16 Things to Know About Bella Heathcote's Style

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Style Crush: Bella Heathcote — Photo: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

Bella Heathcote knows how to slay a red carpet. We've been watching the Australian actress's style evolution ever since she made her first major Hollywood splash in Tim Burton's 2012 horror-comedy film, Dark Shadows—and her career has been on the fast-track ever since. Most recently, she starred as a young German filmmaker in season two of Amazon's The Man in the High Castle before taking a twisted turn as Christian Grey's stalker ex, Leila Williams, in Fifty Shades Darker.

With each new project she takes on, Heathcote ups her fashion game. She consistently delivers major style goals at public appearances, and she's already proved that she's not afraid to make a bold choice when it comes to a sparkly gown or statement accessory. But IRL, the 29-year-old prefers to keep her looks low-key. "I'd say that my personal style is fairly casual," Heathcote said during an interview for InStyle's May issue. "I'm definitely aware of fashion and I have super-stylish friends, but I don't consciously try to follow any trends."

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She may not be following them, but she's certainly setting them. Scroll down for 16 things we learned about Heathcote's style during our chat.

01 of 16

WISE WORDS

"Keep it simple is my mantra for both style and life," said Heathcote. "I just like to feel relaxed."

02 of 16

SHOPPING SPOTS

"About once a year, I'll visit Barneys, Rag & Bone, and Opening Ceremony for a big shopping haul. There's also an incredible secondhand store in L.A. that I love called Recess."

03 of 16

GO-TO DESIGNERS

"My style tends to be all over the place, but Alexander Wang's sleek lines are perfect for everyday wear. And I love Rodarte, Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, and Gucci."

04 of 16

SIGNATURE LOOK

"I have a fairly standard uniform of J Brand or Rag & Bone jeans, a white shirt, and black Prada boots. I've also worn my Gucci black leather jacket to death."

05 of 16

BEST BAG

"I'm going through a backpack phase right now because they're just so easy. My boyfriend [director Andrew Dominik] gave me a green Gucci one with a serpent on it for our anniversary. It's from the men's collection, and it's incredible."

06 of 16

FASHION APPROACH

"When you're in an uncomfortable situation, an outfit can feel like an armor of sorts. So when I'm heading to a meeting, I tend to take more care in what I'm wearing."

07 of 16

A-LIST IDOLS

"I love Rose Byrne's style on and off the carpet, and I'm consistently impressed by Kristen Stewart. I wish I could rock her red-carpet looks because she's just so cool."

08 of 16

SEASONAL STYLE

"My style is constantly changing, and for some reason, I feel like I become a lot more feminine in the summer."

09 of 16

STYLIST GOALS

"My stylist, Penny Lovell, always looks so well put-together without seeming like she tried too hard. I really trust her. She's definitely handed me a few things in the past where I wasn't convinced at first, but she's said, 'It's got no hanger appeal. Just try it on.' And she's right, of course."

10 of 16

GLITZY GOWNS

"When you wear sequins, it just feels like you're heading to a party no matter what. Plus, that's something I don't have in my regular wardrobe. It's fun to play dress up."

11 of 16

OUTERWEAR OBSESSIONS

"Classic jackets tend to be my splurge item. When I was in Cannes last year, I bought one from Saint Laurent just as Hedi Slimane was leaving the brand, and I also bought an Alexander McQueen military jacket while shopping with my boyfriend a few years ago. He convinced me to get it without looking at the price tag—and I did."

12 of 16

FASHION GENES

"My mum has always been my biggest influence. She's given me some of her clothes from the '90s. When carrot-leg [aka tapered] pants eventually come back in style, I'll be rocking some amazing Armani suits."

13 of 16

RED-CARPET RULE

"I want to feel confident in what I'm wearing because red carpets are nerve-racking. When I put on something sexy or tough and it feels like a character I could play, that's when I really get into it."

14 of 16

JUST-RIGHT JEWELRY

"I like thin gold rings, and I wear a lot of Lucy Folk's jewelry. I've got two holes in each ear, so I'm always wearing four studs of some small description. And I've got a great Verameat ring, which I'm always wearing. It's funny because I find that I really go through phases—and right now, I feel weird wearing a necklace for some reason. So I'm really just wearing rings and studs at the moment."

15 of 16

DECADES OF INFLUENCE

"A lot of my wardrobe is fairly '70s-inspired, and I love a flare pant. But the '20s were great, as well, and I quite like a '50s A-line dress."

16 of 16

BEAUTY MUST-HAVES

"I don't wear much makeup in my day-to-day life, but I had an eyebrow revelation when one of my girlfriends got me into clear eyebrow gel a few years ago. I was like, 'Where has this been all my life?' That s—t's amazing. The one I'm using right now is Anastasia. If I use that, curl my eyelashes, and put a bit of Tarte concealer and blush on, I feel like I look all right."