Nicole Kidman's Secret to Nailing an All-White Outfit

Follow these three rules

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nicole kidman rules for wearing white
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Wimbledon may be over, but the celebrity fashion on display will serve as inspiration for the rest of the summer. As someone who loves an all-white outfit, my eyes were drawn to Nicole Kidman, who attended the tournament's final day in a three-piece ensemble that was the epitome of chic summertime dressing.

nicole kidman rules for wearing white
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The Margo's Got Money Troubles star donned a custom Ralph Lauren double-breasted suit, accessorizing with a boater hat, cream sculptural bag and woven flats that felt reminiscent of loafers.

In studying her outfit, I realized Kidman has three secrets to rocking an all-white outfit, and it has everything to do with contrast.

  • Monochrome doesn't mean everything is the same shade. Her suit, hat and bag all belong to the same color family, but are tonally different. This prevents her outfit from feeling like a monotonous blob.
  • Throw in a an interesting shape. Kidman's handbag is structured with various buckles and tabs that make the silhouette visually interesting even though the color is not.
  • Don't be afraid to add color. Here, moderation is key. Kidman wore a pink satin dress shirt and tie beneath the blazer, but opted for a soft pastel hue that wouldn't take attention away from the suit. Instead of using white as a canvas, the shade of pink complements it.
nicole kidman rules for wearing white
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Kidman attended the tournament alongside Anna Wintour, who also opted for an all-white ensemble with metallic jewelry, and Sienna Miller, who wore a ruffled light blue dress. The trio watched as the current top-ranked player, Italian Jannik Sinner, defended his title against German Alexander Zverev.

Shop the Look

I personally find a double-breasted blazer a bit overwhelming, and found that this under-$60 Amazon find was a good compromise. There's a double row of gold buttons, but when fastened, the cut falls more as a single-breasted blazer.

Kidman chose wide-leg trousers; I like this style by Quince that shares the same cut, but with some modifications. Namely, the stretch cotton fabric and patch pockets. (I can't resist patch pockets.) The pants are also cropped at the ankle—great if, like me, you don't like your pants puddling on the floor.

Quince also makes silk blouses, and the brand's "Vintage Pink" color is quite similar to Kidman's pastel hue. I actually love a blushier tone, and this one is still soft enough to complement instead of compete with the white suit.

In my opinion, the accessory that pulled Kidman's look together was her woven shoes. They were loafer-inspired flats that totally defied expectations about what the silhouette and shoe style "should" look like. It's the same thing with these G.H. Bass penny loafers, which use woven raffia to build the classic shape.

For whatever reason, Kidman's handbag made me think of the French brand Polène. I found the Béri bag to have similar hallmarks to the actress's purse in the way that it has a gentle shape that holds its own but doesn't feel too sculptural. The Béri has a rather architectural handle held together with a gold clasp.


Clara Stein

Contributing Editor