7 STYLE LESSONS LEARNED FROM CATHERINE ZETA-JONES

Today we're going to talk about Catherine Zeta-Jones' style. Catherine Zeta-Jones is a Welsh actress. Born in 1969,  Catherine is today best known for her acting work, as she managed to break out of the pretty girl stereotype some time ago and went to work on more ambitious acting jobs. You might know, I'm not too keen on celebrity culture. Most of the time, I find general public's interest in famous people unnatural and crazy, but I do think many celebs are a great fashion inspiration source because they have access to the good stuff and often work with very creative people. Catherine definitely has some nice style tricks up her sleeve that are worth talking about, so that's what we will be doing today. We'll look into her style secrets and see what lessons we can learn from her. When magazines talk about famous people style, they tend to focus more on younger stars or younger version of known starts because that is what sells and ageism is often a thing in our society. However, I think a person's style often becomes more interesting with the passage of time so this post won't be just about her style in her younger days. 

1. BELL BOTTOM, FLARE  AND WIDE TROUSERS HELP BALANCE THE FIGURE

First style lesson is about a cut of trousers or jeans. Opting for wide high trousers will get you a more elegant look in an instant. There is something classical about wide trousers, something that makes us think about the golden days. If palazzo pants aren't your thing, you can choose flared or bell bottom pants. Flared pants do a great job of balancing the figure and are perfect for ladies with wide hips. There is a flare style out there for every kind of build, some body types look best in boot-cut jeans while others look fantastic in bell bottoms. The bottom line is that wide cuts can be very flattering. Moreover, wider cuts of pants are often considered more classy and mysterious as they hide a bit more.

2. COLOURFUL COATS AND JACKETS CAN SPICE UP ANY OUTFIT Another style lesson I learned from Catherine Zeta Jones is to opt for colourful coats and blazers. While Catherine often wears outfits in a more classical colour schemes such as white and black, or navy and white, she will opt for boldly coloured coats or jackets because she knows that's a great way to make an outfit look fresh. 

3. THE ELEGANCE OF AN ALL WHITE LOOK NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE - The third style lesson I learned from Catherine Zeta Jones is that all white outfit will always get you noticed. There is something timelessly elegant in a well put together all white styling. Be it a white dress or a pairing of a white shirt and pants, there is no doubt that an all white outfit can look incredibly stylish. If all white isn't your thing, you can try wearing white items with prints, add some colour with accessories or opt for a very light tonality of some other colour to achieve that white elegance. 

4.  FOLKLORE AND TRADITIONAL FASHION IS A GREAT SOURCE OF INSPIRATION - The fourth style trick that I picked up examine Catherine Zeta Jones' famous outfits is to find inspiration on the history of fashion, that is, the folklore and traditional fashion. Think of her iconic looks in Zorro. While she didn't created these Zorro costumes herself, Catherine has worn them with gusto. She wore and presented those historical costumes so well- and that (feeling comfortable in what we wear) is important too. Traditional costumes or clothes inspired by them can be such a great way for us to connect with our femininity. That's one thing I always felt Catherine does well, she always looks very feminine and elegant. Part of that is not only in what we wear, but also how we wear it. The more respect you have for folklore and traditional fashion as well garments inspired by it, the better you will feel in it and wear it. 

5. WHITE JEANS CAN BE SO ELEGANT AND ARE EASY TO DRESS UP- Fourth style lesson that I'm taking from examining Catherine Zeta Jones's outfits is that white jeans look great with everything. I was planning to buy white jeans but I managed to find some old ones that belonged to my husband in my closet and now I have two pair of vintage jeans that I absolutely adore and wear often. Perhaps you can find some vintage jeans yourself? I honestly think that we can find most of what we need in our closets or in second hand shops. Bellow you can see several ideas on how to style white jeans. They look great with blazers if you're going for a more professional or dressed up look and they also look great worn in a more casual way, for example with a striped or a graphic t-shirt.

 

6. A WELL SELECTED HAT COMPLETES ANY OUTFIT IN ANY SEASON- The sixth style lesson I learned from Catherine is that a good hat is worth gold. Sometimes a hat is a part of an etiquette. Remember the outfit Catherine wore to see the Queen? However, even when when it's not, a nicely selected hat will do wonders for your outfit. Not to mention that it will protect you from the elements.  Catherine Zeta Jones opts for straw and fedora hats in warmer months because she knows that is the perfect way to get that spring and summer look. Plus, straw accessories can be very elegant when paired with the right garments. In reality, straw hats can be worn for any seasons. Nevertheless, Catherine Zeta Jones will often opt for a typical darker hat during the colder months. Winter hats can look especially powerful and striking worn with an old black styling. 

7. A PENCIL SKIRT OR A DRESS IS A LADY'S BEST FRIEND- The final lesson we can learn from Catherine Zeta-Jones is that pencil skirts or dresses are a girl's best friend. They make us look professional and can be so flattering. If you follow my blog regularly, you know that I couldn't imagine my closet without a pencil skirt. I cannot say that I learned that from Catherine Zeta Jones, because in honesty, I have always loved pencil skirts, but that's definitely a key wardrobe item that can save us on a bad day. Catherine Zeta-Jones knows about the secret about the power of a pencil skirt. 

 I have created all of these collages myself using images found on Pinterest where you can find the original links for them. I also watched this YouTube video from Vogue about Catherine Zeta-Jones' iconic looks for research but decided to go with my own selection. I did like the video and I admire Catherine for being respectful about historical costumes she wore for Zorro (whereas most actresses just complain about wearing a corset) and also for remembering the names of costume designers. That's class. Anyhow, I hope you have enjoyed my attempt to hack Catherine Zeta Jones' style secrets. I have been preparing this post for a long time because I wanted it to be reader friendly and light but also informative. I tried to focus on outfits formula and style tricks that most of us can recreate with what we have in our closets. Have you learned any new style tricks today?  Let  me know if you have. Thank you for reading and visiting.