Gemma Chan is in Paris for a whirlwind trip to see the Louis Vuitton autumn/winter 2022 presentation. The landscape looks a little different and the mood a touch more sombre than usual given the current climate. “It feels surreal to be at a fashion show,” says the British-Asian actor, who is unfailingly polite despite the fact she is extremely jet-lagged. Having wrapped on a two-month job in Thailand, she jetted home to London for one night for her nephew’s birthday. Now she finds herself in France and, like everyone else, is finding the unfolding situation in Ukraine increasingly desperate. “The world is in chaos,” she shares. “It’s hard to find the words, but it’s all anyone’s talking about.”

To enter the fashion fray for a day, Chan and her stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray chose a Louis Vuitton look that would make her feel powerful. “It’s a sort of cape situation,” she says of her all-black leather, lace and velvet ensemble (look 27 from spring/summer 2022). “It’s grungy with a hint of punk, and the LV Moonlight boots are very comfortable.”

The Eternals star’s make-up artist Hiromi Ueda, who Gemma met on her British Vogue cover shoot, decided on “a bit of an eye”, while hairstylist David Delicourt did an undone ponytail for a “classic French look with easy texture”. “There was a lot going on with the outfit, so we decided to keep the beauty quite simple,” says Chan, a consummate professional who looked undeniably polished, not so much as a hint of the last 48 hours on her flawless skin.

Nicolas Ghesquière’s latest collection, shown against the majesty of the statues inside the Musée d’Orsay, gave Chan and her front row friends, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas, a glimmer of joy during what can feel like a hopeless time. “Everything Nicolas does feels so fresh,” asserts Gemma. “Some of the looks feel so bold that you think they will be tricky to wear, but actually they make you feel so strong. I love what he does.” [Source]