Ensemble’s celebrity looks is back! We lost interest briefly, but the Northern Hemisphere summer looks popping up in our feed are giving us life through the dark NZ winter days. So we’re bringing it back, singing with joy over our favourite ensembles whether they be stunningly beautiful or beautifully ugly. Herewith are the outfits that set the group chat alight this week.

Best tunnel as a runway

“Why do NBA tunnel ‘fits go so hard?” I messaged my brother this week after seeing a bunch of pictures of Seattle Storm player Skylar Diggins-Smith walking through the nondescript back halls of a sports venue dressed in a trio jaw-droppingly strong outfits. Turns out the answer is kind of fascinating.

In 2005, general curmudgeon and then league commissioner David Stern took umbrage with players wearing oversized casual outfits and implemented a dress-code requiring them to dress in business or conservative attire when conducting official NBA business. The move was widely criticised: player Allen Iverson said at the time it targeted "guys who dress hip-hop”, but prompted an incredible subverting of the rules. Players embraced high fashion and the pre-game tunnel walk became quasi-fashion shows almost as competitive as action on the court. 

Sports fans and fashionistas alike have embraced the way players use aesthetics as an image building tool – basketball style-focused Instagram account @leaguefits has over a million followers, myself included. Fashion brands want in on the marketing opportunity too: Caitlin Clark, the number one WNBA draft pick, made headlines in a groundbreaking Prada outfit at the 2024 draft and Diggins-Smith recently appeared in a campaign for Kim Kardashian’s Skims. Given basketball’s shocking gender-pay gap, I hope they make the most of every opportunity to get paid. Brand deals all round please. – Tyson Beckett

Best icon

Someone commented on TikTok that this photo of Kylie Minogue being carried to the stage by Andrew Scott and Jonathan Bailey looks better than any fashion photo or campaign in a print magazine right now, and they may be right. The fun energy, wide smiles, mix of colours, bare arms and Kylie being carried like the queen she is; it’s all perfection (the one flaw: her red ensemble is by Dolce & Gabbana…). The full video is a fun watch. – Zoe Walker Ahwa

Best heart

Daisy Edgar-Jones is having a really good press tour for Twisters, which is clear by the fact she is two for two in this column. While she’s always been one of my hair idols (along with Dakota Johnson and Violette; I have photos of the three of them saved to my phone to show my hairdresser next week - should I get bangs? Please feel free to chime in), I’ve never really paid too much attention to her style before.

She’s now working with stylist Dani Michelle, and the collab is really working for me. Of course, with the muted, earthy tones she’s been wearing to promote her film about a natural disaster, she’s doing her own version of a Barbie pink press tour and I appreciate that. But there is something about the hard soft edges of this heart dress that I especially love. It also looks fun and comfy, which isn’t easy in a strapless mini! – Rebecca Wadey

Best polka perfection

“It’s 2008 again,” has become something of a go-to refrain around Ensemble HQ recently (GFC anyone?) – and that I’m seeing polka dots everywhere (and enjoying them) is another sign we’re on the money. I would be a pool of sweat if I wore a satin dress in summer a la Kirsten Dunst here at Wimbledon, but there’s something refreshingly off-kilter about the way she’s paired this navy Simone Rocha dress with these brown Gucci loafers and black bag. Maybe she’s my forever muse too. – TB

Best cute top

Silly tops featuring silly po-faced animals are, unfortunately, one of my style kryptonites (I own this by Lazy Oaf and this by Peter Jensen). But none as hot as Bella Hadid’s vintage-style deer baby tee (by an adorable looking brand called Moth Apparel), paired with raw hemmed denim shorts and cowboy boots. – ZWA

Best date

The internet has gone crazy for Billie Eilish flirting with Amelia Dimoldenberg on Chicken Shop Date. If you haven’t watched the whole interaction yet you can do so here, it is truly delightful and a real palette cleanser to the rest of the miserable nonsense going on in the world. Equally charming? Billie’s insouciant 00s era ‘fit of bandana under cap, hoop earrings and baggy jeans and tees. I’ve never loved her more. – RW

Best Inspector Gadget cosplay

Do I finally pull the trigger on the Kowtow trench coat I’ve been eyeing up? My 5ft4 frame says no, but this breezy Greta Gerwig (5ft9) outfit is making a compelling case. – TB

Best accessory

If you haven’t watched Julio Torres’ new weird and whimsical show Fantasmas, I implore you to start right now (also, his other show Los Espookys and any SNL skit he wrote; I haven’t seen Problemista yet but it’s at the film festival). The fashion in it is also incredible, from his playful makeup to Vanesja’s skirt suits. And it’s blessed us with this look while on the promo trail: ensemble by Marni and, more importantly, a dandelion headpiece by Sideara St. Claire. – ZWA