Cover Vanessa Kirby rewrites the rules of red carpet dressing in breathtaking creations that highlight her pregnancy. (Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
Vanessa Kirby rewrites the rules of red carpet dressing in breathtaking creations that highlight her pregnancy. (Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
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Vanessa Kirby channels Sue Storm’s power and grace in a series of breathtaking maternity looks for the superhero film
Method dressing has evolved into a powerful red carpet language, where actors use fashion to inhabit their characters and reveal more layers of the roles they play. At the Fantastic Four: First Steps global press tour, Vanessa Kirby took this concept to extraordinary new heights. Expecting her first child while stepping into the iconic role of Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, she doesn’t simply wear exquisite maternity gowns—Kirby turns each look into a living extension of her character, with each appearance becoming another chapter in the superhero’s story. Here are the looks that tell it best.
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A storm’s edge
The sharp silver cutouts cascading down the side of Vanessa Kirby’s black halter dress by Balmain channel the “Storm” in her character’s name. Apart from reflecting Sue’s indomitable spirit, these aggressive architectural details prove that maternity style can be both powerful and elegant.
The cosmic debut
In Mexico, Kirby channelled the otherworldly origins of the Fantastic Four in an iridescent Schiaparelli gown. The teal halter-neck creation captures light from every angle, its luminescence serving as an homage to the cosmic rays that transformed Sue Storm into a superhero. This form-fitting silhouette beautifully accommodates her growing bump while delivering pure glamour.
The force field
Kirby’s Magda Butrym navy blue dress with its dramatic cowl hood represents Sue Storm’s defensive capabilities. The architectural draping and protective silhouette evoke her ability to create force fields, while the hood nods to her capacity for becoming unseen. This chic interpretation transforms superhero powers into high-fashion sophistication.
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The art of invisibility
Perhaps the most literal interpretation of Sue Storm’s powers came through Vanessa Kirby’s sheer blue Givenchy mesh gown worn over a matching bodysuit. The transparency and layered construction create a bold visual play on invisibility itself. This daring maternity look demonstrates how fashion can become wearable art, making the invisible woman’s abilities tangible through design.
Unseen strength
A minimalist olive green column dress with a clean and high neckline embodies Sue Storm’s quiet strength as the team’s emotional anchor. The stripped-back elegance of this Altuzarra ensemble also highlights the soon-to-be mother’s natural radiance, showing that true power lies in restraint.
The power of refraction
Vanessa Kirby’s playful Loewe strapless dress, constructed from cascading light-blue beads, represents the fictional logic behind invisibility. Each bead catches and refracts light differently, visually mimicking how Sue Storm bends light around herself to disappear. The textural movement and shimmer create a mesmerising effect that transforms comic book physics into red carpet magic.
Soft power
Kirby shifts gears in an ethereal pale pink halter dress with voluminous asymmetrical draping. The romantic colour palette and flowing fabric of the Givenchy creation represent both the actress’s and Sue Storm’s soft power—the quiet, intelligent leadership that often proves more effective than brute force.
Urban camouflage
Vanessa Kirby’s chic Alaia ensemble featuring layered black pieces creates another interpretation of invisibility via urban camouflage. The netted dress beneath a long coat, paired with dark sunglasses, allows her to blend into city environments. This practical approach to method dressing shows how superhero concepts can translate into wearable style.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
