Nicole Kidman reflects on controversial Miu Miu miniskirt: ‘I really try to stay free’

When it comes to fashion, Nicole Kidman prefers to live in the moment.

Kidman, who sparked controversy last year when she wore a micro miniskirt on the cover of Vanity Fair, opened up about her ever-changing style during an appearance on the Stellar magazine podcast “Something to Talk About” published Sunday. The actress also appears on the magazine’s latest cover.

“I make the most random, crazy choices. I call them ‘teenage choices’ because I just don’t ever think of consequences,” Kidman told the Australian outlet. “Part of my brain just doesn’t think like that. I just go, ‘Oh, I’m going to wear that; it reminds me of my school uniform.’ Or, ‘Oh my God, yeah, I’d love to do that.’ I try to (stay) in that place because I think otherwise you get scared or worried.”

Appearing alongside stars Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Idris Elba and others on Vanity Fair’s 28th annual Hollywood issue, Kidman wore a charcoal miniskirt and matching crop top by Italian fashion label Miu Miu for her February 2022 cover. The outfit drew sharp criticism online.

“Pretty sure this is what we call a female mid-life crisis,” Twitter user @_rosegraham wrote of Kidman’s look.

Kidman said she does her best to tune out the reactions of others to her fashion choices.

“Don’t tell me, I don’t really want to know. It will stop me doing what I want to do,” Kidman said. “There are times when you hear things and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s really hurtful.’ Because you can’t be under a rock. But at the same time, I really try to stay free in the choices because otherwise, before you know it, you’re just closed off and you can’t step anywhere.

“And I’d hate for that to happen to my daughters. I’d hate for it to happen to anybody I love. I want for myself just to keep going, ‘Oh, well, I’m trying something, or I wanted to do it. It was fun. That was my choice. And yeah, I own it. I’m accountable. Whatever. I take responsibility. Nobody else chose it.’ ”

Kidman paid tribute to one of her fashion muses, late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, at the Met Gala in May. The “Big Little Lies” star hit the red carpet wearing an archival Chanel Haute Couture gown from 2004: a pale pink dress embellished with sequins and feathers and a sheer train. She first wore the dress for the Chanel No. 5 perfume campaign.

“He was so much a part of my life, as were his whole team,” Kidman told The Associated Press of Lagerfeld. “He was the one (who) really sort of shepherded me … in terms of my love of fashion.”

Nicole Kidman: Actress dazzles in custom Chanel dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld at Met Gala

Watch: Nicole Kidman surprises Hugh Jackman with $100K donation

Contributing: Morgan Hines, USA TODAY