Dame Helen Mirren is serving serious style at the moment, whether its promoting the second season of MobLand or hitting the Toronto Film Festival for the A Talent For Murder premiere.
Helen's chic outfits serve as the best reminder that, no matter your age, there's always a time and a place to embrace wearing colour and one of her most recent looks had me in awe, as she stunned in a red figure-hugging jacket.
The British actress took a leaf out of the royal's book and wore ME+EM, a British brand loved by the Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla and Carole Middleton.
- Dame Helen Mirren, 81, wore a fitted utility jacket for her movie's premiere.
- Helen's tailored jacket is from celeb and royal favourite brand, ME+EM. (Shop here in the US)
- The actress' look is bold and bright for autumn.
Dame Helen looked utterly radiant in red, choosing the ME+EM Red Fitted Utility Jacket, £325 / $545 to pair with a black, tulle maxi skirt.
© GettyI love that the MobLand star skipped a black jacket, which would have created a classic look, for a bright red on-trend jacket. A statement jacket is usually considered to be a blazer or a trophy jacket, but Helen's jacket was a modern, blazer-alternative twist, with its waist-defining silhouette and structured shoulders.
Paired with her black voluminous skirt, the shorter length made it even more striking, hitting the waistband of the skirt which flowed beautifully from the hem of the jacket. It's such a simple styling trick and an easy way to breathe new life into a skirt or dress that you may already have.
It's ideal if you're not a fan of showing your arms, or want to turn a more summer-appropriate dress or skirt into an autumn or winter outfit. Come festive season, this will look great for parties - just add jewels like Helen.
Tomato red is a key trend for autumn/winter, and while the catwalks and street style stars would have you think it should be worn head to toe, Helen is a reminder that you can embrace a trend without fully immersing yourself into it.
Her jacket is perfect for pairing with blue denim; red and blue is such a cool combination, and even if you're just wearing jeans and a tee, this sort of structured jacket would amp up the style to make a simple denim and top look achingly cool.
© Luke Varley/Paramount+British brand ME+EM is not only a favourite among celebrities, including Emma Willis and Katie Holmes, but a label the royals turn to time and again. Their fanbase boasts Princess Kate, Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall and the Duchess of Edinburgh, with modern royals choosing to wear the brand on repeat.
Get The Look For Less
Since tomato red was all over the catwalks, it's all over the high street too. You can embrace the classic blazer style in punchy red, or look for a slightly more interesting jacket, like Helen's.
Boden's collarless version has a similar nipped in waist, and a smart, boucle texture. Head to Hobbs for one extremely like Helen's, with black buttons, a collar and gentle peplum hem.
As for Helen's skirt, I spotted a great alternative at Karen Millen. Buy now and wear throughout the next few seasons; smarten it up with the jacket, a shirt or a blouse or keep things casual with a tee or knit.
Add a ballet flat, a knee high boot or a heel depending on the occasion.
Leanne Bayley, HELLO!'s Director of Lifestyle, is a big fan of the trophy jacket whatever your age: "The trophy jacket is designed to stay on, no matter the temperature in the room, because the jacket IS the outfit. The trophy jacket is the ultimate multitasker - it can transform jeans and a tee into a champagne-ready ensemble, or elevate a simple satin skirt into something worthy of a red carpet."
