At 40, Eva Green Remains Hollywood’s Resident Vamp

Some stars switch styles as often as they take on new roles; Eva Green is not one of those people. The actor, who turns 40 today, is known for a signature look onscreen and off. Green is adept at playing a vamp with a villainous streak — vampires, witches, and supernatural beings are her specialty — but Green’s fashions are more old Hollywood than otherworldly. Always ready with a show-stopping haute couture piece or a dramatic red carpet gown, and over the years, she has helped to preserve the evening wear traditions of the 40s and 50s, eschewing trends in favor of ultra-glamorous fare with a timeless feel.

When Green wants to make an impact, she goes to the masters. John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Tom Ford round out her favorites. When she needed to shine brighter than Bulgari gems at the brand’s Cinemagia event in Capri last June, she reached for an archival Gaultier gown. With its ombre sequins, asymmetrical collar, and long sleeves, the fall/winter 2014 piece could have easily overwhelmed its wearer, but Green pulled it off with ease. It’s hard to imagine her in some of the more recent fashion month trends — she favors transparency and embellishment over upholstery fabrics and bubble dresses. But Green often brings editorial-worthy looks into the real world. Who else would wear Galliano’s Madame Butterfly themed spring 2007 couture collection to a Cannes cocktail?

As thrilling as it is to see Green in full 50s glamour, some of her recent looks have had a futuristic bent. During her recent press tour for Dumbo, she looked to Iris van Herpen, one of fashion’s most innovative talents, for her outfit. The 3-D printed ruffles and liquid metal forms that van Herpen sends down her runway may seem far removed from Green’s aesthetic, but they represent another take on glamour. In the designer’s gauzy ‘Shift Souls” gown, Green showcased a different side of her appeal and a thrilling glimpse at where her style is headed next.