After showcasing two very different shoe looks for Bunker at the Venice International Film Festival, Penélope Cruz continued the film’s festival run at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival.
For the Toronto premiere, she traded Venice’s Chanel looks for a sultry mix of gothic glamour and sharp tailoring by Christian Cowan, grounding the lace-and-leather ensemble with minimalist black platform sandals.
Penélope Cruz combines a structured black blazer and leather corset with a sheer floral-lace skirt and minimalist platform sandals at the Bunker premiere during the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2026 (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)
Penélope Cruz Steps Out in Black Satin Platform Sandals
Cruz wore understated black sandals with slim satin straps, giving the shoes just enough sheen to complement the polished black ensemble. A narrow strap crossed the toes, while another wrapped around the ankle and fastened with a small buckle.
The otherwise delicate design was elevated by a platform beneath the forefoot and a high heel. On Cruz, who stands 5’4″ (162.6 cm) and wears a US shoe size 7, the added height also worked with the proportions of the floor-length lace skirt.
The choice fits an established pattern in Cruz’s red-carpet wardrobe. She has repeatedly paired elaborate clothing with relatively simple black heels, including minimalist Giuseppe Zanotti Sophie sandals with textured Chanel tweed at Cannes. In Toronto, the same principle kept the leather corset, sheer lace, and dramatic slit as the focal points.
A close-up reveals the contrast within Penélope Cruz’s sandals: barely-there satin straps sit above a substantial platform sole, while her bright red pedicure adds color against the black footwear (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)
Cruz has also worn much more substantial versions of the platform-sandal silhouette. During the 2022 Oscars season, she paired a pink Chanel tweed minidress with chunky black Chanel platform sandals featuring broad toe straps, slim ankle straps, and high block heels. The Toronto pair takes a lighter approach, using narrower straps to keep the footwear visually unobtrusive beneath the lace skirt.
Christian Cowan’s Leather Corset Meets Sheer Black Lace
The Spanish actress paired the minimalist sandals with a black leather-and-lace corset dress from Christian Cowan’s Spring 2027 collection. The structured leather bodice featured a sweetheart neckline, with visible seams and corset-style construction defining the waist.
Below the leather bodice, sheer black floral lace was layered over nude lining. The wrap-style skirt gathered at one hip before falling to the floor, while a thigh-high slit exposed one leg and scalloped lace edging emphasized the fabric’s delicate texture.
Cruz then added a structured black blazer with sharp lapels and padded shoulders. Worn open, the jacket left the corset visible while introducing a tailored element to the lingerie-inspired lace and leather.
Christian Cowan’s fitted leather corset transitions into a sheer floral-lace wrap skirt with a thigh-high slit, while a sharply tailored black blazer adds structure to Penélope Cruz’s Toronto premiere look (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)
Why Minimalist Black Sandals Work With a Statement Dress
The shoes are simple, but they are not incidental. Between the leather corset, transparent floral lace, scalloped edges, thigh-high slit, and tailored blazer, Cruz’s outfit already contains several competing textures and structural details. An embellished or heavily constructed shoe could have added another focal point.
Instead, the narrow black straps largely disappear against the dress, while the platform adds height underneath. It’s a familiar red-carpet strategy: Diane Kruger’s minimalist three-strap sandals offer another example of barely-there black heels balancing a more detailed outfit.
For Cruz, there is an even closer precedent. She has also worn black Christian Louboutin platform sandals with slim toe and ankle straps, showing how a substantial sole and minimal upper can add height without making the shoe visually heavy.
Diamond Jewelry and Red Nails Add the Finishing Touches
Cruz kept the accessories glamorous but controlled, adding long diamond drop earrings, a diamond bracelet, and rings. Against the nearly monochromatic outfit, her glossy red manicure and matching pedicure became one of the look’s few strong color accents.
That detail was especially noticeable at her feet: the narrow toe strap left the red polish fully visible against the black satin sandal and red carpet.
She completed the look with softly defined eyes, peach-toned makeup, and a sleek shoulder-length bob. Wispy fringe fell across her forehead, while the straight, blunt shape of the cut echoed the cleaner lines of the tailored blazer.
Penélope Cruz finishes the black Christian Cowan look with long diamond drop earrings, a diamond bracelet, rings, glossy red nails, and a sleek shoulder-length bob with fringe (Credit: Captive Camera / Cover Images)
Why Black Platform Sandals Remain a Red-Carpet Favorite
Penélope Cruz’s Toronto sandals show why black platforms keep returning to celebrity wardrobes. The substantial sole delivers dramatic height while reducing some of the steepness of a very high heel, and the black finish pairs easily with elaborate eveningwear without introducing another competing color.
That balance between height and wearability has made the silhouette particularly useful on the red carpet. Kate Beckinsale’s black satin Jimmy Choo Liberty 150 sandals, for example, combine approximately one-inch platforms with soaring six-inch block heels, while the substantial sole helps offset some of that extreme heel height.
Black also makes an exaggerated platform surprisingly adaptable. It can disappear beneath a floor-length gown or become part of the statement with a shorter hem. Shay Mitchell’s black satin Giuseppe Zanotti platforms grounded a heavily embellished Roberto Cavalli gown, their simple silhouette gaining just enough detail from crystal-trimmed buckles.
The same principle works when the dress itself is highly textured. Ana de Armas paired understated black satin platform sandals with a crystal-covered Louis Vuitton gown, letting the wide toe strap and slim ankle strap add height without competing with the beading.
Cruz has made the formula part of her own wardrobe, too. At the Venice photocall for Bunker, she wore another pair of black platform sandals with slim straps, high heels, and open toes beneath a sculptural Chanel dress. In Toronto, the silhouette served much the same purpose: the platform gave the floor-length lace skirt additional lift, while the narrow satin straps kept the focus on Christian Cowan’s corset, sheer lace, and tailoring.
🖤 Explore Black Platform Sandals on the Red Carpet:
- ✨ Lea Michele embraced six-inch Stuart Weitzman Nudist Hollywood platforms, using the towering black sandals to sharpen a shimmering Alice + Olivia chainmail look.
- 💎 Charlize Theron finished her metallic Givenchy couture with black satin platform sandals, keeping the footwear sleek beneath the highly detailed evening look.
- 🖤 Greta Gerwig paired a black velvet Prada gown with Brian Atwood Tribeca platforms, a classic black satin design combining ankle straps, peep toes, substantial platforms, and high heels.
- 👠 Giuseppe Zanotti’s Betty platforms show the more glamorous side of the silhouette, with celebrities including Madelaine Petsch stepping out in the towering black satin version.