Charlize Theron Puts a Rock ’N’ Roll Twist on Dior

Charlize Theron takes a very particular approach to high fashion: The Oscar-winner’s wardrobe may come directly from the runways, but she and stylist Leslie Fremar are always keen to put their own twist on a designer look. Case in point? Last night at the Guggenheim International Gala, where the actress offered a fresh way to wear Dior, arriving at the museum in a delicate black lace and mesh gown from Maria Grazia Chiuri’s Spring 2020 collectsion paired with a black biker jacket.

A clash of styles is nothing new—when the dress debuted back in September on the runway, it was paired with an anorak—but Theron’s rock ’n’ roll remix offered a more unexpected take on the piece. Part of the reason is that the look was reimagined specifically for Theron, with the Dior ateliers putting in more than a hundred hours of workmanship to take the concept from sketch to reality, and ensure it meshed perfectly with its wearer’s style. “The back had an amazing cross detail, and the neckline was traced on her body to hit the exact right spot,” says Fremar, who credits Theron with the idea of adding the leather jacket as another layer. Initially pulled for a separate outfit, it caught the actress’s eye immediately. “Charlize fell in love with the jacket,” says Fremar. “She asked if we could try it over the gown, [and] it felt appropriate for the weather to be covered.” With New York currently in the middle of a deep freeze, the choice was pragmatic—but that doesn’t make the look any less cool.

Here, an exclusive look at the creation of the piece, from the first sketch to the final dress.