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Julia Roberts may be jaw-droppingly beautiful – still, at 56 – but she’s nothing if not relatable. Take her appearance on Graham Norton earlier this month. There she was, looking like the Hollywood A-lister that she is, only to admit that she really shouldn’t have worn knitwear because she was feeling a bit hot and sweaty. Celebrities, they’re just like us. Sort of.
The jumper and tailored trousers, both dove grey, made for a great choice in every other way, and not just because it worked well against the jarringly bright set. It was elegant and smart without looking like she’d tried too hard, keeping the focus very much on the woman and not the outfit.
It’s one of a number of strong looks the actress has worn on the publicity tour for her latest film, Leave the World Behind. There have been miniskirts, maxi coats, sharp tailoring – the overall aesthetic is preppy-meets-quiet luxury, but always with a twist that takes it up a notch; exactly what you need to command attention without slipping into stunt fashion territory.
Roberts has top Hollywood stylist Elizabeth Stewart in her corner, so this run of impeccably pulled-together looks is not without a guiding hand. Together, they serve as useful style templates from which we can all borrow this winter.
The best news though? They don’t require a Hollywood budget to emulate – Roberts’ rainbow bag is Kurt Geiger, and she is a fan of Sole Bliss for its comfortable heels. Ultra long coats like the Wolk Morais and Nells Nelson ones she favours can be found at Hush and Aligne. And tartan trousers? Head to Boden.
As for putting it all together, personal stylist Fi Rubie reveals how it’s done – no Hollywood entourage required.
Invest in great tailored separates
“The minute I put any of my older clients in a really beautiful tailored jacket, they just light up, because it gives you some structure, and it gives you a bit of oomph,” says Rubie. “I think that’s happening with Roberts in a lot of these pictures.”
The black shorts suit – channelling George Clooney in the Ocean’s Eleven poster with the untied bow-tie – exemplifies this. “I think she looks really chic and very on trend in that sort of Khaite, Nili Lotan, Toteme kind of way where everything is very minimal and clean and 90s,” Rubie observes.
Celebrate your best assets
Roberts has great legs, and Stewart celebrates this by dressing her in looks with high hemlines. This Ralph Lauren look with a Chopard necklace is a perfect example. “Let’s not be afraid to get our legs out – I think black tights hide a multitude of sins,” says Rubie. “They’re almost like wearing leggings in a way; it just shows the outline of your legs. My recommended tights are the Velvet 66 by Wolford (£35, John Lewis). That’s what I use for all my clients. They’re really soft and quite opaque, but not totally opaque.”
Try a hero necklace
This is a look by London-based label Erdem, and was Rubie’s favourite, thanks to the statement Chopard necklace. “It takes away the stress of trying to find a blouse to wear under the blazer,” she says. “The decolletage is often a really aged area because we always forget to moisturise. Every woman I know is self-conscious about it. [So] if you don’t want to have all that skin on display, you put the statement necklace on it, and your eye is drawn to the necklace and it just looks sensational.”
Don’t be afraid to try something a little weird
…Like these Gucci chandelier shoes, which will probably divide opinion, but add a little edge and draw attention to Roberts’ fantastic legs. Bare legs in winter is not for the faint-hearted, but tights would not have worked with this look. Presumably Roberts accepts that sometimes we must suffer for fashion – although it’s unlikely she spent any significant time outside.
To Rubie for the lesson: “Get your good bits out and hide the bad bits. So if you’ve got a good waist, cinch it in with a lovely belt, if you’ve got small wrists, make sure that your blouse sleeve is shortened or shorter to show those wrists.”
A long coat is a risk-taker’s best friend
A bold printed trouser like this Wolk Morais pair might seem like a challenging thing to wear, but not when it’s done this way, says Rubie: “They’ve done a really clever job because actually, all you’re really seeing is a little flash of the plaid,” she says. “With a coat over the top, you get the pop of colour and print, but it’s not overwhelming the whole outfit. I think that’s a really good way to incorporate it in the wardrobe and give it a fresh feel.”
“The length of the trouser is also really important,” she adds. “Wear a heeled ankle boot for a bit of height and the trouser hem quite close to the ground, it’s elongating, especially if it’s a print. If it’s a cropped print trouser, it’s going to make your legs appear shorter.”