Helena Bonham Carter
Forget the Golden Globe shoes and the Amy Winehouse hair for just a minute and let’s think about Helena Bonham Carter’s singular style. Thankfully since making the Vanity Fair best dressed list, 2010, HBC seems to have ditched the Victorian bloomers for Vivienne Westwood’s cleavage-enhancing corset dresses and Lulu Guinness’ bags. And wait for it…. on days when she doesn’t look too eccentric or contrived, or like she’s walked into a jumble sale and come out wearing all the clothes, at once, I actually quite like the HBC look. It’s very English. Vanity Fair admired her ‘exquisite self-expression’ and even if the mismatched shoes were a step too far, it is refreshing to see someone who doesn’t do Botox, or Marchesa. Oh and HBC is a splendid actor too; brilliant as Nigel Slater’s chain-smoking stepmother in Toast, perfectly cast as Enid Blyton in the BBC biopic and – it goes without saying – superb as the Queen Mum in The King’s Speech. Not to mention Fight Club, Sweeney Todd, A Room With A View.
The 44-year-old has an excellent pedigree, she’s the great great grandaughter of Prime Minister, Herbert H Asquith and has an incredibly stylish mother:
Helena Bonham Carter, bonkers-tastic or badly dressed? What do you think?
Photos: Contact Music and Julieta Sans
Discussion (29 Comments)
Have to admire her because she looks like "herself," and not another copycat blonde.
I think she's amazing, a proper English eccentric. Wasn't she fab in Toast? Sounded rather like me. xxx
You are so bang-on! She is totally English-style to the max. To my mind it means quirky and disheveled strongly backed by a heavy dose of history (bustier!). I love the that she downplays her utter gorgeousness and has a general – if you'll excuse me – f-you attitude towards how the media would like her to look. She's no uptight English rose (even though she's a total rose). I love her! Oh yeah, and she's talented. Too much.
I love the way she dresses for herself and not to make other people happy. She is a true eccentric and a national treasure.
I've grown to love HBC – I'm not sure when it started. Once she lost the bloomers, I think. My favourite telly over Christmas was 'toast' and am off to see King's Speech at our new rural multiplex (get us!) next week. Looking forward to seeing her interpret QM-style.
I LOVE her look. Such originality and attitude. I also think that the eccentric look works so well for her because her physical appearance is so beautiful in that sort of old-fashioned, "Period Piece" kind of way. She offsets that with the quirky style.
I love her because she is bonkers. A demonstration that fashion is about fun and creativity and expression, not always to look 'pretty'. It would be a sad day if she ever wore a twin-set and pearls.
I used to despair over the way she dressed but she's really playing to her strengths with the Vivienne Westwood outfits. She's a stunning looking woman and I can't believe she's 44 – in some of those pics she could pass for 25! A post on her mother would be great as I don't know who she is but that outfit looks amazing. xx
Oh you're so wonderful doing this post. She's fab and eccentric and great and people just don't understand her. However, and it's a big however, whoever is doing her hair and make-up in the US for the awards shows is not doing a very good job.
— Miss W
I think she is amazing and I love her style and the fact that she is such a wonderful actor. A gorgeous eccentric English woman. x
Bonkers-tastic definitely …. and there's nothing wrong with bonkers, its better than boring!
Loved Helena in Toast – so perfectly cast… I think she's a great example of English eccentricity, she seems to just wear what she loves, and really suits Vivienne Westwood pieces.
I absolutely love her and always have. She's a true individual. Loved her in Toast too, wasn't it great? Have a fab weekend xx
I love her – there are times when she can overdo it (eg. different shoes) but I wouldn't change her – good on her for being original damn it! She is for me THE poster girl for Vivienne Westwood.
After seeing TKS with my husband he tells me that Helena Bonham Carter has now "ruined" the Queen Mum for him as she was one image he could use as a banker to avoid getting aroused at inopportune moments in a Singing Detective stylee.
I believe Helen Mirren "ruined" QE2 in much the same fashion.
I suppose I should hope that Julianne Moore does not get offered the chance to play Margaret Thatcher anytime soon.
i love her!she is absolutely a national treasure!she seems like she has so much fun with fashion, and that's what it's really all about!she looks so gorgeous in some of these pics.love your blog.would love for you to have a look at mine,im now following 🙂
Laura Bella
xxxxxI love HBC – I saw her once at a party as a friend went to school with her and she is stunning, soooo pretty, I just stood and gawked.. also I have seen her in a French film speaking French throughout, she is bilingual, I think her mum is French, a very talented girl indeed ( I think the film was called ..Chinoises – oh my ageing brain!) xx
Bonkertastic. I love her beauty, her style and her talent. BIG fan.
PS: just discovered you from Style Crone's blogroll. You are now on mine. -Bella Q
the Citizen Rosebud
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I think she's brilliant! Don't always like what she's wearing – but brilliant for doing it anyway whether we like it or not.