Lupita Nyong’o’s Red Carpet Style Is Extremely Superhero-Worthy

In Wakanda Forever, the much-anticipated Marvel action sequel to 2018’s Black Panther, Lupita Nyong’o defends the Kingdom of Wakanda as her character, Nakia—but the actor’s red carpet style for the film’s premieres this month have been just as superhero-worthy. Working with longtime stylist Micaela Erlanger, the Kenyan-Mexican star has been bringing a high dose of fashion drama to her various appearances (as have the rest of the cast), choosing high-impact gowns that pack a punch. 

Nyong’o’s style streak began back in late October, when she hit the carpet for Wakanda Forever’s world premiere in Hollywood. She wore a white, sculptural Balmain gown that had one shoulder strap and cutouts along the front. Hair stylist Vernon François even crafted an intricate “chandelier” updo, using white rope and string, to complement it. Since then, the star has continued to deliver more statement gowns. 

Earlier this month at the London premiere, she slipped into an Alexander McQueen dress with silver wave embroidery. For a fan event in Naucalpan, Mexico last week, she opted for Jonathan Cohen’s dramatic, billowy red cape, worn with a more form-fitting leather halter dress underneath. Sparkling jewels from De Beers, meanwhile, have lent all of these looks a movie star-worthy finish (she’s a new face for the brand).

But it hasn’t just been all about formal, floor-length gowns. Nyong’o has also worn daytime dresses and relaxed suits, throwing a dash of polished-casual wear into the mix. For a SiriusXM event this month, for one, she wore a black Burberry suit with a colorful scarf-print top underneath. For a taping of Good Morning America in New York, she also wore a red, pleated coat-dress from Dorothee Schumacher, finishing it off with a quilted white Prada bag. No matter if she’s doing an intimate audience Q&A or a full-on premiere, Nyong’o has consistently had the looks to back it up. She’s traded in slaying bad guys onscreen to slaying the step-and-repeat. 

Below, more of Nyong’o’s best red carpet looks from the Black Panther press tour.