Natalie Portman has always been a fashion icon for me. Her red-carpet appearances consistently strike a balance between elegance and sophistication, a quality I truly admire.
However, her latest look isn’t quite what I expected – it lacks the usual refinement I associate with her style. That doesn’t change my love for her, though!
Stuns in Strapless Black Dior Mini Dress at New York Premiere
On Thursday, July 11, Natalie Portman stunned the crowd at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City for the premiere of her upcoming Apple TV+ series, Lady in the Lake.
(L-R) Sophie Mas, Amy J. Kaufman, Julie Gardner, Layne P. Eskridge, Byron Bowers, Alma Har’el, Natalie Portman, Boaz Yakin, Nathan Ross, and Chris Leggett attend the Apple TV+ “Lady In The Lake” New York Premiere at the Museum Of Arts And Design on July 11, 2024, in New York City (Credit: Marion Curtis / Starpix / INSTARimages)
While the dress itself isn’t entirely my cup of tea – I feel it leans a bit casual for such a prestigious event – there’s no denying Natalie looked phenomenal in a black Dior ensemble from the French luxury fashion house’s Resort 2025 collection.
The outfit is a daring choice. A strapless mesh mini dress showcased her bare shoulders and neckline, with a center split teasing a glimpse of a second layer.
Underneath this sheer masterpiece, the 42-year-old Israeli-American movie actress sported a black bralette with a corset-style bodice and matching black shorts accentuating her toned legs.
Natalie Portman stuns in a strapless black Dior mini dress with a mesh overlay and a sleek black leather belt, perfectly showcasing her elegant yet daring fashion sense (Credit: Marion Curtis / Starpix / INSTARimages)
I have to give credit where credit’s due – the addition of a sleek black leather belt with a silver buckle beautifully cinched her waist and highlighted her figure.
Chic Monochrome Theme With Jimmy Choo Minny Sandals
I particularly love how Natalie Portman committed to the black monochrome theme from head to toe. It isn’t just thrown together – it feels intentional and undeniably chic.
On her feet, she opted for a pair of simple yet sophisticated black suede Jimmy Choo Minny sandals, which have been worn by Emma Stone, Olivia Munn, Nicole Kidman, and many more.
Natalie Portman looks petite in her stylish Dior ensemble, standing next to the taller Y’lan Noel, Moses Ingram, and Josiah Cross (Credit: Marion Curtis / Starpix / INSTARimages)
I like that this pair featured round and open toes, delicate strap detailing with side buckle fastening, and high heels that undoubtedly gave her petite height a noticeable boost. This footwear choice is perfect for maintaining the understated elegance of her outfit.
While I wouldn’t mind if Natalie went a bit over the top with accessories, I admire how she chose to keep everything simple and minimal. This decision highlighted her natural beauty and allowed the outfit itself to shine.
The Everyone Says I Love You star skipped a necklace, choosing instead to wear sparkling diamond stud earrings that added just the right amount of sparkle. She also wore a matching silver ring on her finger, perfectly complementing her short, glossy red manicure.”
Natalie Portman keeps her accessories minimal with sparkling diamond stud earrings and a sleek black leather belt (Credit: Marion Curtis / Starpix / INSTARimages)
I love her glam for this look. It truly gave her signature style a polished finish. To complete her ensemble, Natalie opted for a glammed-up makeup look that included smokey eyeshadow, a soft pink blush, and a matte, mauve-toned lipstick.
As for her hair, I appreciate that she pulled her dark, highlighted tresses back into a sleek chignon with a center part, while the face-framing pieces left out at the front added a soft, romantic touch to her look.
Playful Elegance in Rouge Oscar de la Renta Ensemble at New York Screening
A day before her appearance at the New York premiere, Natalie Portman attended a preview screening of Lady In The Lake at The Paley Museum in New York City on Wednesday, July 10. Her look for this event was a departure from the bold, edgy vibe she embraced at the premiere, instead exuding a playful elegance that perfectly captured her essence.
Pink is one of my favorite colors this season, and the Star Wars actress looked radiant in a shade of rouge that perfectly complemented her complexion. With this Oscar de la Renta number, she embraced the floral trend in a truly unique way.
Moses Ingram stuns in a vibrant floral gown, while Natalie Portman exudes playful elegance in a pink embroidered mini dress at the Paley Museum screening of Lady in the Lake (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The Peony Guipure embroidered bow-strap mini dress is a masterpiece from the Dominican fashion designer’s Fall 2024 collection that you can purchase at Neiman Marcus for $6,990.
Natalie’s dress itself is a work of art. The sleeveless sheath silhouette with a square neckline is chic and sophisticated, but the details really steal the show. The fabric mimics the texture of real flower petals, which adds a whimsical touch that I find so charming.
Natalie Portman embraces the floral trend with a stunning Oscar de la Renta dress featuring a chic sheath silhouette and whimsical petal-like fabric texture (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The contrast dark velvet self-tie bow straps gave a touch of drama and beautifully tied the whole look together. A detail I find particularly interesting is the visible inner corsetry construction. It gave the dress a touch of structure and added a subtle hint of edginess that I really appreciate. It is a clever way to balance out the overall sweetness of the floral theme.
The ‘May December’ star completed the look with simple metallic gold platform sandals that echoed the ones she wore at the premiere the following day. Featuring open toes, ankle straps, and high heels, these sandals added the perfect touch of height and sophistication. However, Natalie still appeared petite standing next to Y’lan Noel, Moses Ingram, and Josiah Cross.
Moses Ingram pairs her floral gown with strappy black sandals, while Natalie Portman completes her look with metallic silver platform heels, despite noticeable toe overhang (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Celebrity stylist Ryan Hastings, who works with Anya Taylor-Joy and Taylor Russell, did a fantastic job with the accessories, including the Fred Leighton rose-cut diamond bombe stud earrings. Meanwhile, the matching ring and red nail polish perfectly complemented the feminine theme of the dress.
As always, Natalie’s hair and makeup were flawless. Her soft, glamorous makeup featured brown eyeshadow, rosy blush, and a pink-mauve lip that accentuated her natural beauty. At the same time, her light brunette tresses cascaded down in bouncy waves, framing her face perfectly.
Lady In The Lake About: A Neo-Noir Thriller with Entangled Lives
Lady in the Lake, a forthcoming Apple TV+ miniseries set in 1966 Baltimore, will stream starting on July 19. The story centers around two women whose lives become intertwined after a young girl disappears.
Maddie Schwartz (portrayed by Natalie Portman), a Jewish housewife yearning for a new life, becomes obsessed with solving the case and pursues a career in investigative journalism.
Natalie Portman as Maddie Schwartz and Moses Ingram as Cleo Sherwood share a tense moment in the Apple TV+ series Lady in the Lake (Credit: Apple TV+)
Cleo Sherwood (played by Moses Ingram), a busy mother struggling to make ends meet, gets caught in the crossfire. As Maddie delves deeper into the mystery, their seemingly unconnected worlds collide, putting them both in danger.
Adapted from Laura Lippman’s 2019 novel, the series promises a thrilling neo-noir exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and the cost of pursuing one’s dreams.
The series also includes other stars like Y’lan Noel, Brett Gelman, Byron Bowers, Noah Jupe, Josiah Cross, Mikey Madison, and Pruitt Taylor Vince.
During filming, the production used the code name “Flamingo,” referencing the defunct Flamingo Lounge in Baltimore, Maryland, from the novel.
In August 2022, production was halted temporarily due to violent threats from a local group demanding $50,000. The producers refused to pay, resuming filming with increased security. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the series faced an additional setback when Lupita Nyong’o, originally cast in a lead role alongside Natalie Portman, dropped out after filming had started.