Our weekly look at the stunningly beautiful and beautifully ugly celebrity ensembles that set the group chat alight.

Best political statement

America often doesn’t deserve nice things and yet, they have Michelle Obama. A political powerhouse, an exquisite communicator, and an expert in harnessing the mood of a nation and compassionately using that energy to inspire. The first time she spoke at a DNC in 2008 she wore her hair smooth and straight, a very demure, very mindful dress and brooch. The look of a woman who knew she had to fight for acceptance in a world that was against her. In 2024 she’s clearly lost patience and, as America considers electing its first biracial woman, she’s embracing rather than subduing those features.

Fashion and beauty choices are deeply political and I love the choices she has made here, with her naturally textured hair worn in a braid, and those incredible arms she copped so much flak for proudly displayed in this Monse sleeveless jacket and tuxedo pant. Michelle Obama provides hope to many who previously may have felt to do so was futile. This outfit is an excellent communicator of that message. The OBVIOUS runner-up in this category is Ella Emhoff who looked so freaking cool in Joe Ando at the DNC. — Rebecca Wadey

Best references

Margot Robbie’s character-driven red carpet looks for Barbie really solidified the trend for celebrities cosplaying press tours as a marketing tool — see, Blake Lively’s florals for It Ends With Us as a failed example, and Jenna Ortega’s outfits for the new Beetlejuice sequel as a perfect one.

With her stylist Enrique Melendez, she’s been referencing the original 1988 film in fun but fittingly creepy ways: a leather corset that nods to the shrunken head guy, custom snakeskin heels inspired by the head snake, lots of black and white stripes. But my favourite so far has been this Thom Browne ensemble referencing Winona Ryder’s iconic school uniform costume – and a book-shaped handbag by Ozias, based on the Handbook for the Recently Deceased she reads in the film. Lydia Deetz forever! — Zoe Walker Ahwa

Best reference

Speaking of Lydia Deetz... THE Winona Ryder, a forever fashion reference, has of course also been slaying the Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice press tour, embracing the black-clad cool sulky goth vibe that she has always done so well. These black, buttoned up looks are perfectly anti red carpet and exactly what Lydia would wear as an adult (including the hair!). I also love that they are both by the same designer, Elena Dawson - a London-based creative that I haven't heard of until now but whose work looks so beautifully crafted and deconstructed. Winona also stitched 'Gena' onto one of the shirts, an homage to Gena Rowlands who had just passed away - honouring the dead, so Lydia Deetz.

The film is released here in New Zealand on September 5, FYI; I'll be at the movies that night. – ZWA

Best headpiece

It’s always a wonderful day when our Queen Bee decides to bless us with new visuals. This time they are to support her new whisky SirDavis, a collaboration with Moët Hennessy. This outfit is by Les Fleurs and she looks amazing in it and I’m sure, because it’s Beyoncé, that there’s lots of intention behind it (the designer, Maria Bernad, is known for upcycling fabrics and forgotten garments, breathing new life into them. This particular outfit is custom made antique lace and crochet) - but what I am choosing to take from this is the headpiece. I would like to start a movement to normalise the wearing of headpieces like this in day to day life. With the money I would save in dyeing my grey hair I could fly anywhere in the world to see her Renaissance tour. — RW

Best at the Logies

Our girl Roxie, at the Logies! There were so many Kiwis at the Australian TV awards show (including Madeleine Sami who also looked fantastic), but I loved seeing Roxie Mohebbi there with her fellow cast mates of the new Aussie series Critical Incident, shining and looking like the star she is in a Beare Park gown. The model/actor has been so prolific lately, also appearing in local show Miles from Nowhere, mini-episode Give Me Babies and film Head South - her look and keffiyeh at the Sydney Film Festival screening in May was also chic intelligence personified. — ZWA

Best lady in red

It’s an undisputed fact that Zoë Kravitz is one of the coolest people in entertainment. She had no choice with that pedigree (Denise Huxtable 4eva), and her inherently effortless style is a reflection of that. That said, a lot of her looks are very same-y for me, especially since she became a Saint Laurent ‘face’. Lots of black 90s-esque lingerie. This is of course 90s-esque inspired also, something that I could imagine Gwyneth, or Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy wearing. But it’s (drumroll please) red! 

She looks amazing, as per, and I am very much looking forward to her directorial debut Blink Twice, originally titled Pussy Island, which comes with the best merch I’ve ever seen (sorry to my husband who had very cute badges and beanies made to promote his film Bookworm – which you should most definitely see before Blink Twice – but Zoë’s lighter and joints trump all). 

Zoë is also an ambassador for London-based Kiwi jewellery designer Jessica McCormack, whose earrings she is wearing here, framing that exquisite face. The actor works with Andrew Mukamal, who of course did Margot Robbie’s Barbie press tour. I could totally watch an entire world tour of Zoë Kravitz looking slay, however this is a film with a much smaller budget and release, so this may be as much as we get. I’ll take it. – RW