Stepping into one of Hollywood’s most beloved roles is never easy, but Lexi Minetree is proving that sometimes the smallest details make the biggest impression. The rising star, who leads Prime Video’s Elle prequel series, paid another heartfelt tribute to Reese Witherspoon at the show’s London premiere by wearing the very same pink Stella McCartney gown the Oscar winner famously wore to the 2014 Met Gala. It wasn’t just another glamorous red-carpet moment. It was a thoughtful nod to the actress who turned Elle Woods into a pop culture icon more than two decades ago.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Minetree has borrowed from Witherspoon’s fashion archives during the Elle press tour. Earlier, she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon wearing the exact Marc Jacobs dress Reese wore to the original Legally Blonde premiere back in 2001. Rather than feeling repetitive, the styling choices have become a clever way of connecting two generations of Elle Woods.
The London premiere look carried another sweet behind-the-scenes connection. Celebrity stylist Molly Dickson, who dressed Minetree for the event, previously worked as an assistant to Leslie Fremar, the stylist who originally dressed Witherspoon for that 2014 Met Gala appearance. It’s a full-circle fashion moment that longtime fans are sure to appreciate.
Of course, clothes alone aren’t what’s getting people talking. Since the first trailer dropped, viewers have been struck by just how closely Minetree resembles a young Reese Witherspoon. From her smile and mannerisms to the unmistakable Elle Woods charm, many fans have been calling the casting one of the closest lookalike choices Hollywood has made in years.
The new series takes audiences back to Elle’s high school days long before Harvard Law and the famous pink courtroom outfits. Instead of trying to replace the original film, the prequel appears focused on celebrating everything fans already love about the character while giving her story a fresh beginning.
In an era where reboots often struggle to win over audiences, Elle seems to understand that nostalgia works best when it’s earned. By respectfully honouring Reese Witherspoon’s legacy instead of copying it outright, Lexi Minetree is making the transition into one of cinema’s most iconic pink heels feel surprisingly effortless.