Absolutely NAILING "working with what you've got".

[CallieRedux]

Was rewatching "As Time Goes By", and Judi Dench looks just... impeccable throughout the entire run. Honestly can't think of a single thing she would look better changing. Hair, colors, cut of clothing... every single aspect just elevates and suits her to a T. Maaaay have been fortuitous timing for her look - her daughter's character quite often looks fairly dowdy in the styles of the time, AND major props to the wardrobe people that had a lot of that rayon steamed/ironed flawlessly, but it made me realize that I can't think of too many TV characters or people in real life who are as good at that. Can any of you think of some? Not just people who can "look good", but more people work really well with what they've got - whatever that is. For the record, I look absolutely nothing like Judi Dench, just think her look was brilliant for her.

Hannah Waddingham in Ted Lasso. The woman is an absolute goddess.

Yes! Very much so. Not saying it’s ‘I May Destroy You’ / ‘Happy Valley’ / ‘Succession’ level brilliance - it isn’t, but there were a few character types I hadn’t seen before, and the buildings and interiors are breathtaking. Sarah Lancashire is probably the least convincing person in the story - if that tells you anything!

Hannah Waddingham in Ted Lasso. Utterly amazing! I am not a woman who understands skin tight clothes, so I watched her with this face … But definitely someone owning their own style.

I think Fiona Bruce always looks good. Can't put my finger on her style but she looks fashion-y without taking herself too seriously.

Oh yes, I agree with Fiona Bruce. I mostly know her from Antiques Road Show and Fake or Fortune. She does a good jeans/blouse/jacket combo all the time!

But it's always easy when you are tall and slim!

Camille Cottin who plays Andrea in Dix Pour Cent/Call My Agent. No frills, just jeans and a shirt or jumper. Somehow looks amazing.

YES. I was thinking this as I was reading the OP. Absolutely flawless wardrobe.

Helen McCrory was fabulous in everything I ever saw her in!

Mine is Helen Mirren. I don't think she is outstandingly beautiful (although obviously attractive and pretty) but she always looks amazing and knows exactly what hairstyle/colour and clothes suit her!

When I was a kid I thought Moira Stewart was the epitome of elegance. She just always looked so classy.

Kristen Scott Thomas, always elegant without being too staid

Kyra Sedgwick in the Closer. And she was a detective so her wardrobe was not flashy but distinctly feminine and colorful but serious enough somehow. And they rarely showed her feet but when they did great shoes

So many of these examples are really slender.

I loved everything Patricia Clarkson wore in Sharp Objects



Love her style

Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair - it still looks fabulous.

I also agree with Felicity Kendall and Judie Dench - she always looks amazing. I wish I could carry off that hairstyle.

Another one - I’ve just watched S2 of The Bear, and Olivia Colman’s tiny cameo took my breath away. I’m honestly not sure I have ever seen a woman look more beautiful, more womanly, more sparkling with intelligence and genius than she does on screen for about five minutes. And lord knows how much that black shirt cost. She’s utterly magnificent in her role.

But also yes to Rene Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair. Every single MN poster who prescribes a Very Cheap Shroud for any woman over 30 should watch it 100 times.

Anabel Croft or KST would probably look amazing in a sack though....

I find Katherine Kelly stunning in everything, especially in Criminal UK.

Also love Camille Cottin as Andrea.

Also, Cristin Milioti in this Modern Love episode. She's adorable.

Oh, one I've seen! Totally agree. That perfectly-imperfect style makes me feel like a windswept pile of twigs & leaves. I've spent a lot of my life trying to elevate 'shapeless compost heap' to a personal style 😳

something people seem to be missing here - these women (or nearly all of them) are each famous precisely because they are attractive. They may not all be slim or exceptionally beautiful but they do mostly have faces that play well to the camera - to a large extent that's part of the reason they've become famous (whilst some of their plainer, also talented colleagues have not)

So that's why they look better on camera than say, your nan or Sue from next door would, in the same outfit.

I'm not intentionally missing the point, but it's worth remembering. I would also suit Kirstie Allsop's style of dresses, but I can't wear them all the time in the real world because my job doesn't only involve only strolling to and from the car and looking around houses (i work in an office, but need to factor in the school run, the tube, the rain and the winter)

I came on to say this. Every dress, every blouse, every pair of boots was utterly swoonable.