All I Want For Christmas... Is To Be Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan is the incredibly elfin face of Hollywood characters such as Daisy Buchanan (The Great Gatsby) and Kitty Bennett (Pride & Prejudice- currently on my 'to watch' list!). She exudes a natural grace that makes her perfect for impersonating such literary heroines, but recently she has really come into her own. As well as transferring the classiness of her on-set wardrobes to her own off-duty closet, Carey is quite the one for risk-taking; a feat for a young actress who is constantly in the limelight.



Woodland romance with a digital spin

    At twenty-eight, Carey has stamped an enduring mark on the fashion industry; she’s nabbed two Vogue covers, been named by Harper’s Bazaar as the best dressed woman of 2010 and she was handpicked for the privilege of donning Miuccia Prada’s 1920’s-inspired, crystal encrusted, flapper frocks in May 2013’s The Great Gatsby. Lanvin, Erdem, Victoria Beckham and affordable US label Target remain her faithful sartorial friends, while her go-to silhouette is a cinched-in waist and high neckline. Carey’s wardrobe is split between the witty gala gowns she makes headlines in on the red carpet- she concedes to liking ‘mad things’- and a set of very demure, relaxed yet effeminate separates for daytime. Each of her looks are very case in point- classic, block-coloured pieces do most of the talking, while the odd statement jewel, pretty peter pan collar or slick of red-rose lippy are lessons in how to merge accessorizing with simplicity. 


In a Nina Ricci bustier, trousers and T-bar heels at one premiere of Gatsby

Carey has really caught my eye these past few months, especially with her gorgeous array of Gatsby premiere outfits. Though I appreciated her elfin locks for their simplistic, vintage vibe, I adore her now cocoa, feminine waves even more. Ultimately Carey has taste, modesty and to top this off, a winning personality. This is the girl who claims: "'It Girl' is such a weird term...It implies I go to parties and drink champagne...". She still holds a refreshing grasp on the reality of being a young woman, admitting that getting glammed up for events is definitely not her favourite thing to do. She looks just as assured in skinnies and a leather jacket as she does in a Valentino beauty. Carey’s obvious passion for a retro-progressive dress sense is made extra special by her dedication to donating worn outfits to Oxfam. Outside of acting and dressing up beautifully, Carey is an ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, intent on raising awareness and research funding for the illness. Her outlook on the disease is heart-warming: "Those with dementia are still people and they still have stories and they still have character and they're all individuals and they're all unique. And they just need to be interacted with on a human level". 
If there are three key things I’ve learnt from stalking Carey, it is 1: that elongated hemlines equal effortless sexiness, 2: that it is possible to embrace various styles and stay true to your image and 3: that A-listers too can have colossal hearts. Oh, and one more: it's impossible not to admire this girl. Soak up her gorgeousness and indulge in some girl crushin’.

 

In a Harper's Bazaar shoot

In Kazuo Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go'