Lupita and Chanel before Matthieu

Matthieu Blazy will present his first Chanel collection in late September/October which will kick off a new era at the house. It will likely be the most highly scrutinised runway of Paris Fashion Week in the fall because, well, this is the designer Chanel is hoping will remain a fixture for generations, like Karl Lagerfeld was for 36 years. So I imagine that show will be really, really, REALLY well attended as the house will probably want to bring in as many of its ambassadors as possible. There’s my segue to Lupita Nyong’o. 

Lupita was named Chanel ambassador last October. Her first campaign with the brand dropped in April, just before the Met Gala where she celebrated the Black Dandy in Chanel – and looked SO good. 

Chanel works for some, and doesn’t work for others. It definitely works for Lupita and I can’t wait to see her in more Chanel, perhaps at Matthieu’s debut in a few months. But before that, if you want to see Lupita, you’ll get a chance to soon, for free. Because she’s part of the all-star cast of Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park beginning August 7 and running until September 14 in New York City. Lupita will be on stage with Sandra Oh, Peter Dinklage, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, directed by Saheem Ali and also including her brother, Junior Nyong’o! 

You might remember Junior from that Oscar selfie a few years ago – below, with the glasses. 

Junior is playing Sebastian opposite Lupita’s Viola! 

Vanity Fair just did a whole piece last week on the production.

Seriously, for those of you who are in NYC or can make it in August, this is your chance to see Lupita and Sandra together – go get your life!

Anyway, back to Chanel, and while we hope to see her at Matthieu’s presentation later this year, there was a Chanel show yesterday in Paris with two ambassadors present: Keira Knightley and Penelope Cruz. 

Keira, as I just said, is always excellent in Chanel and this drop halter over the skirt looks unsurprisingly perfect on her. 

Penelope, on the other hand, unfortunately, I never like in Chanel. This is another example of why: 

And then there’s Kirsten Dunst, not officially a Chanel ambassador but also not her first time in Chanel and her look isn’t remarkable but it’s not a letdown either. Kiki, as we know, rarely disappoints, no matter the brand. 

Finally, Chanel’s newest ambassador, Gracie Abrams in a white tiered dress, very pretty but I’m not feeling the shoe choice.