his Wicker co-stars, including Peter Dinklage, Elizabeth Debicki, and Olivia Colman, who all opted for classic all-black evening attire.
The distinctive footwear had already sparked substantial buzz in the fashion world months prior. Saint Laurent creative director Anthony Vaccarello originally showcased the transparent vinyl Oxford and derby shoes ahead of the brand’s spring menswear collection during Paris Fashion Week. Following the runway presentation, online discussions and fashion forums debated the practicalities of the design. Conversations focused heavily on concerns regarding perspiration and condensation inside the fully enclosed plastic shoes.
Inside the Bizarre World of ‘Wicker’
The red carpet premiere built further momentum for Wicker, a romantic fantasy film based on Ursula Wills’ short story, The Wicker Husband. The movie features Olivia Colman as a lonely fisherwoman whose romantic prospects are hindered by an inescapable fishy odor. Desperate for affection, she commissions a local basket weaver, played by Peter Dinklage, to fashion a husband for her out of wicker.
Skarsgard plays the wicker creation, which miraculously comes to life. His character proves so alluring that it sparks intense jealousy and desire among the women in the village, threatening to disrupt the established social order. Critics and early viewers have described the film as a bizarre, vulgar, and unexpectedly heartwarming romantic fantasy.
Reception and Upcoming Release
Following its initial premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Wicker has earned a strong 91 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The unconventional narrative and racy trailers have drawn widespread curiosity from fans, who have drawn playful comparisons to other fantastical romances like The Shape of Water.
While Skarsgard’s choice of transparent footwear provided plenty of talking points for fashion commentators, the film itself is scheduled to hit theaters in the United States on October 23, followed by a UK release on October 30.
