This week, Chanel brought a star-studded guest list to the scenic West Lake in Hangzhou, China, which served as the backdrop for its pre-fall 2025 show. The house chose the location as a nod to the late Coco Chanel’s fascination with the city (she once owned a Coromandel screen featuring imagery of said lake), and the VIPs in attendance included Tilda Swinton, Lucy Boynton, and Lupita Nyong’o. “It was very moving to have made this voyage to China, to realize a dream of Mademoiselle Chanel’s,” says Nyong’o, who recently joined Chanel as a global brand ambassador. “I visited her apartments at 31 Rue Cambon a year ago, and witnessed the Coromandel screens that she collected, which inspired this whole experience; It was astounding to have those images come to life all around me.”
The trip to Hanzhou was a special one for the star, who marked her first time visiting the city. “I have been captivated by the interplay of the ancient and the modern architecture and design, she tells Vogue. “Hangzhou is rich with history, and the Buddhist roots give the city a serenity that is palpable.” Not only did Nyong’o have sights to see, but she also sat front row for the show, where she took in Chanel’s new refined assortment of tweeds, outerwear, and knitwear. “Some looks that I find myself daydreaming about are the burnt orange cropped pant two-piece, and the gold cropped pant two-piece, both of which provided delightful bursts of color in the collection,” she says. “I also can’t stop thinking about the gold maxi dress that seemed to weigh nothing at all and allowed the air to pick it up, so that the model appeared to float by in it.” Thigh-high boots in suede and patent were another highlight for the actor, who described them as simply “divine!”
Nyong’o brought her own statement look for the affair as well. Riffing off the outdoorsy setting, the star wanted an ensemble that was both chic and cozy. “Knowing that the show was going to be outdoors in a chilly location, I wanted to wear something that was elegant, comforting and warm,” she says. Nyong’o slipped into an elongated, double-breasted couture godet coat in pink, with a feathered collar that hit all the right notes. “I loved the soft pink color and the A-line silhouette, with the surprising gathers in the back,” she says. “It gave the wintery garment a light, delicate flow. The interior silk lining felt very luxurious, so I spent the evening feeling stylishly bundled up!”
It’s certainly not the only stellar Chanel look that Nyong’o has worn recently. Last year, she embraced Barbie style in pink and purple tweed at the label’s couture show in Paris. She has also been known to rock a houndstooth coat or two. Turns out, her wardrobe is a goldmine for such French pieces. “I have a classic Chanel black double-flap handbag that I return to again and again,” she says of her most-worn pieces. “I also have a pair of white sneakers that I love to wear when I travel. They are very comfortable and elegantly understated; they make for great walking shoes as I explore new cities, too.” While the sneakers would have been appropriate for gallivanting around Hangzhou, Nyong’o chose dressy knit boots for the presentation. It was a fashion show, after all!
Below, more photos from Nyong’o’s Chanel show day.
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