When I cast my mind to the Met Gala next year, I try to think about who has the wherewithal to give the people what they want: a tantalising red carpet moment. There's Zendaya and Rihanna, naturally, but aside from those two, my brain keeps circling around Taylor Russell.
To say the Canadian actress shot to fame from relative obscurity would be false, Russell's public profile has been growing steadily over time, with parts in A24's Waves and 2020 YA film Words on Bathroom Walls. Yet, it just so happens that her role as Maren in Luca Guadagnino's Bones and All has accelerated the process. She's everywhere, and we like it that way. Especially because her press tour wardrobe has been nothing short of impressive.
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At Venice Film Festival 2022 she stepped out in Balenciaga Couture while Timmy Chalamet bared his back in a blood-red, lamé Haider Ackermann haltersuit. In October at the BFI London Film Festival, Russell gave the first look from Schiaparelli FW22 a real life debut worthy of its charm. Before London she wore strapless Prada to the New York Film Festival premiere of Bones and All, and later on, heavenly Loewe to the AFI Fest and then a black leather Alexander McQueen dress to the Academy Museum Gala.
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The fashion world is equally enamoured too. At Paris Fashion Week, Taylor Russell opened for Loewe SS23 show, one that revolved around the high-gloss anthurium with its venomous colour palette. A month later and Loewe announced the actor as its global brand ambassador. A fashion star is born.
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And we've witnessed these striking style moments off the red carpets and runway too. Whether that's arm-in-arm with Alexa Demie, both off duty in Paris or being stopped for a fit check on the streets of NYC. She's always iced-out in Loewe, with cropped hair and glowing skin (shout out to those sweet birthmarks).
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Even within Bones and All, Russell wore some pretty compelling outfits. Although we have costume designer Giulia Piersanti to thank for that. It's all combat boots and 80s button-up floral dresses, soft cotton underwear and tank tops. In any case, the message is clear; Taylor Russell's charm is that she's a style chameleon yet you'd never call it flippant or confused. Like Zendaya and Rihanna, Russell's strength is in her fluidity, and her openness to surrealist, theatrical looks, while also being a master of street style too. All we know is 2023 will be a big year for Russell and fashion, we can feel it.
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Image: @loewe @tayrussell
