Sometimes a single piece of clothing says more than a whole wardrobe. Penelope Cruz appeared in Los Angeles, at a talk about her new film "La Invitación" by Olivia Wilde, in an outfit stylists instantly raved about - and for good reason.

It's a navy suit with a relaxed but precise cut: a blazer with slightly rolled-up sleeves over a white round-neck blouse, and high-waisted trousers with one detail that makes the whole look. At the waist, two striking gold buttons with a nautical inspiration - it's exactly those that visually soften the midsection and lengthen the torso. She rounded off the look with two-tone Chanel shoes, a small bag and cat-eye sunglasses.

But the biggest change wasn't in the clothes. Cruz abandoned her signature dark-brown tones for a light blonde that creates a contrast with her complexion and instantly refreshes and rejuvenates. She kept the parting and the waves, and the make-up stayed her own: a sharp black line on the eyes, rosy blush and natural lips.

The Balkan reader knows this well - fashion sells us the illusion that one suit will change our life. It won't change it. But there's something real in how a well-cut shape and one smart colour can give a confidence that not even the most expensive mask gives. The tricks are real; you just have to know which are worth it and which are only expensive.