The Crown's Vanessa Kirby Wants to Dress Like a '60s Style Icon

Vanessa Kirby has a simple, but very effective, style formula: elegant, fuss-free silhouettes, 1960s-inspired beauty and really great jewellery. It's a recipe she's successfully honed over her years in the spotlight, working closely with stylist Ryan Hastings (who has also been working with Bones & All actress Taylor Russell) to create a wardrobe and aesthetic that feels both classic and contemporary—and very Vanessa Kirby.

The actress invited us to join her in Paris for the evening where she was getting ready to attend a dinner celebrating the reopening of Cartier's historic flagship boutique at 13, rue de la Paix, which has been closed for a two-year renovation project. She turned to one of her favourite designers for the evening, Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton, wearing a fitted dress with a cut-away bodice, and a pair of metallic strappy heels.

Naturally, the look also called for some Cartier jewels, and she finished it off with some elegant pieces from the brand's Grain de Café collection, including a necklace, bracelet and two rings in yellow gold and diamonds. The collection is a particularly fitting match for Kirby; the coffee bean motif first launched in 1938 under the creative direction of Jeanne Toussaint, but gained popularity in the 1950s and '60s—an era that the actress finds particularly inspiring when it comes to her own personal style.

We caught up with Kirby ahead of the dinner, to discuss her approach to event dressing, how she found her confidence on the red carpet, and why what we wear matters.

What was the inspiration behind your look this evening?

I’m wearing Alexander McQueen and I absolutely love Sarah Burton and her clothes. This white dress really embodies her aesthetic—feminine but strong, elegant and so beautifully made.

Can you talk us through the details behind your hair and make-up?

We decided to go for neutral tones with a '60s flick, and a low ponytail. We just wanted something simple and understated.

How does the event you’re attending impact what you choose to wear?

It was an intimate dinner celebrating the reopening of the historic 13, rue de la Paix boutique with the Cartier family, who I so love and adore. Ryan and I choose a simple, classic and chic McQueen look to fit with Cartier’s newest jewelery collection. A dream pairing for a night in Paris, which is one of my most favorite cities. I love being back here.

How do you decide which brands to work with?

I am so drawn to the designers, and deeply inspired by them, both as people and as artists. Sarah Burton and Pierpaolo Piccioli I absolutely love. I also adore Daniel Roseberry and what he is doing with Schiaparelli, as well as Matthew Williams at Givenchy.

How involved do you tend to be in the styling process?

I work with Ryan Hastings who I absolutely love, he is a great friend. We usually move away from anything too girly or frilly.

How has your confidence developed on the red carpet?

I’m not sure it has! It's always a bit nerve-wracking, it never feels totally easy but usually I’m with friends or people I work with that I love, and that always makes it so much more comfortable.

How do you feel that your style has evolved?

Well, I like a sort of strong femininity, so I always like suits and more structured lines and [that] is why I love Valentino, McQueen and Givenchy; they embody femininity with color and strength.

What has been your most memorable red-carpet moment of all time?

I absolutely loved wearing a red Valentino look for press recently in Venice. The color really felt strong combined with the femininity of the bold roses. I also loved wearing a diamond Cartier necklace to the Oscars, it was so simple but worn backwards made it feel a little different.

What is your ideal getting-ready set-up?

With my best friend Anna or my sister, having a little glass of wine while getting ready, listening to music.

Whose style have you always admired?

All the '60s actresses, and the ones whose spirit and essence I find most inspiring—Gena Rowlands, Tippi Hedren, Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve—they're the real style queens. The Grain de Café collection was designed in 1938 by the incredible Jeanne Touissant, and became particularly popular in the '50s and '60s, so you can really feel the history of it all.

Fashion has a reputation for being frivolous, but why does what we wear matter?

I think it hugely influences how you feel. I've never considered myself at all fashionable, but I do know when you wear pieces—no matter how old or simple, in my case—that you love or that make you feel great, it's a beautiful thing.

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