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Thursday, 27 January 2011

Helena Bonham Carter



Forget the Golden Globe shoes and the Amy Winehouse hair for just a minute and let's think about Helena Bonham Carter's singular style. Thankfully since making the Vanity Fair best dressed list, 2010, HBC seems to have ditched the Victorian bloomers for Vivienne Westwood's cleavage-enhancing corset dresses and Lulu Guinness' bags. And wait for it.... on days when she doesn't look too eccentric or contrived, or like she's walked into a jumble sale and come out wearing all the clothes, at once, I actually quite like the HBC look. It's very English. Vanity Fair admired her 'exquisite self-expression' and even if the mismatched shoes were a step too far, it is refreshing to see someone who doesn't do Botox, or Marchesa. Oh and HBC is a splendid actor too; brilliant as Nigel Slater's chain-smoking stepmother in Toast, perfectly cast as Enid Blyton in the BBC biopic and - it goes without saying - superb as the Queen Mum in The King's Speech. Not to mention Fight Club, Sweeney Todd, A Room With A View.






The 44-year-old has an excellent pedigree, she's the great great grandaughter of Prime Minister, Herbert H Asquith and has an incredibly stylish mother:




Helena Bonham Carter, bonkers-tastic or badly dressed? What do you think?




Photos: Contact Music. Toast photo: Julieta Sans
at

29 comments:

  1. Sparklz and Shine27 January 2011 at 13:01

    I think she's brilliant! Don't always like what she's wearing - but brilliant for doing it anyway whether we like it or not.

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  2. Lilacs27 January 2011 at 13:05

    Electric eccentric. Love her laugh too, filthy.

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  3. Genuine Lustre27 January 2011 at 13:06

    Have to admire her because she looks like "herself," and not another copycat blonde.

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  4. Vix27 January 2011 at 13:16

    I think she's amazing, a proper English eccentric. Wasn't she fab in Toast? Sounded rather like me. xxx

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  5. L'age moyen27 January 2011 at 13:17

    You are so bang-on! She is totally English-style to the max. To my mind it means quirky and disheveled strongly backed by a heavy dose of history (bustier!). I love the that she downplays her utter gorgeousness and has a general - if you'll excuse me - f-you attitude towards how the media would like her to look. She's no uptight English rose (even though she's a total rose). I love her! Oh yeah, and she's talented. Too much.

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  6. This West London Life27 January 2011 at 13:26

    Bonkers-tastic, without a doubt!

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  7. Jean27 January 2011 at 13:54

    I love the way she dresses for herself and not to make other people happy. She is a true eccentric and a national treasure.

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  8. janicebotterill27 January 2011 at 14:18

    I've grown to love HBC - I'm not sure when it started. Once she lost the bloomers, I think. My favourite telly over Christmas was 'toast' and am off to see King's Speech at our new rural multiplex (get us!) next week. Looking forward to seeing her interpret QM-style.

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  9. Anonymous27 January 2011 at 14:44

    My vote goes to bonkers-tastic. She's a fantastic actress and the fact that she is completely uninfluenced by the media is inspiring. Go Helena, go!

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  10. Between Me and You27 January 2011 at 15:12

    Quite frankly, she`d still look ridiculously beautiful wearing a potato sack!

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  11. AnPhibian27 January 2011 at 15:17

    I LOVE her look. Such originality and attitude. I also think that the eccentric look works so well for her because her physical appearance is so beautiful in that sort of old-fashioned, "Period Piece" kind of way. She offsets that with the quirky style.

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  12. Sharon 27 January 2011 at 15:20

    Hi there-I love her unique and quirky style, she goes for it and good for her!

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  13. L.P.27 January 2011 at 19:15

    I think she's great. Love her "f--- you" attitude, as L'age moyen points out.

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  14. Fashionistable27 January 2011 at 20:16

    Oh 100% bonkers-tastic. Very talented lady. Xxxx

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  15. Penny Dreadful Vintage27 January 2011 at 20:30

    I love her because she is bonkers. A demonstration that fashion is about fun and creativity and expression, not always to look 'pretty'. It would be a sad day if she ever wore a twin-set and pearls.

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  16. WeShop27 January 2011 at 20:50

    I used to despair over the way she dressed but she's really playing to her strengths with the Vivienne Westwood outfits. She's a stunning looking woman and I can't believe she's 44 - in some of those pics she could pass for 25! A post on her mother would be great as I don't know who she is but that outfit looks amazing. xx

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  17. Miss Whistle28 January 2011 at 02:42

    Oh you're so wonderful doing this post. She's fab and eccentric and great and people just don't understand her. However, and it's a big however, whoever is doing her hair and make-up in the US for the awards shows is not doing a very good job.

    -- Miss W

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  18. Semi Expat28 January 2011 at 03:01

    I think she is amazing and I love her style and the fact that she is such a wonderful actor. A gorgeous eccentric English woman. x

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  19. CATHY DANIEL28 January 2011 at 11:41

    Bonkers-tastic definitely .... and there's nothing wrong with bonkers, its better than boring!

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  20. Holly Springett28 January 2011 at 12:08

    Loved Helena in Toast - so perfectly cast... I think she's a great example of English eccentricity, she seems to just wear what she loves, and really suits Vivienne Westwood pieces.

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  21. Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted28 January 2011 at 17:37

    I absolutely love her and always have. She's a true individual. Loved her in Toast too, wasn't it great? Have a fab weekend xx

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  22. Veshoevius28 January 2011 at 23:34

    I love her - there are times when she can overdo it (eg. different shoes) but I wouldn't change her - good on her for being original damn it! She is for me THE poster girl for Vivienne Westwood.

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  23. cocolini29 January 2011 at 06:26

    Ever since A Room with a View I have been a HBC fan. She is very much the English eccentric and I think she's great. There is nothing plastic about her. When I saw her Globes outfit I loved her even more. She knows exactly who she is and is confident to be herself. Love her a lot

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  24. Fashion for Aliens29 January 2011 at 16:57

    After seeing TKS with my husband he tells me that Helena Bonham Carter has now "ruined" the Queen Mum for him as she was one image he could use as a banker to avoid getting aroused at inopportune moments in a Singing Detective stylee.

    I believe Helen Mirren "ruined" QE2 in much the same fashion.

    I suppose I should hope that Julianne Moore does not get offered the chance to play Margaret Thatcher anytime soon.

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  25. Make Do Style29 January 2011 at 19:16

    I love her!

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  26. Laura Bella30 January 2011 at 18:16

    i love her!she is absolutely a national treasure!she seems like she has so much fun with fashion, and that's what it's really all about!she looks so gorgeous in some of these pics.love your blog.would love for you to have a look at mine,im now following :)

    Laura Bella
    xxxxx

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  27. Blighty31 January 2011 at 09:29

    I love HBC - I saw her once at a party as a friend went to school with her and she is stunning, soooo pretty, I just stood and gawked.. also I have seen her in a French film speaking French throughout, she is bilingual, I think her mum is French, a very talented girl indeed ( I think the film was called ..Chinoises - oh my ageing brain!) xx

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  28. the Citizen Rosebud7 February 2011 at 12:32

    Bonkertastic. I love her beauty, her style and her talent. BIG fan.

    PS: just discovered you from Style Crone's blogroll. You are now on mine. -Bella Q
    the Citizen Rosebud

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  29. Lucy10 February 2011 at 21:28

    She's stunning! I love what she wears most of the time simply because you can tell she just wears what she fancies, however ridiculous or outrageous it may be. It's quite inspiring really. Even if she does something badly, she's Helena Bonham Carter, so she does it well.
    :) x

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