The Inspiration Behind Lupita Nyong’o’s Chanel Dress at the 2025 Oscars

Since her debut win at the Academy Awards in 2014, Lupita Nyong’o has consistently made a statement on the red carpet. For the 2025 Oscars, she donned a custom Chanel gown that placed her at the forefront of every best-dressed list.

As the saying goes, it takes a village, and for Nyong’o, 42, the journey begins with Micaela Erlanger, her trusted stylist who also dressed her in the stunning Prada gown that earned her the 2014 statuette for her performance in 12 Years a Slave.

The pair has collaborated for more than a decade, nurturing a unique relationship that goes beyond star and stylist. They bring their distinct talents to every project, resulting in a strong friendship off the red carpet. Notably, the Oscar winner even played the role of a bridesmaid at Erlanger’s beautiful destination wedding.

The meticulous preparation for Nyong’o’s Oscar look rivaled the complexity involved in orchestrating a wedding. The custom gown alone required 660 hours of crafting, incorporated 22,410 embroidered elements, and went through three fittings for ultimate perfection.

In preparation for the Oscars, Erlanger started planning six months ahead. “As soon as Lupita was named the new global ambassador for Chanel, I began my work,” the stylist told Us Weekly exclusively.

Without hesitation, Erlanger requested numerous lookbooks from Chanel’s Paris headquarters. During her research, she discovered a rare image of supermodel Linda Evangelista, strutting down the Chanel Haute Couture Spring 1991 runway. “Look 74, specifically,” she meticulously noted on Instagram, demonstrating her precision while dressing her clients.

“There is always a narrative to Lupita’s ensembles, and this one is no exception,” Erlanger explained. The ivory charmeuse dress, adorned with crystal bugle beads, pearl tassels, and straps emerging from a tweed corset finished with a satin belt, was woven with classic Chanel elements.

Erlanger complemented the gown with dazzling diamond and pearl Chanel high jewelry, enhancing the Oscars glow with pieces like a Colibri bracelet elegantly placed in her hair, Signature de Perles earrings, a Signature White Tie bracelet, a Motif Russe ring, and a Tweed Icône ring.

“This year, we aimed to embody a sense of effortless, timeless elegance,” Erlanger shared with Us. “The design elegantly balances structure with fluidity, and sparkling embellishments with a light, ethereal quality.”

However, with each successive look, Erlanger feels no pressure to outdo her previous creations for Nyong’o, who set a high standard with her enchanting Cinderella-worthy Oscars dress in 2014.

“That Prada gown was truly magical — a moment we will always treasure,” the stylist reflected. “But I view it as a chance to keep evolving. Lupita is someone who avoids repetition, and so am I.”

“Each year, we approach award season like a blank canvas, questioning ourselves, ‘What story do we want to convey?’ and ‘What feels appropriate for this phase in her journey?’” Erlanger added. “If anything, our history inspires us to keep experimenting and discovering new ways to surprise and enthrall.”

Erlanger found her inspiration in Evangelista’s 1991 Chanel Haute Couture outfit. The supermodel served as the perfect reference for Nyong’o, a new Chanel ambassador, as Evangelista had been a beloved muse of late Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld — now a staple of the iconic French brand, often seen in Lagerfeld’s most memorable campaign pieces and collections.

Similar to Nyong’o’s evolving red-carpet presence, Evangelista’s knack for adapting her persona to fit The Kaiser’s vision has aptly earned her the moniker “The Chameleon.”

Erlanger consistently seeks to evolve Nyong’o’s appearance at each public event. “In our early collaboration, we focused on fairytale grace,” the stylist explained to Us. “As time passed, we experimented more with avant-garde styles, elaborate beading, and sculptural silhouettes. The goal is to keep things exciting while remaining true to what makes Lupita unique.”

And Nyong’o truly sparkled from head to toe, thanks in part to celebrity hairstylist Vernon Francois, who elevated her elegant chignon with jewel-like pearls.

Longtime makeup artist Nick Barose drew upon the 90s vibe to give Nyong’o’s eyes and lips a vibrant pop of color accentuated with pearlescent highlights. He utilized Chanel beauty products, including the Ombre Essentielle eyeshadow in Menthe á L’eau (a tranquil seafoam green), the Le Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue liquid lipstick in Milky Blueberry, and the Jeux de Lumières palette for a radiant skin finish.

“The gown set the mood, but we also aimed for her hair and makeup to contribute an unexpected flair,” Erlanger mentioned regarding Nyong’o’s “bold and refined” finishing touches. “Accessorizing is never an afterthought; it serves to magnify the tale we are narrating.”

“Lupita thrives when a look narrates a story — be it through design elements, cultural references, or nods to history,” Erlanger revealed to Us. “She is adventurous, embraces risk, and is always keen on a narrative-focused approach to dressing for the red carpet.”

Through Erlanger’s expertise, Nyong’o has adeptly showcased her versatility on the red carpet and now as a Chanel ambassador.