Cover At 58, Nicole Kidman is in the middle of her most exciting fashion chapter yet, turning every red carpet into something unforgettable. (Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer / WireImage / Getty Images)
At 58, Nicole Kidman is in the middle of her most exciting fashion chapter yet, turning every red carpet into something unforgettable. (Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer / WireImage / Getty Images)
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Nicole Kidman’s latest fashion era is her most daring yet—these looks show a woman wearing her power with intention
As Nicole Kidman celebrates her birthday on June 20, there’s no better time to look at her incredible style. At 58, the Academy Award-winning actress is in the middle of her most exciting fashion chapter yet, turning every red carpet into something unexpected and unforgettable. With confidence and a clear vision for how she wants to be seen, the actress has moved beyond classic Hollywood glamour into boundary-pushing territory—proof that great style comes from growth, not just good looks.
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The golden goddess
To receive the AFI Life Achievement Award, Nicole Kidman wore a custom floor-length Balenciaga gown, covered entirely in gold sequins, with a sweetheart bodice and a dramatic train. Dressed in gold from head to toe, she mirrored the honour she was receiving, turning the moment into a reflection of her legacy. Critics hailed this look as one of her all-time bests, a career-defining image for a career-defining moment.
The feminine force
Nicole Kidman’s appearance at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards marked a departure from typical red carpet glamour. She arrived in an oversized, tan-coloured power suit from Saint Laurent’s Spring 2025 collection, complete with exaggerated shoulder pads and matching wide-leg trousers. The masculine silhouette was counterbalanced with feminine details: gold jewellery, soft wavy hair and black slingbacks, creating a fusion of power and femininity.
The sensual bombshell
At the 2025 Golden Globes, Nicole Kidman delivered her most sensual look yet in a custom Balenciaga Haute Couture creation. The one-shouldered gown featured iridescent silver, crystal-and-rhinestone-embroidered mesh with a dramatically low back achieved through near-invisible transparent netting. Completed with a voluminous, sky-high ponytail inspired by the ’60s and Studio 54 glamour, this “sex kitten” look made a powerful statement about age, sexuality and confidence in Hollywood.
The avant-garde artist
Nicole Kidman’s arrival at the 2025 Palm Springs International Film Festival was nothing short of striking. Her custom Loewe mermaid gown featured a handcrafted, sculptural bodice made of iridescent mother-of-pearl shell accents—a feat of artistry, with each shell shard carefully pieced together by hand. More than just a red carpet moment, it was a statement of intent: Kidman continues to embrace fashion as art, positioning herself as both icon and connoisseur.
The ethereal heroine
At the TIME 2025 Women of the Year Gala, Nicole Kidman embraced the emerging Boho 2.0 trend in a custom Chloé creation by creative director Chemena Kamali. The delicate, blush-hued silk gown featured an intricate lace-trimmed bodice and cascading tiers of ballerina-like tulle. The brilliant styling moment came when she later layered a black cropped jacket over the ethereal gown, creating a compelling visual narrative between romantic femininity and modern authority.
The vintage vixen
During promotion for her series Expats, Nicole Kidman demonstrated her ability to reference fashion’s past without looking costume-y. Her retro Balmain ensemble featured a black bolero jacket over a top with rose-shaped buttons paired with a flouncy, high-waisted white mini skirt adorned with polka dots. The look expertly navigated the delicate line that polka dots present, avoiding childishness while landing squarely in elegant territory. Styled with classic black pumps and a chignon, it was a modern tribute to mid-century glamour.
The modern minimalist
Nicole Kidman’s appearance at the Omega Her Time event in Paris proved her savvy understanding of influence. Her crisp white Valentino two-piece set—a boxy crop top and voluminous A-line midi skirt worth nearly US$6,000—was strategically paired with US$73 Charles & Keith slingback pumps featuring whimsical red rose-shaped heels. This high-low styling wasn’t accidental but brilliantly calculated, creating a viral fashion moment that democratised glamour.
The romantic lead
For the Babygirl Los Angeles premiere, Nicole Kidman was abloom, wearing a custom Balenciaga Haute Couture strapless gown covered in pink and ivory organza petal flowers and cinched with a black bow belt. The unabashedly feminine look, which paid homage to Cristóbal Balenciaga’s Spring 1964 collection, challenged conventional notions of what a seasoned actress should wear, proving her status as a true fashion provocateur.
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After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
