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Julia Roberts may be stunningly beautiful – still is, at 56 – but she’s nothing if not relatable. Check out Graham Norton earlier this month. She was like the Hollywood A-lister as she is, but admitted that she really shouldn’t have worn knitted clothes because she was feeling a little hot and sweaty. Famous people, they are just like us. Almost.
The tailored jumper and trousers, both dove grey, were a great choice in every other way, and not just because it worked well against the bright set. It was elegant and smart without looking like she tried too hard, keeping the focus very much on the woman and not the dress.
It is one of several strong looks the actress has worn on the promotional tour for her latest film, Leave the World Behind. There were mini skirts, maxi coats, sharp tailoring – the overall aesthetic is luxury-quiet-quiet, but always with a twist that takes it up a notch; exactly what you need to order attention without slipping into the territory of stunt fashion.
Roberts has Hollywood’s top stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, in her corner, so this series of pulled-together looks doesn’t have a guiding hand. Together, they serve as useful style templates that we can all borrow from this winter.
The best news though? They don’t need a Hollywood budget to imitate – Kurt Geiger is Roberts’ rainbow bag, and she’s a fan of Sole Bliss for its comfortable heels. Ultra-long coats like her favorites Wolk Morais and Nells Nelson can be found at Hush and Aligne. And tartan trousers? Go to Boden.
When it comes to putting it all together, personal stylist Fi Rubie shows how it’s done – no Hollywood entourage required.
Invest in a great custom home
“The moment I put any of my older clients in a really nice tailored jacket, they light up, because it gives you some structure, and it gives you a little bit of oomph,” says Rubie. “I think that’s happening with Roberts in a lot of these pictures.”
This is a model in the black shorts suit – worn by George Clooney in the Ocean’s Eleven poster with the untied bow tie. “I think she looks very chic and very on-trend in that Khaite, Nili Lotan, Toteme kind of way where everything is very minimal and clean and ’90s,” says Rubie.
Celebrate your best assets
Roberts has amazing legs, and Stewart celebrates this by dressing her in high-end looks. This Ralph Lauren look with a Chopard necklace is a perfect example. “Don’t be afraid to bare our legs – I think black tights will hide a multitude of sins,” says Rubie. “They’re almost like wearing leggings in a way; it only shows the outline of your feet. My recommended tights are the Velvet 66 by Wolford (£35, John Lewis). That’s what I use for all my clients. They are very soft and quite opaque, but not completely opaque.”
Try a hero necklace
This look by London-based label Erdem was Rubie’s favourite, thanks to the statement Chopard necklace. “It takes the stress out of trying to find a blouse to wear under blouses,” she says. “Décolletage is often a really old field because we always forget about moisturization. Every woman I know is self-conscious about it. [So] if you don’t want to show all that skin, you put on the statement necklace, and your eye is drawn to the necklace and it looks great.”
Don’t be afraid to try something a little weird
…Like these Gucci chandelier shoes, likely to divide opinion, but add a little edge and draw attention to Roberts’ amazing legs. Not for the weak-hearted bare legs in the winter, but tights would not work with the look. Roberts probably accepts that we have to be down with fashion sometimes – although she probably hasn’t spent much time outside.
To Rubie for the lesson: “Put out your good bits and hide the bad bits. So if you have a good waist, tuck it in with a nice belt, if you have small wrists, make sure the sleeves of your blouse are shortened or shorter to show off the wrists.”
A long coat is a risk taker’s best friend
Wearing printed trousers like this from Wolk Morais might seem challenging, but not when it’s done like this, says Rubie: “They’ve done a really clever job because really, you can only see a little bit. the flash of the plaid,” she says. “With an overcoat, you get the pop of color and print, but it doesn’t overwhelm the whole outfit. I think that’s a great way to incorporate it into the wardrobe and give it a fresh feel.”
“The length of the trousers is also very important,” she says. “Wear ankle boots with a slightly high heel and the trouser leg is quite close to the ground, it’s outdated, especially if it’s printed. If it’s a cropped print trouser, it will make your legs look shorter.”
