This Week, the Best Dressed Stars Wanted Sleek Simplicity

With the Met Gala less than a week away, celebrities appear to be saving bombastic fashion for the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At present, Hollywood’s look du jour is all about sleek simplicity and tactile details. At last week’s premieres and parties, stars kept it simple, opting for designer pieces with understated appeal. As is often the case, Zendaya captured the mood of the moment. As lead and executive producer of Euphoria, Zendaya led the charge during its for your consideration party on Wednesday. Held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the event showcased the HBO series’s artistic merits and its chic cast. 

With Barbie Ferreira resplendent in Proenza Schouler’s jet black fringed wrap skirt and Alexa Demie breaking out the 1970s Norman Norrell in a nod to the vintage design beloved by her clothes-obsessed character Maddy—the red carpet was brimming with fashion. Zendaya’s striking mohair blazer and matching trousers from Fear of God’s ‘Eternal’ collection stood out even with all the competition. One of the few people on earth who can make a cummerbund seem cool, she wore her Jerry Lorenzo-designed suit with grace. 

As Hollywood made the most of neutrals, leading ladies found new ways to wear color. Julia Roberts stepped back into the spotlight to promote her new show Gaslit, heading to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in a wildflower yellow suit by Lafayette 148. The playfulness of the shade complemented Roberts’s famous auburn waves and gave the pretty woman something new to smile about. Similarly, Nicole Kidman’s metallic mesh Prada gown at The Northman’s premiere utilized various pastels and textures, mixing goldenrod sequins, salmon feathered accents, and peach-toned crystal embroidery to significant effect. 

Verdant hues get a bad rap for washing wearers out, but the right shade can do wonders. Kidman and Roberts helped prove the versatility of yellow, just as Naomie Harris was making a case for lime green. With its soft tailoring and figure-hugging silhouette, the Standing Ground column gown Harris chose for the premiere of Showtime’s The Man Who Fell to Earth remake would have been arresting in any color. Still, Harris’s shocking chartreuse gave the week its boldest moment of minimalist style.