Thandiwe Newton Puts a Coiled Twist on Method Dressing in René Caovilla’s Snake Wrap Sandals at the ‘Anaconda’ Premiere

Thandiwe Newton put a coiled, literal spin on red carpet method dressing on Saturday night in Los Angeles, centering her “Anaconda” world premiere look around a pair of René Caovilla snake wrap sandals.

Newton wore René Caovilla’s Cleo sandals in metallic gold. The open-toe style featured slim front straps and a high stiletto heel, finished with a coiled serpent strap reminiscent of the titular serpent that wrapped upward from the back of the heel and around the ankle. The snake-shaped wrap formed the sandal’s primary design element, extending above the ankle before fastening. The Cleo style retails for $1,340 and is also offered in red, silver and black.

She kept her entire look metallic and monochrome, pairing the strappy sandals with a look from Wiederhoeft’s spring 2026 collection. Her gold corset top featured narrow straps, a draped neckline and exposed vertical boning through the bodice. The coordinating metallic woven fabric skirt fit close through the hips and included a front button placket and a thigh-high slit with frayed edges. She finished the look with a metallic gold Tyler Ellis Perry clutch.

Wrap-around and lace-up sandal silhouettes have appeared frequently on red carpets this fall, particularly in metallic finishes. Kacey Musgraves appeared in crystal-embellished Caovilla wrap sandals at the 2025 ARIA Awards in November, while Teyana Taylor wore the brand’s gold Juniper snake-chain sandals to Elle’s Women in Hollywood celebration days earlier. Kim Kardashian has also leaned into the wrap-around heel revival, opting for Manolo Blahnik lace-up sandals during “All’s Fair” promotions this fall.

Newton’s choice stands apart for its direct alignment with the film itself. Rather than leaning on abstract references, the Cleo sandal’s coiled serpent detail mirrors “Anaconda’s” visual language with unusual clarity, translating the theme into a single, sharply defined accessory.

“Anaconda” revives the creature feature franchise with a new ensemble cast that includes Newton, Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, Daniela Melchior and Selton Mello. The film, which comes out Dec. 25, follows a group of friends traveling to the Amazon while attempting to remake a beloved adventure movie, only to confront a very real threat. The film comes at a time that snakeskin has been making its round in celebrity shoe wardrobes.