Carey Mulligan Just Wore My Dream Outfit

It’s a simple combo of all my favorite closet staples.

By

Eva Thomas

Published on January 9, 2024 @ 03:00PM

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Carey Mulligan. Photo:
Araya Doheny/Getty Images

Think about your dream outfit? Think really long and hard, if you have to. What’s the first thing to come to mind? For me, it’s not about anything extravagant or over-the-top; simple, low-key is my personal style ethos. It’s taken a while to perfect this, and certainly not without detours. Back in the early 2000s, I was all about low-rise jeans — and that’s anything but low-key, if you ask me. But now, I gravitate toward staples like blazers, trusty jeans, and sleek shoes. In fact, Carey Mulligan’s latest outfit is my dream outfit to a T.

Mulligan was photographed at an event for her latest film, Maestro, and while her appearance just about convinced me to cut my hair short because, well, her signature ‘do is perhaps the most iconic short style in Hollywood, I opted against it (sorry, I love my mid-length cut). But, what her outing did convince me of is that my “dream” outfit is really the perfect outfit — just look at how cool, put together, chic, timeless, [insert descriptor] she looks!

The actress went with trusty, straight-leg jeans you normally wouldn’t consider “elevated,” but based on how she styled them, she took the low-key staple to new heights. Not to mention, the silhouette and dark wash leaned more elevated, too. Mulligan rounded out her look with a fitted, high-neck bodysuit that looked so flattering, plus the unsexy sexy hero piece that made the outfit what it was: an oversized blazer.

Open Edit Oversized Double-Breasted Blazer

Nordstrom Open Edit Oversize Double Breasted Blazer — Nordstrom

Buy on Nordstrom $89

Topshop Extreme Oversized Grandad Blazer

Nordstrom Topshop Extreme Oversize Grandad Blazer — Nordstrom

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Big, bold shoulders and an oversized fit defined the actress’ top layer, and seeing as big, XXL fashion is having its moment right now (see: big pants, big bags, big anything), big blazers with exaggerated features just make sense. Plus, the extreme aspects (aka bold, structured shoulders and an ultra-roomy fit) breathe new life into a once-boring, stale office staple you probably didn’t miss wearing during the pandemic. But it’s emerged as a cool-girl essential, with celebs and in-the-knot fashion people wearing it with everything from jeans and skirts to silk dresses and trousers.

TL;DR? A dream outfit doesn't have to be anything super extra, because it’s a dream in its simplicity. Shop more oversized blazers I’m eyeing to recreate Mulligan’s look for myself.