Cynthia Erivo Went From Running a Marathon to the Front Row of Fashion Week

Erivo shares that the presentation’s theatrical setting made it all worthwhile. “The production design for the show was really beautiful—a post-apocalyptic, alien-esque vibe—and the music was really great,” says Erivo. As someone who frequently wears Vuitton on the red carpet, Erivo was also taking in designer Nicolas Ghesquière’s new pieces and eyeing looks for future appearances. “My favorite look was the black leather halter neck dress that looks like the buckle on the boots that were in the show two seasons ago,” she says. “It had a cream belt at the neck and a cream massive belt at the hem of the dress. That was my favorite.”

Naturally, as a red carpet star and fashion lover, Erivo needed her own statement look for the front row. Styled by Jason Bolden, she chose Vuitton’s bronze criss-cross top, which she paired with high-waisted leather harem pants. “It turns out [Bolden and Vuitton] were saving this look for me,” says Erivo. “I guess they know me well enough to know I like dangerous things, and things that are daring. I like how it felt—it felt very Egyptian.” She completed the look with a monogrammed top-handle Vuitton bag, and sky-high platforms. “Louis understands my love of a skyscraper heel,” she says (remember: this woman just ran a marathon).

Now that both her marathon and Paris Fashion Week are over with, Erivo will now be getting back to work on preparing for 2024’s Wicked—her upcoming movie-musical co-starring Ariana Grande (Erivo will portray the wicked witch Elphaba; Grande will play Glinda the good witch). She can’t tell us much about the project yet—but she does give us a teaser. “Prep for filming is going really well,” Erivo says. “You can expect, hopefully, a wonderful story about two brilliant women who are trying to figure it all out. And a lot of good singing.”

Below, a closer look inside Erivo’s Paris Fashion Week.