From catwalks to red carpets, German-born actress Diane Kruger has become a head-turner in the world of celebrity style. Always perfectly and effortlessly poised, this fashion darling never disappoints, even when she makes a daring wardrobe choice. Kruger launched into view with her role as Helen in the 2004 film Troy. She quickly added to her success in the National Treasure franchise and then in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.

Before becoming an actress, Kruger was an aspiring ballerina-turned-model. The grace and style she learned from those professions show up not only her acting, but also in her incredible fashion sense. Like a canvas, primed for creation, Kruger has a proven track record of bringing daring yet classic style choices to every red carpet event. She stunned in a gown by Jason Wu — one of her favorite designers — with a thigh-high slit at the 2011 Met Gala and floated through the 2012 Cannes International Film Festival closing ceremony in a tri-colored plaid ballgown, complete with bustle and train. At the Chanel haute couture show that same year, the actress wore a cornflower blue denim short-sleeved shift from the house’s 2013 resort collection paired with spiked Christian Louboutin flats, Frenching the look with a black newsboy cap.

When it comes to Chanel, Kruger has referred to Karl Lagerfeld as a father figure and mentor in her life. They share a German heritage and a deep love for fashion, particularly couture, which she has called the “ultimate art form of fashion.” After a leg injury dashed her dancing dreams while studying at the London School of Ballet in Germany, she moved to Paris at age 15, where she met Lagerfeld who took her under his wing. After more than a decade of modeling, appearing in ad campaigns and editorials for Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Dior and Vogue, Kruger switched gears and pursued a career in acting. Favoring Chanel for many of her red carpet appearances, Lagerfeld himself designed the white feathered couture gown she wore to the Cannes Film Festival’s premiere of Troy.

A rarity in Hollywood, the starlet has a knack for dressing herself and does not employ a personal stylist. “I come from fashion and who knows better what I like than myself,” she told British Vogue in 2011. Her unique approach often finds her in nudes and neutrals, wavy hair loosely pinned and never overdone. She believes in tailoring her style to the event, yet her style MO also allows her to take risks.

She was sporting Balmain before Rihanna and Beyoncé, notably rolled into the Condé Nast Movies Rock party in Los Angeles in a black Christophe Decarnin embellished mini dress and at the premiere of Inglorious Basterds donned another daring mini and peep-toe Louboutins. Turning heads at the 2012 “GQ Men of the Year” event in a white Cushnie et Ochs creation, the midriff top and narrow band of white fabric running from the skirt, around her neck and back down, swooned the hearts of the fashion elite. Her look was completed with a black Vanessa Bruno jacket, strappy Jimmy Choo shoes and multicolored Jason Wu clutch.

Constantly appearing on Vogue.com’s “10 Best Dressed” list, Diane Kruger is one to look to for classic style that can rock out or sweetly delight.