As the clear winner of last year’s award show season, Lupita Nyong’o already has a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a coveted Best Supporting Actress Oscar to her name (among many others, of course). But as everyone who caught the Kenya-raised star on the red carpet can attest, she didn’t just collect trophies—she dominated the fashion game, as well.
Her secret weapon? Meet Micaela Erlanger, the stylist behind all of Nyongo’s most memorable award season looks. The 28-year-old dressed Nyong’o in that traffic-stopping yellow J. Mendel number for the Hollywood Film Awards; the caped Ralph Lauren column dress at the Golden Globes; and, yes, the ethereal pale blue Prada gown she wore to accept her Oscar.
In a world where every public appearance is calculated, it’s rare when an up-and-coming actress is willing to take a chance on new designers (as well as a 20-something stylist). But clearly, Nyong’o and Erlanger’s eagerness to champion designers like Honor or Mary Katrantzou—interesting, cool-girl clothes—is paying off. Not only did Nyong’o’s choices give typically predictable award show dressing a breath of fresh air, but the move landed her on the Vanity Fair Best-Dressed List after a mere five months in the spotlight.
Micaela Erlanger
Photo: Justin Bishop for Vanity Fair
As Erlanger told Vanity Fair, the key lies in being open-minded. “I think it’s about not being afraid to try something new,” she said. “I think it’s about being able to interpret the risk or edge in a wearable way.” When the stakes are high, celebrities tend to stick with a rotating cast of “safe” red-carpet designers. However, Erlanger believes that half the fun is reinterpreting unexpected runway looks for formal events.
“In some ways, I almost feel that the red carpet is the runway now,” she said, “and it’s up to, in some part, the talented actors and actresses who walk that red carpet to show the world what fashion can be.” Award season hopefuls, take note.
