The Story Behind Emily Ratajkowski's Daring New Dundas Dress

Emily Ratajkowski in her bespoke red gown at Peter Dundas' LA show

It was perfectly fitting that Peter Dundas's latest off-schedule show in Los Angeles – a glam, silver screen-inspired affair – opened mere hours before the Golden Globes. Fitting too, that Emily Ratajkowski – who famously donned one of his very first designs for his own label, a black lace catsuit and train at Cannes in 2017 – be his guest of honour.

"Peter loves women, and I love the way he plays with texture and shape," Ratajkowski told Vogue between fittings. "[My dress tonight is] Jerry Hall meets Bianca Jagger meets Liz Taylor in Cleopatra. The fabric is incredibly light.”

'Red is a very passionate colour and I think men feel very passionate about her,' Dundas told Vogue

The actress showcased a sheer, crimson dress, with fan-like pleating, a plunging halter neckline and risqué cut-outs. "Red is a passionate colour and I think men feel very passionate about her," Dundas explains.

The show, which took place during the Art of Elysium's star-studded annual Heaven fundraising gala in Hollywood, marks Dundas's seventh collection for his eponymous brand in just under two years. The designer, who honed his skills at Emanuel Ungaro, Emilio Pucci and Roberto Cavalli, has so far foregone the traditional fashion calendar, choosing to unveil capsule collections at different times and in different locations. "I think it is important today to change things up, especially for a new brand," he says.

Emily famously wore one of Peter Dundas' first creations for his eponymous label - a black lace catsuit and train - at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017

"Peter is a perfectionist," says Ratajkowski, recalling her Cannes 2017 look, which she considers one of her top three red carpet looks ever. "It felt like I was wearing a work of art. We stayed together on a friend's boat and Peter would wake up in the morning and work on the jumpsuit with an Italian tailor while I sipped my coffee."

Location and timing aside, Dundas is changing up his designs in two big ways: the colour scheme and length. Known for his head-turning, thigh-grazing dress styles, bold use of colour, beading and animal prints, Dundas switched the style of the recent collection to incorporate long evening dresses in black and metallics. "I tend to use white like others use black," he offers, "[but this is] very dark, dramatic and sensual. Ev [Evangelo Bousis, his partner in life and business] calls the girls vampires, but I'm not sure I agree," he says. Films like The Philadelphia Story, Cleopatra and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, which he grew up watching with his father, inform his designs.

Evangelo Bousis, Emily Ratajkowski, and Peter Dundas

Modelled by a glamorous entourage of famous faces – from Winnie Harlow and Daria Strokous to Valery Kaufman, Georgia Fowler and Hilary Rhoda – it looks like Dundas's lady is definitely still a vamp.