For years now, Chloë Sevigny has been known as the ultimate downtown It girl—and in virtually every sense. Career wise, for one, she’s always appearing in the most interesting of roles, whether she’s portraying Kitty Menendez in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, or C.Z. Guest in The Swans. Fashion wise, her choices are equally as unique and eclectic. Where many Hollywood stars follow trends and adhere to the glitzy status quo, Sevigny delightfully strays from the pack, choosing distinctive looks that are modern, nontraditional, and just downright cool.
Sevigny’s most recent red carpet wins, many of them styled by Haley Wollens, prove that she’s in a fashion league of her own. Just last night, while promoting Monsters in Los Angeles, Sevigny emerged wearing one of the most premium labels of the moment—a total look by Phoebe Philo, consisting of a leather bomber jacket and pleated mini skirt to match. The slouchy two-piece silhouette is basically the antithesis of an expected red carpet dress. And it totally rules, right down to her demure square-toe pumps. Last week in New York, Sevigny stepped out in a plaid Vivienne Westwood suit—which was wonderfully weird, thanks to scalloped button closure. A more avant-garde version of Cher Horowitz dressing.
These saucy little numbers only continue the eye-catching outfits Sevigny has worn this month, during events such as New York Fashion Week and the Toronto International Film Festival. At a NYFW party held at Holiday Bar, Sevigny stepped out wearing (a very thematic) “I Love New York” ruched T-shirt dress, which was custom-made for her by Dauan Jacari. Paired with a mini yellow Telfar bag and Ugg boots? Simply nobody is doing it like her. In Toronto, meanwhile, she also brought the statement fashions in a tulle bubble skirt from Renaissance Renaissance, and a strapless white lace Balenciaga gown.
Frankly, more red carpet stars need to take a cue from Sevigny’s stylebook. In a realm so obsessed with embodying traditional glamour, or scoring fresh-off-the-runway looks, Sevigny marches to the beat of her own drum. Even with a stylist, you can tell that what Sevigny wears is 100 percent her. It’s why she’s the enduring cool girl of Hollywood (and NYC). You will simply never catch her looking like a fashion victim—she wears the clothes, the clothes don’t wear her.
Below, more of her best recent looks.