Our weekly look at the stunningly beautiful and beautifully ugly celebrity ensembles that set the group chat alight
Most practical
Earlier this year, Rebecca gifted each of us on the Ensemble team one of those old-school clear rain bonnets. So practical! I’ve worn it maybe once so far; you do get some funny looks. But if anyone can make this accessory chic, it’s Cate Blanchett. Her lilac style here, actually a rain hat, is by L’Hood; I want one. – Zoe Walker Ahwa
Best leotard
Charli’s ascent from ‘famous but not quite’ to incredibly extremely famous is evident at this stage. As is the fact it’s not just the (great) music that’s catapulted her, but the whole carefully calculated (in a smart way, not a lab test way) operation – from rollout to features to fits. So it’s not surprising all of Charli’s looks on the Sweat tour have been great, and picking one sort of defeats the point – that’s it's the whole, not the singular, that makes her stand out. But whatever, I’m not writing an essay on popstar excellence, so please enjoy this fabulous yellow leotard with knee high gold boots. Forget Marvel; she's the superhero we deserve. And she’s coming to New Zealand! :) But I forgot to buy a Laneway ticket :( – Georgie Wright
Best bow
Okay so I almost called this one ‘best shoes and socks’ so as not to be so boringly predictable, but why change something that ain’t broke. Last week I was praising Jessica William’s Shrinking co-star Lukita Maxwell, while also shouting out Jessica as being always on my fashion radar, and this week here she is. Love this super-cute Rachel Antonoff dress and aforementioned shoes and socks styled by Sarah Slutsky.
Also if you’re in the mood for an aesthetic distraction this weekend I can highly recommend this shoot of Cole Escola in Rachel Antonoff, and if it’s comic relief you’re after – I am planning on watching season 2 of Shrinking on AppleTV (Thanks for the reminder Jessica!) – Rebecca Wadey
Best Rodarte
Fun fact: I love SNL. I love vintage SNL skits, and I love watching the new skits as they drop on the show’s Instagram/TikTok accounts each Sunday. I knew Ariana Grande’s recent episode would be good, and she delivered on both the funny and fashion fronts, with a series of pink Glinda from Wicked inspired ensembles. This one, by Rodarte, is so frothy and ridiculously out of place in the chaotic halls of 30 Rock; that’s what makes it so fun. PS. Can’t wait for Saturday Night, the movie depicting the very first episode, to be released on November 7 (oh and can’t wait for Wicked too). – ZWA
Best future star
It’s been a while since a film’s come out that I’ve been as excited to see as Sean Baker’s Anora. I love Baker’s films and I love romantic comedies and I love dramatic comedies so this is the trifecta. And Mikey Madison looks great in it, playing a sex worker who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch. But I digress: she also looks great in this Prada dress, at the BFI London Film Festival. She looks like a brilliant old-timey Hollywood movie star and she will probably be a brilliant new-timey one too. - GW
Best suited to the environment
I’ve been completely obsessed with Riley Keough since I saw her in 2016’s Lovesong, and her incredible performance in Zola (one of my favourite films) solidified my crush. There’s an unmistakable magnetism to her that makes me believe in the power of genetics. She’s currently on the press circuit promoting her late mother’s memoir, I can’t even fathom how difficult that may be. She is truly playing the part here in Chloe while at the family home, a casual estate called Graceland. It’s giving Sofia Coppola, it’s giving my heart is breaking. Another fun fact about Riley: she’s a registrated death doula, having completed her training after her brother died by suicide in 2020. – RW
Best character dressing
My picks this week are giving grandma, literally... I adore actor and comedic genius Amy Sedaris for many reasons, one of them being her whimsical and individualstyle (another being her weird in a good way Instagram feed). This post is so perfectly her: she’s in character as an old lady, wearing Crocs and a Batsheva house dress (I love these!), and giving her own twisted take on getting people in the US to the polls to vote: “This election is about the constitution. You better get to the polls. No excuses. Start heading there now if you have to.” – ZWA
