Lupita Nyong’o Brought an “Out-of-Body” Breastplate to the Tony Awards

Lupita Nyong’o is no stranger to Broadway, having performed in productions such as Eclipsed, so it was only natural that the actor walked the Tony Awards red carpet this evening. Instead of channeling the traditional glitz and glamour that’s seen at the annual awards ceremony, however, the star embraced a more daring fashion choice this evening. Nyong’o wore a molded silver cast of her own body, made by the Pakistani designer Misha Japanwala. She wore the artist’s silver breastplate with a sleek black suit, and accessorized the look with sparkling jewels from De Beers. But it was that revealing (yet not!) top that was the real focal point of the ensemble. 

Nyong’o chose to sport the designer’s work not only because of its obviously striking appearance, but also for the deeper meaning behind it. She descriptive wearing it as a “shameless, out-of-body experience.” Japanwala’s castings aim to subvert the male gaze, and rebelliously celebrate the female form. “[Japanwala’s] work is rooted in the rejection and deconstruction of external shame attached to one’s body,” the actor wrote on her Instagram page. “In her artistic process, she creates a realistic and true record of a person’s body as an act of resistance and celebration, and an insistence on being allowed to exist freely in our bodies. . . Misha, thank you for this special opportunity to be exactly here, in this body now.” Sure, it’s early in the night, but it’s certainly bound to be one of the evening’s most original fashion moments.