5 Style Lessons Courtesy of Lupita Nyong’o

31 Jul 5 Style Lessons Courtesy of Lupita Nyong’o

Here on The City, we are all about cultivating personal style, luckily, we can look to some of our favorite celebrities for a few style lessons.

I handed my July issue of Vogue magazine over to my mother with strict instructions. Please do not bend the spine. Lupita’s cover is a collector’s edition for me. I’m going to save it for my daughter, should I have one, so she knows that we too can command mainstream media’s attention.

What was it Jay Z rapped in “That’s My B*tch?”

“I mean Marilyn Monroe, she’s quite nice. But why all the pretty icons always all white?”

I know that Beverly Johnson–Wednesday was the 40th anniversary of her September cover, btw–Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Beyoncè, Liya Kebede, Jennifer Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Rihanna have been on the cover in the fashion bible’s 122 year history. But Lupita is different. She’s brown skin with natural hair. She’s draped in Ralph Lauren, Prada, and Oscar de la Renta. She’s seated front row during Paris Fashion Week. Nyong’o starred in Miu Miu’s Spring 2014 ad campaign. The way fashion has embraced her, helping to catapulte her star, it’s amazing to see.

It isn’t hard to tell that Nyong’o’s style is stellar. So stellar in fact, that we should take a closer look with five style lessons we can apply to our own style.

  1. Jewel Tones, FTW

The color black is chic, yada, yada, I know. But when you chose a jewel toned dress in a sophisticated silhouette, but can have a similar effect to wearing a black one. Perhaps making an even bigger statement.

2. Short and Backless isn’t the Only Way to Do Sexy

This makes me so happy, to see someone embrace a super-fitted silhouette that isn’t an Hervè Leger bandage dress. Lupita shows us that grown women can do whatever they want, yes, but it’s possible to be age-appropriate with well placed cutouts. (How many Beyoncè references can you find in here?)

3. Fashion as Art

The Oscar-winning actress proves that clothing can be a canvas too–literally. She is sporting looks with all sorts of fun motifs and I really like it. Lupita makes me want to start replacing my all-over prints with abstract ones. Or cheeky lip prints.

4. It’s All About Shape

I really like that Nyong’o isn’t afraid to wear out of the box shapes and proportions with her look. Structured shorts romper? Funnel neck sweater? A dress with a train slash caplet? No problem for this beauty. It’s uncoventional, no?

5. You Can Be Matchy-Matchy

Makeup isn’t my thing. So I could be wrong here, but I was under the impression that your eye makeup shouldn’t match your outfit. Lupita proves me wrong. And I don’t hate it. Perhaps, it’s because she’s wearing bold colors on her lids and with her look? What say you on matching eyeshadow to your outfits?

Ugh, is she not everything?

Oh, and my Vogue? She ended up bending the spine, anyway. No worries, it will flatten out when I put it back in it’s designated spot on my Vogue shelf. What are your thoughts on Ms. Nyong’o and her style?