As one of Who What Wear UK’s resident Gen Z fashion editors, it’s rare that I’m utterly enthralled by a look from someone outside of my immediate age range. Of course, Alexa Chung will always be the It-girl blueprint, and Kate Moss remains one of the chicest to ever do it. But to be stopped in my tracks, in utter captivation? That’s quite unusual. That is, until Charlize Theron enters the chat.

Pictured out and about in New York discussing her latest project, Apex, Charlize showcased what I’m coining the “new-age minimalist”. Her outfits retain that pared-back sophistication we’ve long associated with the aesthetic, but feel distinctly current, slightly edgy and undeniably cool. Think fashion-forward cargo Bermuda shorts paired with sleek satin pumps, or a voluminous structured shirt with a striking (faux) fur T-bar heel. It’s all anchored in the familiar colour palette we know and love, but there’s a quiet gravitas about each look. Nothing feels try-hard, yet every detail has been carefully selected. It’s minimalism with edge, and I, for one, simply can’t get enough.

Turning my attention to her three last looks, I haven’t seen chicer outfits in a good while, and if this is 50, I simply can’t wait. Scroll to see and shop the looks.

1. Shirt + Silk Trousers + T-Bar Heels

Style Notes: Strikingly sophisticated, this was the outfit that started my infatuation. Pairing the intentionally oversized Saint Laurent Faille Overshirt with loose, fluid silk trousers, the combination is striking. Yet, it’s the detail that elevates it tenfold. From her statement faux-fur T-bar heels cuffed at the ankle (creating a balloon-trouser effect—genius) to her deliberately oversized on-trend sunglasses and slicked-back bob, every element works in harmony, balancing polish with It-girl edge.

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2. Blazer + Bermuda Shorts + Pointed-Toe Heels

Style Notes: It’s not often a look manages to feel quite this elegant when the pieces themselves are this directional, but Charlize has done just that. From the funnel-neck, lace-up top to the knee-baring cargo Bermuda shorts, this outfit could easily skew overly trend-led and perhaps a little Gen Z, but, as with most of her looks, the devil is in the details. The satin, sharply cut, single-button blazer creates structure, and her sky-high pointed-toe pumps add that all-important polish. Finished with the top-handle Dior Cigale Bag, it’s suave styling at its finest.

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3. Blazer + Trousers + Pearl Necklace

Style Notes: Proving that a healthy dose of décolletage works at any age, on the red carpet for Apex, Charlize swapped your traditional under layer of a T-shirt or blouse for a flamboyant Victorian collar covered in pearls. Grounding her statement accessory through her slightly slouched yet impeccably tailored two-piece suit, she retains her signature sense of polish, letting the decadent pearls do the talking. Finishing the look with another pointed-toe pump in the same shade, it has a classic foundation, just with a daring execution.

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