Call him dressed in the chest of the night.
Lupita Nyong’o made a major statement on Sunday’s Tony Awards 2023 red carpet with an ultra-realistic silver breastplate molded from her own naked body.
The Oscar-winning actress described wearing the custom Misha Japanwala design on Instagram as a “shameless out-of-body experience” and added that she was “honored, humbled, empowered and energized” for wearing the one-of-a-kind design. Tony’s rug.
“Misha Japanwala is a Pakistani artist and fashion designer. At the heart of her work is the denial and deconstruction of the external shame attached to one’s body, she. In his artistic process, he creates a realistic and authentic record of one’s body as an act of resistance and celebration, and insists that it be allowed to exist freely in our bodies,” continued 40-year-old Nyong’o.
Japanwala has made similar breastplates for Cardi B, Julia Fox, and Halsey, and her exhibition “Beghairati Ki Nishaani: Traces of Shameiness,” which Nyong’o cries out in the title, is on view at the Hannah Traore Gallery in New York City through July. 30.
The “Black Panther” beauty stylized by Michaela Erlanger wore the nipple-free (but not) trick with a black velvet blazer, flared pants, De Beers diamonds and a Bella Rosa Collection clutch; his freshly shaved head is adorned with a stunning henna tattoo by artist Sabeen.
Never afraid to do everything on her own, Janelle Monáe praised Nyong’o’s look as “extraordinary” in the comments section, while Naomi Campbell described it as “DOMESTIC”.
But not everyone had the breast-centered style.
“Not a classy look, not at all tasteless,” commented one critic; “No one can wear this in public… And who’s going to buy it?” someone else asked.
A few astute followers noted that the art was meant to provoke, while one applauded the “touching message” of Japanwala’s bespoke breastplate.
“Art will not please everyone and will not be understood by everyone,” they added.
But perhaps another fan put it best, “Everybody’s breaking news: women can wear what we want and I don’t care what you think.”