Meet Our New Style Icon: 12 Years A Slave Actress Lupita Nyong’o

Meet Our New Style Icon: 12 Years A Slave Actress Lupita Nyong'o

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by Josh Newis Smith |
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Meet Our New Style Icon: 12 Years A Slave Actress Lupita Nyong'o

In Dior at the Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon, February 20141 of 31

In Dior at the Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon, February 2014

Wearing Lanvin to the LA premiere of Non Stop, February 20142 of 31

Wearing Lanvin to the LA premiere of Non Stop, February 2014

In Valentino Couture at the AARP Awards, February 20143 of 31

In Valentino Couture at the AARP Awards, February 2014

In Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci at the NAACP Image Awards, February 20144 of 31

In Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci at the NAACP Image Awards, February 2014

In Dior Couture at the BAFTA Awards, February 20145 of 31

In Dior Couture at the BAFTA Awards, February 2014

Attending the Asprey Pre-BAFTA party in Chanel, February 20146 of 31

Attending the Asprey Pre-BAFTA party in Chanel, February 2014

FROWING in Calvin Klein in, Calvin Klein naturally!7 of 31

FROWING in Calvin Klein in, Calvin Klein naturally!

Wearing Gucci to the SAG Awards, January 20148 of 31

Wearing Gucci to the SAG Awards, January 2014

In Ralph Lauren at The Golden Globes9 of 31

In Ralph Lauren at The Golden Globes

In Lanvin at LA Bafta Event10 of 31

In Lanvin at LA Bafta Event

In Lanvin at Gotham Independent Film Awards11 of 31

In Lanvin at Gotham Independent Film Awards

In Elie Saab at the Paris Premiere of 12 Years a Slave12 of 31

In Elie Saab at the Paris Premiere of 12 Years a Slave

In Elie Saab at the Palm Spring Film Festival13 of 31

In Elie Saab at the Palm Spring Film Festival

In Proenza Schouler at W Magazine Party14 of 31

In Proenza Schouler at W Magazine Party

In Carolina Herrera at AFI Awards15 of 31

In Carolina Herrera at AFI Awards

In Peter Pilotto Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch16 of 31

In Peter Pilotto Spirit Awards Nominee Brunch

In Mary Katrantzou at DuJour Magazine Cover Party17 of 31

In Mary Katrantzou at DuJour Magazine Cover Party

Wearing Altuzzara at Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Assocation18 of 31

Wearing Altuzzara at Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Assocation

Appearing on Jimmy Fallon in Jonathan Cohen19 of 31

Appearing on Jimmy Fallon in Jonathan Cohen

Updating the LBD at the European premiere of Twelve Years A Slave during the 57th BFI London Film Festival, October20 of 31

Updating the LBD at the European premiere of Twelve Years A Slave during the 57th BFI London Film Festival, October

Wearing Prada at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave, August.21 of 31

Wearing Prada at the Toronto Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave, August.

Wearing Honor at the Toronto Film Festival press conference for 12 Years A Slave22 of 31

Wearing Honor at the Toronto Film Festival press conference for 12 Years A Slave

In Antonio Berardi at Fox Searchlight TIFF Party, Toronto, August.23 of 31

In Antonio Berardi at Fox Searchlight TIFF Party, Toronto, August.

Wearing a black jumpsuit by Victoria Beard at a Toronto Film Festival Party, August.24 of 31

Wearing a black jumpsuit by Victoria Beard at a Toronto Film Festival Party, August.

With Michelle Dockery at the Miu Miu show in Paris, September25 of 31

With Michelle Dockery at the Miu Miu show in Paris, September

In Roland Mouret at New York Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave26 of 31

In Roland Mouret at New York Film Festival premiere of 12 Years A Slave

Opting for a printed silk top on The View, October27 of 31

Opting for a printed silk top on The View, October

Wearing Spring Summer 2014 Prada for the L.A premiere of 12 Years A Slave, October28 of 31

Wearing Spring Summer 2014 Prada for the L.A premiere of 12 Years A Slave, October

Wearing Erdem at Varietyu2019s screening of 12 Years A Slave, Hollywood, October29 of 31

Wearing Erdem at Variety’s screening of 12 Years A Slave, Hollywood, October

Wearing Prada at Varietyu2019s screening of 12 Years A Slave, Hollywood, October30 of 31

Wearing Prada at Variety’s screening of 12 Years A Slave, Hollywood, October

She certainly isn't afraid of a statement accessory. At the Telluride Film Festival, August31 of 31

She certainly isn't afraid of a statement accessory. At the Telluride Film Festival, August

Last Sunday Lupita Nyong’o, then a little known actress to anyone outside of film and fashion circles, made her presence well and truly felt on at the Golden Globes in a red caped Ralph Lauren dress. Jaws around the world dropped and the appearance meant one thing, there is a new style icon in the assent!

Things have accelerated for Lupita in recent months through her appearance in Steve McQueen’s, 12 Years A Slave. The film received rave reviews when it showed for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival last summer and since then the nominations and statues have been coming in thick and fast! Despite losing out to Jennifer Lawrence at the globes last week, many are tipping Lupita to take the ultimate prize next month at the Oscars.

Miuccia's Approval: Wearing Spring Summer 2014 Prada (Getty)

Indeed starring alongside Michael Fassbender (swoon) and Brad Pitt (swoon x2) is no small task, especially given that the actress landed the role straight after graduating from Yale in 2012. That’s right not only is she super talented she is super intelligent too…some people get all the luck!

With your name being mentioned in the same breath as the Oscars comes the need to have an unbelievable wardrobe and Lupita Nyong'o has risen to the task with considerable ease since the film premiered. Lupita hit the style spreads for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival in a long white finely pleated Prada gown with gold embellishment. Following up such a fashion hit, the actress then turned fashion heads at Paris Fashion Week, sitting front row at Miu Miu with the likes of Lena Dunham and threw Michelle Dockery into the style shade with her vivid pink short dress. Ever since Lupita has combined the classic with the cutting edge, from a Proenza Schouler LBD with a subtle twist to a vivid Prada printed dress at the film's premiere.

Putting People In The Style Shade: Lupita Nyong'o Knows How To Accessorise (Getty).

The ultimate style seal of approval came from Mrs Prada herself just last week when Lupita was made the face of the brand’s Spring/Summer 2014 campaign. The likes of Elizabeth Olsen are also fronting the campaign but the real star was definitely Miss Nyong’o in a beaded red and navy dress. That is what you call ‘owning it!’

With the award season in full swing expect to see much more of Lupita Nyong'o and her wardrobe which subtly tips the rules for red carpet dressing on its head. Meanwhile check out the trailer for her debut film below.

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