For Letitia Wright, 'It All Starts With The Look'
'It all starts with the look' says Letitia Wright, with a conspiratorial grin. Wrapped in a white bath robe, she sips on a sparkling water ('you've got to hydrate before a big event') while her hair and makeup team get to work around her, setting the stage for Wednesday night's ELLE Style Awards.
We're meeting at her suite at The Londoner Hotel where Wright, ELLE's November issue cover star will get ready before joining fellow actors, musicians and designers in ELLE's celebration of homegrown British fashion.
It's been a landmark year for the 30-year-old actor, who now also sits in the directors chair. She shot her latest project, a short film called Highway to the Moon, and took an executive producer role on Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot, released earlier this month.
Wright became a bonafide household name as Shuri in the Black Panther Franchise, while outside of the Marvel universe, she continues to become a stalwart of British cinema. She was selected by Bafta as one of their Breakthrough Brits of 2015 after her breakout role in indie drama, Urban Hymn. In 2019, she picked up another Bafta accolade; the Rising Star award, while her performance in an episode of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror landed her an Emmy nomination. She was also lauded for her performance in Steve McQueen’s Small Axe.
Attending her second ELLE Style Awards, Wright chose a powerful look; a black Wales Bonner SS25 suit, tailored by the designer herself to fit her perfectly, accented with a striking silver brooch and geometric necklace, both by Chaumet.
Her hair and makeup were both pared back and natural. 'It's always about good skin' says Kenneth Soh, Wright's makeup artist. 'We're doing really well prepped skin, so it's dewy and healthy. Perfected, but still very natural. My philosophy with makeup is to never mask the woman. It should always be, "Wow, she looks incredible", not "Wow. She's got great makeup."'
We caught up with Wright to talk red carpet rituals, British fashion and the importance of being surrounded by good people.
On her ELLE Style Awards Look
I wanted to do something special for tonight in terms of celebrating British fashion. We found something really fun and really simple and chic with Wales Bonner, I wear a lot of her pieces, but this suit is so different to my collection, which is usually sportswear. I love this look. It felt like it fitted my vibe; it's clean and I love tailoring, tailored vibe is me. It's sleeveless when you take off the overcoat, and I've never done that before. I just loved it. The silver broach is an added touch from stylists Tara Greville and Hadya Tuofiq, and of course Shiona Turini, boss lady vibes. I felt good in it, I felt strong in it.
On working with Wales Bonner
I wear a lot of Wales Bonner. Her designs are always so unique and timeless. Before Kendrick [Lemar] said it, we all knew that about her! She holds her own corner and she does it well, she does it truthfully.
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On her approach to red carpet dressing
I have to feel like myself in the outfit. If I don't, then why am I wearing it? This industry is hard enough without the added feeling of [stressing about an outfit]. I don't like seeing people not look like themselves.
On collaborating with her stylist
Shiona is an OG in this game, even though she doesn't look it. I have so much respect for how long she's been doing it and how well she does it. She's a real perfectionist she doesn't move on until she gets exactly what she needs from the look, she says because she's a Virgo. Press tours are the most demanding time that we all spend with each other, and the most fun as well. With my styling, it's about elevating what I already like. I'm not really into dresses, but Shiona can make me feel like I need that dress, just by how she allows an item to fit my body and not be something that's outside of myself. It's me wearing the dress, not the dress wearing me. I love that she'll put me on game to Black designers that I didn't know about too, both in the UK and the US and incorporate those looks into the press run too.
On what British fashion means to her
I'm still going through my journey with fashion and experiencing different designers and and the different aesthetics of the houses, I'm getting a mad education. I love how British fashion feels quite disciplined and also really adventurous too. You don't know what you're going to get and there's so many amazing outliers who break through, like Bianca Saunders and Wales Bonner. I'm really excited for the future of Black British fashion.
On her glam team
I like to have my friends and good people around me. Stefan has been working with my hair for all these different stages. One minute I come to him with no hair, the next minute I've got a mini afro, next minute I've got cornrows. Stefan does the music, Kenneth leads the meditation. My team have been with me for years, I told my mum they would be here tonight and she said "oh the nice boys!" They're men, mother.
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