Not too long ago, Phoebe Waller-Bridge was best known for a one-woman show about a grief-stricken sharp-tongued loner who wore comfy sweaters, striped tops, jeans, and floral wrap dresses. Millions of British women immediately identified with her.
Flick forward a few years and the 37-year-old Fleabag actress and creator is now the style icon in every way, wowing audiences and fashion critics alike with her merry-go-round of red carpet outfits ordinary women can only dream of.
On Monday, before the premiere of the new Indiana Jones film, she looked sensational in a streamlined chainmail dress with a structured cape from Saudi Arabian brand Ashi Studio, before changing into a plunging vintage jumpsuit. How did she do?
The shift seems to have started sometime around 2019, when Anna Wintour gave her the cover of American Vogue and put her in a cut-out Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello gown.
Around the same time, Waller-Bridge began working with one of Hollywood’s secret weapons: fashion stylist Elizabeth Saltzman.
Watch one – The Deep Y
It’s clear that one of Waller-Bridge’s favorite body parts is the chest, which she can emphasize without ever looking overtly sexual. At 5ft 11in, she’s graced with a long, graceful chest and neck, which she shows off to great effect with some deep V’s. Most notable was Stella McCartney’s satin slip dress she wore to the 2022 Venice Film Festival, which fell to her midriff. It felt casual yet formal, in part due to Waller-Bridge’s decision to forego accessories.
However, the Roland Mouret Jawdropper she wore to the Indiana Jones premiere in Germany — with a sharp, more accentuated V — felt noticeably old-school glamour.
Waller-Bridge attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California
It’s clear that one of Waller-Bridge’s favorite body parts is the chest, which she can emphasize without ever looking overtly sexual.
Waller-Bridge and Martin McDonagh attend British Vogue celebrates Vogue Darlings party at the Venice Film Festival in partnership with Cartier on September 3, 2022 in Venice, Italy.
The actress attends the premiere of ‘Indiana Jones und das Rad des Schicksals’ at Zoo Palast on June 22, 2023 in Berlin, Germany
Look Two – Superhero capes
The cape has long been known as a tricky fashion item to pull off. You need broad shoulders (but not too broad) to handle the logistics of keeping the look in place.
Then there’s the length to contend with. You’ll need it long enough for superhero “Kapow!” sexiness, but not too long that it looks like something Little Red Riding Hood would wear. Luckily for Waller-Bridge, she has the height to wear the drama of a long cape.
For the Bond premiere, she chose an off-white cape by Azzaro contrasted with a sequined black jumpsuit. At the 2019 Baftas, she wore a powder blue cape dress by Albino Teodoro. But perhaps her best look yet was at this week’s premiere, where she dropped her jaw in a chainmail dress with a floor-length cream cape. It was bold, beautiful and refreshingly experimental – proof that you can find your style groove at any point in your life.
Lucky for Waller-Bridge (pictured at the Indiana Jones premiere in London, June 26, 2023), she’s got the height to wear the drama of a long cape.
The world premiere of ‘NO TIME TO DIE’ at the Royal Albert Hall on September 28, 2021 in London, England
You’ll need it long enough for superhero “Kapow!” sexiness, but not too long that it looks like something Little Red Riding Hood would wear
Look three – The tuxedo
Waller-Bridge favors two types of suits: the flared trouser suit or the more formal tuxedo. This plays to her real strengths, with one of her favorite silhouettes: the deep V.
She tends to wear very little under her jackets. This keeps the look fresh and subtly sexy. If she does go for an underlayer, it’s sheer or just a peek-a-boo bra, like the cream suit she wore at Cannes this year. It’s a look she started wearing in 2019 when she stunned in a Victoria Beckham green velvet tuxedo.
It’s a look she started wearing in 2019 when she stunned in a Victoria Beckham green velvet tuxedo
Waller-Bridge attends the screening of ‘Killing Eve’ and ‘When Heroes Fly’ during the 1st Cannes International Series Festival at Palais des Festivals on April 8, 2018 in Cannes, France
She tends to wear very little under her jackets. This keeps the look fresh and subtly sexy
Look Four – off-the-shoulder corset dress
The off-the-shoulder corset dress is a Waller-Bridge favorite. However, she reinvents this classic in two ways.
She opts for bold semi-sheer, as seen on the Dior dress she wore to the 2020 Critics’ Choice Awards, or opt for an almost vampiric bustline, as seen on her Dolce & Gabbana Oscars dress.
She knows the corset will inject delicate sex appeal with style credibility.
The off-the-shoulder corset dress is a Waller-Bridge favorite
She knows the corset will inject delicate sex appeal with style credibility.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge pictured at the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Arrivals, Barker Hanger, Los Angeles, January 12, 2020
