Olivia Cooke brought an unconventional approach to transitional dressing to the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, attending the premiere of A Talent for Murder in Toronto in September 2026. She paired a charcoal Torisheju dress with Paris Texas “Lidia” thong boots, combining autumn-weight tailoring with footwear that blurred the line between a knee-high boot and an open-toe sandal.
Standing 5 feet 5 inches (165.1 cm) and typically wearing a US size 7.5 shoe, Cooke has experimented with distinctive heels throughout her red-carpet career. I liked the idea behind this pairing, especially the contrast between the structured dress and exposed-toe boots, though the overall silhouette felt a little heavier than I would have preferred.
Olivia Cooke pairs a charcoal Torisheju off-the-shoulder blazer dress with Paris Texas Lidia thong boots at the A Talent for Murder premiere during the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2026 (Credit: Leonardo Ramirez / EyePix / INSTARimages)
Olivia Cooke Blurs the Line Between Sandals and Boots in Paris Texas “Lidia” Heels
Cooke slipped into Paris Texas’ “Lidia” thong boots, an unusual hybrid that combines the fitted shaft of a traditional boot with the exposed front of a thong sandal. The design stood out precisely because those two elements normally belong to different seasons.
The Italian-made black stretch nappa leather hugged her legs and rose to just below the knees, while slim thong straps left much of the foot exposed. Pin-thin stiletto heels sharpened the silhouette and added height without competing with the unusual construction.
The Lidia also fits neatly into Paris Texas’ broader approach to statement footwear. Founded by sisters Annamaria and Margherita Brivio, the Italian label became particularly associated with bold boots, often taking recognizable silhouettes and altering them through unexpected proportions, materials, colors, or embellishment.
For Cooke, the open front prevented the fitted black shafts from reading like conventional cold-weather boots. It also continued her willingness to experiment with exposed-foot evening shoes; she previously wore mismatched crystal-embellished Calvin Klein Camelle sandals to the 2018 Ready Player One premiere.
Cooke’s black Paris Texas Lidia 105 knee-high boots are priced at $1,790 at Mytheresa. The Lidia line extends well beyond this thong-style boot, with mules, pumps, slingbacks, sandals, and ankle boots also available, while you can explore more Paris Texas boots on the brand’s official website.
Olivia Cooke shows off her dark pedicure in Paris Texas Lidia boots, which pair fitted black leather shafts with exposed thong-style fronts and slender stiletto heels (Credit: Leonardo Ramirez / EyePix / INSTARimages)
Torisheju’s Deconstructed Blazer Dress Adds Weight and Structure
Cooke paired the hybrid footwear with a charcoal gray dress from Torisheju’s Fall 2026 collection. British designer Torisheju Dumi debuted her namesake label in October 2023 and won the Savoir-Faire Prize at the 2025 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.
The dress was cut from textured, suit-like fabric, but its construction moved well beyond a conventional tailored column gown. Trompe-l’œil blazer sleeves wrapped around Cooke’s upper body and met at the neckline, complete with buttoned cuffs, creating the impression that a jacket had been draped off her shoulders and incorporated directly into the dress.
Below that architectural neckline, the silhouette stayed close to the body before falling straight to the floor. A high back slit was an important detail because it allowed the fitted shafts of Cooke’s boots to remain visible as she walked.
I found the construction more interesting than the overall effect. The substantial fabric, floor-length cut, and layered blazer detail concentrated considerable visual weight around Cooke’s frame. The exposed toes of the Paris Texas boots provided some contrast, but they couldn’t entirely offset the heaviness of the dress.
Olivia Cooke wears a charcoal Torisheju gown with trompe-l’œil blazer sleeves wrapped across the off-the-shoulder neckline, creating the illusion of a tailored jacket draped around her body (Credit: Leonardo Ramirez / EyePix / INSTARimages)
Why the Thong Boots Make This Transitional Look More Interesting
The most compelling part of Cooke’s outfit is the tension between the two seasons her clothes and shoes represent. Torisheju’s charcoal tailoring reads unmistakably autumnal, while the exposed front of the Lidia could almost belong to a minimalist summer sandal.
Traditional knee-high boots tend to add visual weight and coverage to an outfit. Paris Texas removes one of those defining characteristics: the shaft remains, but much of the foot is exposed. That contradiction makes the Lidia particularly effective as transitional footwear and explains why the shoes draw the eye in Cooke’s look.
The styling also shows why proportions matter with unconventional boots. Because Cooke’s dress reaches the floor, the back slit gives the shoes enough visibility to register as more than ordinary black boots. Without that movement and exposed skin, much of Lidia’s distinctive construction would disappear beneath the hem.
Olivia Cooke Keeps the Accessories Simple With Statement Earrings
With so much happening in the dress and footwear, Cooke kept the rest of the styling restrained. She left her neck bare and skipped bracelets and rings, allowing a pair of statement earrings to provide the main touch of sparkle. Black sunglasses added a sharper daytime element without introducing another color.
She wore her hair down in loose, softly tousled waves, while her makeup remained understated with defined eyes and a neutral lip. The simpler beauty choices were a sensible counterpoint to an outfit already built around two unconventional pieces.
Olivia Cooke adds sculptural drop earrings and narrow black sunglasses to her Torisheju look, keeping the accessories simple against the dress’s dramatic off-the-shoulder blazer construction (Credit: Leonardo Ramirez / EyePix / INSTARimages)