Lucy Liu is a 00s cultural icon. Born in Queens, NY to Chinese parents, she burst into mainstream public consciousness in the late 90s with her role in Ally McBeal, before joining Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in the 2000 hit Charlie’s Angels. Work then came thick and fast, with a cameo in Sex and the City and an endless flow of movie roles. Perhaps her most famous? That of O-Ren Ishii, aka Cottonmouth, in Kill Bill: Vol 1 and 2, a role which saw her don killer look after killer look, including, of course, the snow white kimono in which she would ultimately meet her demise.
But Lucy’s own style is pretty awesome too. There might have been the odd trilby, flat cap and frivolously fake-tanned moment along the way, but the late 90s and early 00s saw her embrace oversized leather looks, tongue-in-cheek slogan tees and classic red carpet getup. With the exciting news that she’ll star as the villain Kalypso in DC’s forthcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods, we take a look back at some of Lucy Liu’s most iconic outfits.
At an LA movie premiere, 1999
Two years after her breakout role as maybe-asexual judge Ling Woo in Ally McBeal won her an Emmy nomination, Lucy Liu was pictured looking very 90s casual at the premiere of Jim Carrey’s Andy Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon. For the event at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, she paired an oversized black leather trench coat with a pyjama-esque shirt and trouser combo and a beaded necklace. Topped off with a red silk bag, the look was lowkey yet vvv chic.
Serving 90s pin-up realness, 1999
In 1999, Lucy starred in the big budget action movie Payback as Pearl, a dominatrix with gang affiliations who’s not afraid to hold a gun to Mel Gibson’s head and pull the trigger. Naturally, the role called for a number of incredible leather and latex looks, as well as some Euphoria-grade eye makeup. During the movie’s press run, Lucy was shot for Detour Magazine (RIP) looking like the ultimate 90s babe in a sheer tank and skirt, exposing her 90s tanga underwear. The look was completed with a simple chain necklace, wet-look hair and a burnt-out car.
Cutting shapes on the red carpet, 2000
Lucy was big into attending premieres during the winter of 1999-2000. This time though, it was one of her own: Play It To The Bone — directed by Ron Shelton (White Men Can’t Jump) — which she starred in alongside Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas, who play friends and boxers forced to fight each other in Vegas. Lucy made an appearance as Lia, a carefree young hitchhiker they picked up en route. Lucy went all out for the red carpet occasion, wearing a sparkly black pair of hip dip-exposing trousers with a lace-up waist. Very ‘Maddy’s carnival look’, if you ask us. She paired them with a sequinned halter top and her fave silk bag of the season.
Arriving at the Oscars afterparty, 2001
At the 2000 Vanity Fair Oscars party, Angelina Jolie kissed her brother on the lips and made everyone feel uncomfortable. At the 2001 Vanity Fair Oscars party, however, Lucy Liu — now a household name thanks to the release of Charlie’s Angels in late 2000 — made everything ok again when she rocked up in this pink and black panelled dress. Her rose blusher and glossy lips, as well as the corsage-like wrist accessory, gives off big senior prom vibes in the best way. For bonus iconic turn-of-the-millennium looks, check out the press area behind her.
Sex and the City cameo, 2001
In season 4, episode 11 of SATC, Lucy Liu guest starred as an exaggerated version of herself. The storyline? PR guru Samantha Jones wanted a Birkin and, on discovering the FIVE YEAR waiting list, used her top client’s name in order to skip it. Lucy found out and fired her ass, making this without a doubt one of the best cameos the show ever saw. LL wore a number of great looks in this episode — including an asymmetric zebra print top with hoop earrings — but by far the most iconic was in her final scene, where she steals back the bag in question wearing a purple J’ADORE DIOR tank top paired with camo trousers and pigtails.
Keeping it classy with her angels, 2003
At the New York premiere of Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Lucy joined her co-stars and then-besties Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore on the red carpet. While Cam was very of the moment in a belted chiffon number; and Drew was in her rock phase wearing leather trousers with a cheeky ‘MY BOYFRIEND IS OUT OF TOWN’ slogan tee; Lucy went for a classic black beaded dress with court shoes. A timeless choice from our age-defying queen.
Heading to the frow at PFW, 2008
Who doesn’t love a couture show? Lucy Liu certainly does, especially when Valentino give her front row seats and dress her in this dream combo. The cape, a rose-pink sculptural petal-like design from the previous season’s couture collection, complemented her violet bow-sleeved dress perfectly. Diamonds and the clearest skin we’ve ever seen completed the look.