Charlize Theron's Most Show-Stopping Style Moments

Although Hollywood is full of people who can put a look together, no one does it quite like Charlize Theron. This makes sense, considering she started her career as a model at 16. It wasn't until she was 19, in 1994, that she realized acting was something she wanted to pursue, and she secured her first breakout role in 1997's "The Devil's Advocate," opposite Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino.

As her acting career took off, it was hard to deny the fact that Theron knew how to make an entrance. Whether it was a late-night show, an awards ceremony, or just being out and about running errands, Theron's fashion sense has always been front and center. "Fashion is an extension of who you are, which I think is very important," Theron told Harper's Bazaar UK in 2023. "It's easy to just say that we shouldn't care about this stuff, but we are human beings — we are constantly going out into the world trying to tell our story, and our clothing is one of the ways we do this. It is how we tell the world what we're feeling, or where we are, or what we are doing. I think storytelling is really important to people's identity, and clothing plays a very, very big part in that."

Trying to compile Theron's show-stopping style moments was a feat, to say the least, but we were able to whittle the list down to 10. Whether you need the encouragement to leap from long to short hair or want inspiration for your next social outing, Theron is all the inspo you need.

If ever there were a photo of what "show-stopping" means and should look like, it's right here. Decked out in head-to-toe Dior, of course, Charlize Theron put to shame every other celebrity menswear outfit the second her black stiletto hit the red carpet. Theron wore a gorgeous suit, with a very low-cut white shirt, for the gala premiere of "The Last Face" at the 69th Festival de Cannes in 2016. She completed the look with a simple, yet elegant diamond necklace, smoky eyes, and her hair parted in the center and slicked back. Everything about this look is flawless, from head to toe.

When you look like Charlize Theron and have her height, you can pretty much wear anything and it'll look phenomenal. This is something that she proved at the Berlin premiere of her movie, "Atomic Blonde," in 2017. Instead of a gown or even a cocktail dress, which would have been too conservative for both the premiere and the city she's in, Theron opted for a white mini-skirt and a matching white bra top from Christian Dior. To complete the look, she wore white stilettos. Theron also proved that night that she's one of the few celebs who has mastered the art of the red lip, a striking choice among all that white.

One of the things that Charlize Theron does often and does well is styling together contrasting pieces, as she did for the 2019 Guggenheim International Gala. While the bottom part of the outfit is a full, floor-length tulle skirt that has an element of whimsy and innocence to it, the top is a classic black leather motorcycle jacket. It's a combination that works perfectly on her, showcasing the fact that Theron is an absolute pro when putting together an outfit that looks like a work of art. 

In January 2020, Charlize Theron attended the Critics' Choice Awards wearing a gorgeous sparkly dress by Celine. With its breathtaking plunging neckline and thigh-high slit, Theron was an absolute vision. She completed the look with a sophisticated black, slim-fit blazer, a diamond necklace, a diamond ring, and a short black manicure. To top it all off, Theron is back to her platinum pixie, which should definitely inspire your next super short haircut, because nothing is cooler than rocking a pixie cut.

For the 2020 Costume Designer Guild Awards, Charlize Theron rocked a floor-length gold gown by Louis Vuitton, bringing the whole look together with a matching headpiece and black box clutch. It was the perfect amount of extravagance for an event that celebrates costumes. Of the evening, Theron said in her Instagram caption, "Clothes have always been a part of my storytelling. Last night at the @costumeawards, I got to celebrate the people that help bring those stories to life through clothes. Thank you for the incredible honor of the Spotlight Award, and thanks to all the amazing costume designers I've worked with over the years for helping me do what I love."

Although Charlize Theron isn't necessarily one to take method dressing to the next level, whether it's for a premiere or a press junket, she still always brings her A-game. During the second day of promoting "Fast X" in Rome in May 2023, Theron wore this fantastic and otherworldly cobalt blue bandage dress by Alexander McQueen with matching mid-calf boots. To keep the focus on the dress — as if that would be a difficult feat — she skipped the jewelry and wore her blonde bob down and without any embellishments.

While some people may play it low-key when attending the grand opening of a watch store, Charlize Theron is not one of those people. For the grand opening of Breitling's Meatpacking boutique in New York City in September 2023, Theron wore this jaw-dropping gown by Givenchy. The bust consists of rows upon rows of pearls, while the black, floor-length skirt of the dress creates the right amount of contrast to make sure the pearls aren't overshadowed, keeping them the star of the outfit. As a gem that's usually favored by older people, pearls can sometimes look stuffy. But to no surprise, Theron makes them look chic, youthful, and iconic.

Although a lot of celebrities have jumped on the sheer dress trend that's been around for the past couple of years, no one has been able to do it quite like Charlize Theron. Her black halter dress, by Dior Haute Couture, was the perfect amount of sheer in all the right places, creating an elegant and sophisticated look. Sometimes sheer dresses reveal too much, making them not just inappropriate, but also leaving the wearer looking attention-starved. However, that's not the case here. For Charlize, it's classy and perfect for the occasion.

In June 2025, Charlize Theron was photographed wearing an Alexander McQueen outfit while on her way to "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen." Everything about this look, from the casual-looking black top and the ridiculously fabulous skirt, to the obscenely cool boots, is serving, giving, and slaying — and Theron knows it. In fact, when she posted a photo of herself in this outfit on Instagram, she captioned it with, "Is my face eating up here? Am I slaying the house down boots? Is this giving?" Yes, Charlize, on all accounts.

Admittedly, there's a lot going on here, but it works. Charlize Theron rocked a black-fishnet turtleneck catsuit over high-waisted underwear and a bra, and that reads "Givenchy Paris 1952" across the chest for the premiere of "Old Guard 2" in Hollywood on June 25, 2025. As usual, nailed every inch of this textural getup,  like the style pro and fashion icon she truly is. Theron completed the look with black boots and a black blazer, which may be the Dior part of the equation based on the fact that she tagged both designers in the Instagram post.