Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Winter Shoe Trends
    • Slick-Backed Buns
    • OleHenriksen
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Fashion
    2. Celebrity Style

    Amal Clooney Set the Precedent for Holiday Dressing in Head-to-Toe Velvet

    Have a holiday party or a festive fête coming up? Take a clue from Clooney.

    Maria Santa Poggi's avatar
    By Maria Santa Poggi
    Published 4 December 2023 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    amal clooney in velvet corset and pants
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    Jump to category:
    • Shop Amal Clooney's Velvet Outfit
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    We don’t make the rules, but Amal Clooney does. But beyond her role as an international law and human rights lawyer, her precedent-setting purview extends to fashion, too. We’ve seen the law expert wear everything from a breathtaking archival gown by John Galliano for Christian Dior to a classic everyday trench coat when stopping by the United Nations General Assembly. She just set the exemplar for winter 2024's fashion trends while walking the red carpet, too: Clooney wore a velvet corset and trousers, an opulent, dare-to-be-touched ensemble that's ideal holiday party outfit inspiration.

    She wore the matching velvet set to the London premiere of The Boys in the Boat with her husband...umm….what’s his name again? Oh yeah—George Clooney! The lawyer's festive velvet corset featured a one-shoulder silhouette and scooping neckline. The hem of her corset had a modernized cropped silhouette, allowing a subtle flash of skin to be on display instead of her top being tucked into her trousers. Speaking of: her matching black velvet trousers were slim and straight, with grosgrain trim along the side panels.

    She wore a pair of simple closed-toe stilettos, also in black, and kept her accessories soft-spoken and minimal to let the tailoring of her velvet set dictate the fashion conversation. All Clooney carried was a black evening box clutch with a gold clasp. Her dark hair was parted to the side with side-swept bangs and styled in loose curls. She wore bright red cherry lipstick (a beauty signature of hers), which got us further in the spirit of the winter season.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    amal clooney in velvet corset and pants

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    With her velvet look, Clooney illuminates a nugget of sartorial gold: when in doubt, opt for a matching set. The end result is, without fail, chic and put together. And for party dressing, a corset is a style solution to any last-minute wardrobe problem. The romantic top dresses up an evening ensemble without trying too hard (have you ever gone overboard with the glitz and glam and felt too dressed up at a festive soireé?) and still exuding glamour.

    For the holidays, Clooney laid down the legislation of an easy go-to look that can be worn for any season and almost any work event, but especially for when the yuletide is gay. If you have an office cocktail party or a friend's fête coming up to help ring in the holiday season, take a cue from Clooney and consider a velvet set. Shop from a selection of options, below,

    You may like
    • Amal Clooney Takes the Editor-Beloved Wedge Trend and a Sheer Snakeskin Skirt to Venice Film Festival Amal Clooney Takes the Editor-Beloved Wedge Trend to Venice
    • Amal Clooney arrived at the 2026 Venice Film Festival in a silky pair of shorts layered beneath a blazer Don't Pack Away Your Satin Shorts Yet—Add This Fall Staple Instead
    • velvet pants on the fall 2026 runways of Armani, Ulla Johnson, and Zimmermann The Velvet Pants Trend Is Quietly Taking Over My Fall Wardrobe

    Shop Amal Clooney's Velvet Outfit

    Jeanna Crop Velvet Corset Bustier Top

    Alice + Olivia Jeanna Crop Velvet Corset Bustier Top
    $295 AT NORDSTROM

    Victoria's Secret Velvet Corset Top

    Kimchi Blue Esme Velvet Off-The-Shoulder Top
    $80 AT VICTORIA'S SECRET

    Stretch Velvet Corset Top

    Stretch Velvet Corset Top
    $89 AT NORDSTROM

    Curved-hem velvet corset top

    WARDROBE.NYC Curved-Hem Velvet Corset Top
    $655 AT MATCHESFASHION

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Explore More
    Amal Clooney holidays
    Maria Santa Poggi
    Maria Santa Poggi
    Social Links Navigation

    Maria Santa Poggi is a freelance journalist who covers fashion, beauty, and culture. Her work has appeared in Vogue, Teen Vogue, Vogue Business, Paper, i-d, Rolling Stones, Elle, Allure, Dazed, and Highsnobiety amongst other publications. She recently received her MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. 

    Read more
    velvet pants on the fall 2026 runways of Armani, Ulla Johnson, and Zimmermann
    Fashion The Velvet Pants Trend Is Quietly Taking Over My Fall Wardrobe
    By Lauren Tappan
    Hailey Bieber's glittery gold mini dress at Paris Fashion Week is perfect for holiday parties
    Celebrity Style Hailey Bieber Debuts the Holiday Party Dress of My Dreams at Paris Fashion Week
    By Meguire Hennes
     
     
    Hailey Bieber attended a launch party for her Adanola collaboration in a beige sequin dress by Ferragamo
    Celebrity Style The Beloved LBD Is No Match for Hailey Bieber's Sequin Holiday Showstopper
    By Meguire Hennes
    Dua Lipa starts sequin season in a little black Ferragamo dress at the Metropolitan Opera
    Celebrity Style Welcome Back, Sequin Season! Dua Lipa Glistens in a Ferragamo Dress at the Opera
    By Meguire Hennes
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity Style
    Katie Holmes arrived at the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala in a long-sleeve satin dress and a fringe tassel-covered black evening bag
    Celebrity Style Katie Holmes Traded a Sparkly Evening Bag for Something Even More Fun
    Angel Reese's leather Schiaparelli look included the capri pants trend and heels at Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals
    Celebrity Style Angel Reese Trades Basketball Shorts and Sneakers for Capri Pants and Heels
     
     
    Carole Middleton carries her Emmy London bag to attend day 3 'Ladies Day' of Royal Ascot 2026 at Ascot Racecourse on June 18, 2026 in Ascot, England.
    Royals Carole Middleton's Favorite Bag Gets a Regal Upgrade
    Gigi Hadid wore gray Guest In Residence sweatpants with a leather Miu Miu blazer and the soft loafers trend in suede
    Celebrity Style Soft Loafers Are Basically Slippers—Just Ask Gigi Hadid
     
     
    Latest in News
    Prince William and Prince Harry.
    Royals Prince William Could Be “Forced” to Reconcile With Prince Harry
    Princess Anne arrives at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
    Royals Princess Anne Sees One Thing About Royal Appearances As “Patently Absurd”
     
     
    Katie Holmes arrived at the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala in a long-sleeve satin dress and a fringe tassel-covered black evening bag
    Celebrity Style Katie Holmes Traded a Sparkly Evening Bag for Something Even More Fun
    Meghan Markle sits onstage at South by Southwest wearing a button-down shirt
    Royals Meghan Markle Looks Back On U.K. Return as She Celebrates “New Adventures”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.