Kim Kardashian turned heads in Venice on Thursday night as she arrived at the prestigious DVF Awards wearing a daring couture creation that immediately set social media ablaze.
The 44-year-old reality star and entrepreneur chose a sheer grey Maison Margiela gown, a dramatic piece taken directly from the French fashion house’s fall 2025 couture runway.
The floor-length ensemble featured delicate, almost ethereal layers of fabric that draped across her frame. A long cape trailed behind her as she walked, adding an operatic sense of drama to her entrance.
Its corset-tight neckline emphasised the structured silhouette, but it was the unconventional bodice detail that most captured attention.
The sculpted shapes appeared experimental, drawing comparisons to futuristic and even unsettling designs.
Videos of Kardashian’s arrival, shared widely by outlets such as Fashion Bomb Daily, quickly went viral. Online commentators wasted no time offering their opinions — many laced with humour.
One fan drew a comparison to science fiction, quipping: “What in the Bene Gesserit camel toe is going on here?” referencing the mysterious sisterhood in the “Dune” saga.
Another viewer suggested the outfit resembled makeshift fabric arrangements, writing: “All I see are sheets and wedgies.”
A third reaction was more visceral, with one commenter bluntly adding: “My cooter is annoyed by this.”
Although Kardashian did not wear the face-covering hood that designer Glenn Martens presented with the piece on the Paris runway, some observers still found the look unsettling. “What in the American Horror Story is this?” one Instagram user remarked.
Not all reviews were negative, however. Others defended Kardashian’s bold choice, praising the high-fashion risk. “I like the drama, baby,” one admirer wrote, while another fan argued the gown was “lowkey stunning.”
The evening was about more than fashion theatrics. Kardashian was in Venice to receive the DVF Leadership Award in recognition of her sustained work on criminal justice reform, a cause she has championed for years.
Speaking to journalists before accepting the honour, she criticised Donald Trump’s immigration policies and urged policymakers to support marginalised communities.
“Protect the people who have really supported and built our country,” she said.
The award was presented by Chris Young, a man Kardashian helped free from a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offence.
His release became one of the most high-profile successes of her reform efforts.
Kardashian’s Margiela appearance added to what has already been a striking Italian style tour. Earlier the same day, she and her daughter, North West, were photographed arriving in Venice by water taxi.
The mother-daughter duo showcased contrasting styles: Kardashian in a figure-hugging black hooded gown paired with stilettos, and 12-year-old North in a grey pinstriped mini set adorned with silver safety pins.
The pair had also been spotted days earlier in Rome, where North experimented with blue pigtails, corsets and bold streetwear looks, while Kardashian leaned into minimalist chic with crop tops and slip dresses. With the Venice Film Festival still underway, speculation remains over whether Kardashian will make a red-carpet appearance before the week is over.
