Please Allow Amal Clooney, Icon, to Inspire You to Wear Plum Lipstick to the Office

International human rights lawyer Amal Clooney seen speaking

(Image credit: SOPA Images)

published 24 April 2019

Amal Clooney was at the United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday, speaking to the UN Security Council. The human rights lawyer, who made another recent public appearance at the UN in December of last year to accept the Global Citizen of the Year award, spoke in favor of a resolution against sexual violence in war and conflict. It's just her latest work in favor of women's rights, including an announcement last month that she's collaborating with the Prince Charles' Trust on the Amal Clooney Award to celebrate young women who defy the odds and make a difference in their communities.

It's well-established that Amal is a style icon, both on the red carpet and off. She has a gift for pairing her outfit to match perfectly to whatever event she attends—and in the process, gives the rest of us lessons on the ideal outfit to wear for every occasion.

At last year's UN event, she wore a striking two-tone J. Mendel dress. It was a black-tie affair, so she channeled the seriousness of the ceremony but still left a little room for her own personal style, including her hair down (which is a favorite style of hers) and a bright lip.

Celebrity Sightings in New York City - December 5, 2018

Yesterday, also at the UN headquarters but for a very different occasion, Amal emanated workday professionalism. Her black dress with oversize buttons looked polished and streamlined (UPDATE: it's a William Vintage Balenciaga black wool dress, circa 1958, with wooden buttons), and she wore her hair down with a little wave to it. But my absolutely favorite part is Amal's plum-colored lipstick, which is a little darker than her go-to colors and also is utterly gorgeous. Other than a bit of blush, Amal let the lipstick be the focus as the only true (and muted) color in her ensemble.

For anyone who needs real-life inspiration for what to wear to the office, welcome to your mood board–this look is an extension of Amal's calm, confident energy whenever she speaks publicly. If I ever have a job where I might be called upon to deliver speeches (shudder), it's exactly how I want to present myself.

Here's a better look at her full outfit:

Clothing, Eyewear, Black, Dress, Little black dress, Fashion, Sunglasses, Sleeve, Shoulder, Neck,

And you can go here to watch the full video of Amal's speech to the UN Security Council. Amal's done incredible work in this area, and shows no sign of slowing down.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.