Reese Witherspoon’s giant bow dress turned her into a goth Elle Woods

Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed: It’s obviously black.

To put Elle Woods’ age-old ’00s wisdom into perspective, let’s examine Reese Witherspoon’s latest red carpet triumph. Fresh off a sleek Emmys appearance, the actress opted for a shiny satin design, once again in the form of a one-shoulder Stella McCartney dress. In hot pink, this dress would’ve been an obvious choice for Reese’s Harvard Law student alter ego. But in all noir, this sophisticated design proves something a goth-ified Elle Woods would gravitate toward — right?!

No matter the color of this eye-catching dress, our analysis is the same: Reese looks undeniably sharp and sophisticated.

The structural silhouette of the design, from the oversized satin shoulder bow to the ruched long sleeve and crepe skirt, make this a unique choice for Reese. Generally, the Oscar-winning actress is more of a sugary-sweet style maven. Her Southern Belle-inspired Draper James line is proof of that.

While it’s true we adore the actress’ typically saccharine style, it’s refreshing to see her opt for such a dark and daring design. A true “gothic Elle Woods” style, this look, head to toe, adds a new chapter to Reese’s red carpet history.

White pointed-toe Christian Louboutin “So Kate” pumps and high-wattage Cartier jewels completed the actress’ ensemble.

Now, if you look at Reese’s 2017 Emmys dress (and we have it for you below), you’ll note it marked the beginning of the shift in her style. Reese proved a commanding red carpet presence in this deep-cerulean satin suit dress. She’s definitely ushered in a new style era, and we love the power in her looks.

Regardless if you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon, Elle Woods, or both (we are!), we can all agree that this style shift is nothing short of stunning.