How Model Lulu Tenney Prepares to Walk for Dior Couture

For model Lulu Tenney, Paris and Dior are forever linked. That’s because Tenney’s first show in the city of lights was for Dior, after exclusively working with a Raf Simons-led Calvin Klein for a considerable period. Tenney, who let Vogue capture her prep process for the house’s fall 2022 couture collection in a new video, still beams when she reflects on her debut. “I was so excited about it because it’s, you know, Dior,” she says. “It’s, like, a pretty huge deal.”

Tennney’s pre-show routine kicks off in true Parisian style: with a shot of espresso. “The airline lost all my luggage,” Tenney shares in-between sips, serving casual glamor with her hair wrapped in a plush bath towel. “But then I was like, ‘Stuff? Who needs it? I’ll be a minimalist!’” Tenney then moves on to getting dressed and completing her skincare routine, showing off the personal photos and mementos she travels with during the process. Once ready, Tenney takes some time to bask in the morning soleil. “I love Paris because obviously the buildings are so old, and so classic and beautiful, but there is this young, fresh, exciting energy that I’m kind of discovering,” Tenney says.

Off to the show site: a tent pitched in Musée Rodin’s sculpture garden. Once there, Tenney gets her hair, makeup and nails done. The look for the day: “Natural glow, natural beauty,” a member of the show’s beauty team shares, pointing out Tenney doesn’t need much help. Afterwards, Tenney takes some time to practice her walk for the show. (Some tips from Tenney: Keep a level eyeline. Shoulders back. Calm demeanor.) “I know Maria Grazia likes a very powerful, strong walk, so maybe I do something like this,” Tenney says before testing out a strut. She runs through the key marks she has to hit, which includes a Vogue Runway camera. “This is the photo that everyone sees.”

Now it’s forty-five minutes before showtime and Tenney is ready to go. The Dior-favorite dons one of the collection’s standout pieces: An off-white dress that showcases the meticulously intricate embroidery of the Dior atelier. Once the show is over, Tenney is immediately off to the next show. Her chosen mode of transportation? The back of a moped. Au revoir!