What else is there to say about Meryl Streep besides she’s the greatest actress of our time? In the 50 years she’s been on our screen, we have seen her transform in mesmerising ways, embodying women from all walks of life. A struggling but tenacious mother in Kramer vs. Kramer, which earned Streep her first Best Actress Oscar; a narcissistic actress in Death Becomes Her; a fiercely independent and free-spirited woman who owns a villa on a Greek island in Mamma Mia!; the publisher of a national newspaper caught in a political scandal in The Post, the list goes on. With every line delivery and facial expression, Streep adds dimension and personality to the women she plays, which is why she’s remained the most versatile actress in Hollywood, even after all these years.

In May, she’s set to return to her most well-known role yet. Streep will step back into the heels of Miranda Priestly, the formidable and intimidating editor-in-chief of fashion magazine Runway for the sequel of The Devil Wears Prada. As frightening and unreasonable as Miranda is, Streep portrays her as a smart businesswoman with a complex inner life. Her iconic one-liners are part of what has made the film become a staple in pop culture.

But while Streep’s acting career is prolific and accolades are numerous, her fashion sense is more understated. She’s never one to go for loud, flashy outfits in her decades-long career, but instead prioritises class and consistency. You’ll often see Streep walking red carpets in loose dresses with soft silhouettes, commanding our attention with elegance, just like she does on screen. When Streep wants to change things up, she wears glittering dresses from Valentino or Alexander McQueen, or power suits that are subtle yet confident. Whatever she wears, you know it’s going to be timeless. Here are some of our favourite looks from Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep in Rogelio Velasco

Meryl Streep knows how to look regal at the right event, and she surely passed the test with flying colours at the 2006 Oscars. She showed up in a purple dress designed by Rogelio Velasco, with jewels of all different shades of purple sewed on towards the end. The cherry on top was the huge purple stone on her ring finger and the velvet chain clutch.

Meryl Streep in Lanvin

February 26, 2012 was a momentous night for Streep: she won her third Oscar for her portrayal of Margeret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. You could say Streep manifested that award, because she wore a glittering gold dress from Lanvin that perfectly matches her golden Oscar. Designed by Alber Elbaz, the dress featured draping fabric, like a Roman statue of a goddess. 

Meryl Streep in Valentino