On her November cover for InStyle magazine, Halle Berry dazzles in a form-fitting red dress with daring triangular cut outs that accentuate her firm waist. A daring look for any woman, yet the 46-year-old mother of her young daughter Nahla easily pulls off. This image is a testament to the actress’ belief that a woman should dress in a way that appeals to her, without feeling overburdened by her literal age.
“Don’t stress about your age or fight it,” Berry told InStyle. “Appreciate the young women who look like you once did, but don’t strive to be like them. You’re moving into a new phase of your life — embrace it. That’s what I hope to do.”
Embracing life for Berry includes enjoying her days with her fiancé, actor Olivier Martinez. The Cloud Atlas star shared that Martinez, also 46, has an upbeat temperament that suits her much better than those of previous loves. Plus, her relationship with the French star was built slowly over time, providing their coming marriage with a more solid foundation.
“When I first met Olivier, there wasn’t the initial ‘I’m in love!’ It was something that grew more gradually — and it feels more real because of that,” Berry said. “[Marriage] is another one of those never-say-never things. I’m a hopeless romantic, and I won’t stop till I get it right!”
On the fashion front, Berry shares some of her favorite tips with the magazine. “Don’t be a slave to trends,” she said about using classic basics to build her wardrobe. Levi’s 501 jeans and “Gucci black patent leather pumps with really pointy toes” are two favorite timeless item Berry often wears.
Speaking of timelessness, the movie star revealed that she preserves her favorite pieces in boxes she meticulously houses.
“I archive a lot of my clothes and have them wrapped up in boxes. I call them ‘little tombs’ and keep them in a storage space in the Valley,” she said. “I would never get rid of the dress I wore on the night I won my Oscar. When I die, someone can have it, but not a minute before!”
The November issue of InStyle will be on newsstands on Friday, October 19. Will you be picking up a copy?
Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter at @lexisb.