March 19, 2024

Style Stars Over 30: The Best Dressed of 2017

While the likes of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner tend to get the most ink for being the fashion icons of our day, there are plenty of women over the age of 30 who prove that style – like fine wine – only gets better with age.

After all, while your teens and 20s tend to be about following fast fashion trends, once you’ve reached your 30s, you have a better idea of what style means to you.

So, if you’re still looking for inspiration, look no further than these 10 super-stylish women.

Amal Clooney, 39

The highly-regarded British barrister (who also happens to be George Clooney’s wife) maintains the same elegant, feminine sense of style whether she’s in court or on the red carpet. Clooney is a fan of perfectly tailored separates, pointed pumps, and tasteful florals by the likes of Giambattista Valli and Versace, but we’d argue it’s her dazzling smile and obvious self-confidence that makes her a true style star.

Kate Hudson, 38

Okay, so maybe Kate Hudson isn’t the first person who springs to mind when you think of high fashion, but she’s had a great year. From debuting a surprisinglychic brunette pixie cut to rocking ghostly white-blonde hair with her Stella McCartney gown at the Met Gala, she’s proven she’s not afraid to take risks, especially when it comes to beauty. As many women do in their 30s, she’s evolved from predictable totruly captivating,and we can’t wait to see what she does next.

Nicole Kidman, 50

At 50 years old (we can’t believe it either), Nicole Kidman seems to have truly found what works for her sartorially: ethereal, romantic, and effortless, with just a hint of edge – not all that different from her beautiful-but-broken character on Big Little Lies. She can rock Gucci without looking the least bit over-the-top (that green sequined number stole the show at the SAG Awards) and her ensembles in Cannes (where she was promoting not one butthree projects) were each more lovely than the next.

Rooney Mara, 32

Rooney Mara has always had her own sense of style. Never one to fear the dark and edgy, she’s appeared on countless red carpets through the years with slicked-back hair, dark lips, and architectural, monochrome dresses. But over the past couple of years, her look has also slowlybegun to soften, incorporating feminine silhouettes and lingerie-inspired details. She’s also a favorite of Calvin Klein and Riccardo Tisci, which doesn’t hurt.

Lupita Nyong’o, 34

Lupita Nyong’o is truly a red carpet queen. Never one to shy away from bright colors and plunging necklines, we find ourselves waiting for her arrival at any given award show. This year, she dazzled at the premiere of the new Star Wars(where she wore a glittering green dress from Halpern) and at the Met Gala in bright orange Prada. Unsurprisingly, her street style usually packs the same punch, with plenty of eye-popping colors and curve-skimming silhouettes.

Charlize Theron, 42

Charlize Theron has been in the public eye for more than two decades, beginning her career as a dancer and model. Throughout that time, she’s figured out exactly what works for her style-wise, which is Old Hollywood glamour (with a heavy dose of edge during the promotion of Atomic Blonde) on the red carpet, and simple, monochromatic separates for off-duty. This year, she stunned at the Oscars in a black and gold Dior gown and rocked a very sheer tulle and lace Dior number in Cannes. At no point did she look over 40. We’re very jealous.

Michelle Williams, 37

With her gamine bleach blonde pixie cut, Michelle Williams adds a dash of natural cool to whatever she puts on, which is probably why she’s a favorite of Louis Vuitton’sNicolas Ghesquière, who designed her plunging halter dress for this year’s Oscars (which she attended with BFF Busy Phillips, because, in her words “the love of your life doesn’t have to be a man! ”). In Cannes, she rocked more Louis V, this time an abbreviated, fresh-off-the-runway number with a psychedelic floral print. Swoon.

Kim Kardashian, 37

Whatever else you think about her, you have to admit that, at this point, Kim K is a bonafide style icon. Her road to this point has been undeniably bumpy and paved with body-con dresses, boot cut jeans, and jewel tones, but today, you can pretty much count on her to be cool, current, and – dare we say it – even avant-garde. And while it’s always fun to watch her on the red carpet, we like Kim and her style the most when she’s in her natural element – which is either on social media or being snapped on the streets by the paparazzi.

Gal Gadot, 32

Gal Gadot is literally Wonder Woman, and she dresses the part IRL as well as on screen. From owning it in flat sandals underneath a red sequined gown at the Los Angeles premiere of the film to showing off her baby bump in Mugler at the Golden Globes, she’s proven that she does whatever she wants, even when a red carpet is involved. And that’s exactly the type of woman we like to root for.

Tracee Ellis Ross, 45

Tracee Ellis Ross has the kind of obvious confidence that makes her shine in literally anything she chooses to wear. It’s hard to pick a favorite of her red carpet appearances this year, but a patchwork Rosie Assoulin dress at the MTV Movie Awards and that silver, feather-trimmed Chanel number (you know, the one that supposedly took 1,300 hours to make) at the Emmys are hard to forget. Neither are dresses that just anybody could pull off, and Tracee does so with aplomb.

Meghan Markle, 36

The 36-year-old actress and activist is on her way to becoming a bonafide style icon, in addition to the newest member of the Royal Family. From structured separates and monochromatic tones to timeless dresses, her wardrobe is one of classic inspiration. Now, we’re just curious to see how it evolves into one of royalty. Wearing a stunning couture gown by Ralph Russo (which, btw, cost $75,000) for the official engagement photos, Markle took our breath away.

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