Dakota Johnson’s Daring Knot-Back Gown Steals the Spotlight on Her ‘Verity’ Press Tour
Dakota Johnson has been everywhere this week, and her ‘Verity’ press tour is quickly turning into one of the most stylish promo runs of the fall. The Colleen Hoover thriller opened in theaters on October 2, and Johnson has been making the most of every public appearance along the way.
The film stars Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling novelist hired to finish the latest book from bestselling author Verity Crawford, played by Anne Hathaway, after an accident leaves her unable to complete it. Josh Hartnett co-stars as Verity’s husband Jeremy, with Michael Showalter directing from a script by Nick Antosca, and Johnson also serves as an executive producer.
Her latest look may be her best yet. Johnson appeared on ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ in New York City wearing a floor-length black Gia Studios gown that seemed to be held together by a single knot at the back, and photos of the outfit are already circulating on social media.
The dress is the Delvey Halter Dress in Techno Wool from Gia Studios, a Vietnamese label, and it retails for $928. Its softly draped halter neckline flows into a dramatic open back, with a delicate tie at the neck acting as the only closure.
From the front, the look is all clean lines. Marie Claire pointed out that the full-coverage front kept the gown TV-appropriate, while the open-back design added an alluring element as she walked onto the set.
Dakota Johnson reveals she fainted on the set of “Verity” 😳 pic.twitter.com/hmTLgHLalP
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) October 2, 2026
CelebMafia noted how well the styling worked for a talk show, since the dress looked just as polished while she was seated as it did while standing. The long skirt settled naturally around her chair, keeping the halter neckline front and center throughout the interview.
Johnson let the dress do most of the talking. She paired it with Giuseppe Zanotti Incanto crystal sandals and kept her jewelry restrained, with fine bracelets and rings adding just a touch of sparkle.
Her beauty look followed the same classic approach. Johnson wore her signature sleek bangs, and a bold red manicure provided a striking pop of color against the all-black ensemble.
Dakota Johnson stuns for ‘VERITY’ press. 📷 pic.twitter.com/OqF0ut4hRh
— Cinethology (@thecinethology) October 3, 2026
During the chat, Meyers also briefly brought up Johnson’s role in Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero” music video. Still, it was the knot detail on her gown that dominated the conversation online.
Dakota Johnson on holding her breath underwater in @taylorswift13's "Patient Zero" music video pic.twitter.com/7sYMfep4gj
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) October 2, 2026
The ‘Late Night’ appearance capped a remarkable run of fashion moments. Before stopping by the talk show, Johnson debuted back-to-back custom Calvin Klein looks at the VMAs and the film’s New York City premiere. And she isn’t done yet. Johnson is also hosting the new episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’, which gives her at least one more major opportunity to add to her press tour wardrobe.
The movie itself has drawn mixed reactions. Some critics have called it the best Hoover adaptation yet, while others have been far less impressed, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it a literary misfire.
IndieWire landed somewhere in the middle, giving the film a B- and describing it as a ludicrous but fun psycho-thriller. The outlet also praised Hartnett’s performance as tremendous.
Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett star in an all-new trailer for #Verity.
— Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) August 11, 2026
In theaters October 2. pic.twitter.com/niq02J5nO5
Commercially, the film has a lot going for it. ‘Verity’ is the fourth Hoover adaptation in the past 2 years, following ‘It Ends With Us’, ‘Regretting You’ and ‘Reminders of Him’, and those films have earned nearly $530 million combined worldwide.

The thriller was widely expected to lead the box office during its opening weekend. If the numbers hold, Johnson will have both a hit movie and one of the season’s most memorable press tours to celebrate.
Which Dakota Johnson look from the ‘Verity’ press tour is your favorite?
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