Context is everything, which is why I was happy that Lupita Nyong’o and her stylist Micaela Erlanger shared the vision behind her custom look designed by Misha Japanwala for the 2023 Tony Awards.
Some might look at this breastplate and not like the appearance, but on her Instagram Micaela shared, “Misha Japanwala is a Pakistani artist and fashion designer, whose work is rooted in the rejection and deconstruction of external shame attached to one’s body. In her artistic process, she creates a realistic and true record of a person’s body as an act of resistance and celebration, and an insistence on being allowed to exist freely in our bodies.
Misha Japanwala states, “The word ‘beghairat’ (translation: shameless) has become an anchor in my practice; thousands of people have used it to describe me and the work I create, in an effort to insult and shame me into silence. In reclaiming the word and understanding that the rejection of others’ narrow definitions of shame is one of the most powerful tools for liberation, I’ve come to deeply appreciate and respect what living a life of shamelessness truly means. My craft pertains to documenting our existence in the most truthful way I possibly can — I change nothing about the body and how it looks. I think that act of surrendering and allowing our bodies to simply be, is such a beautiful and powerful thing.”
You’ll either appreciate the beauty in the realness of this moment, or still not enjoy the appearance.
I’m in the former camp.
The look sends a powerful message, and I actually prefer how strong the look is without the velvet blazer.
We have seen all manner of hairstyles from Lupita, but we’ve never seen her rock a henna art on her head.
Some might feel that it distracts from the message, some might think it’s veering into Mike Tyson territory, others might just love the beauty of the artwork.
Let me know your thoughts. There is a lot to unpack here.
De Beers jewels completed her look.
Stylist: Micaela Erlanger. Makeup Artist: Nick Barose.
Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions & Instagram
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