Style shout out: Thandie Newton

Newton kicked off her heavenly hat-trick of red-carpet looks at last week’s LA premiere of Solo, wearing a diaphanous sheer gown by Christian Dior Couture. Her look may have been ethereal, but whip-smart Newton, who is as known for her sense of humor as she is her sense of justice, brought it squarely back down to earth by posing alongside RuPaul and a larger-than-life Chewbacca. Next on the campaign trail was the BAFTA TV Awards in London and a silk, floral-print gown by up-and-coming British designer Richard Quinn, who hit the fashion headlines when HRH Queen Elizabeth attended his show in February. But despite Quinn receiving the royal seal of approval, it was the Vivienne Westwood look Newton championed at the Cannes premiere of Solo that we really admire. The deconstructed, corset-style gown was signature Westwood, with the exception of one crucial detail: it was emblazoned with images of every black actor who has ever appeared in a Star Wars film. As the franchise’s first-ever black female lead, Newton knows the importance of her achievement and why it’s important to use that success to celebrate and encourage. A look with style and substance, just like the woman herself.