Ginnifer Goodwin in Vionnet

I think Ginnifer Goodwin may have found in Vionnet what Reese Witherspoon did at Nina Ricci or Renée Zellweger at Carolina Herrera: a timeless go-to label that will never cease to flatter, fit and make one fabulous. Last night Saks Fifth Avenue and Vogue hosted a cocktail reception in Manhattan to celebrate the Vionnet Fall 2010 collection–where designer Rodolfo Paglialunga focused heavily on evening. It wasn’t about in-your-face glamour, he said last month in Paris while presenting the well-constructed pieces; rather, it’s about intimacy–be it on or off the red carpet. I thought Goodwin hit it out of the carpet with this charcoal grey silk velvet dress, which she paired with a simple black satin evening clutch and faux black leather boots (is she a PETA supporter?).

What I love most about this structured dress is that it shows just the right amount of skin. The double ruching across the front recalls to mind some past Valentino design accents, but when paired with the somewhat extended sleeve and flirty silhouette of the lower skirt, it’s a darling combination. By pairing it with above-the-knee boots, Goodwin actually kept things slightly more demure (how hot would this LBD be with a pair of six-inch Louboutins as well?) by just showing a hint of skin on the side thanks to the strategically placed slits. Velvet, much like the Missoni knits, is not a material that’s easy to wear; Goodwin, however, continues to prove that she’s a fashion maverick by taking calculated sartorial risks that, thus far, have proven to be successful.