Behind the Scenes of Issa Rae’s Luminous Look for the Chanel Cruise Show

This week, at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, Chanel mounted their Cruise 2023/2024 present, simply eight days after the model was celebrated in droves on the Met Gala, the place the costume code was in honor of the late Chanel inventive director Karl Lagerfeld.

A constellation of stars have been in attendance for Chanel’s present, together with the ever-illuminated Issa Rae, who — alongside along with her stylist Wouri Vice and make-up artist Joanna Simkin — gave The Hollywood Reporter an unique behind-the-scenes look of how she ready for the runway occasion and her reflections afterward.

“It was an expertise from begin to end with a nostalgic however festive power within the air. The meals vans and the skilled curler skaters have been the right addition to the present, making it really feel carnival-like,” says Rae of the environment on the Paramount lot the place attendees loved pizza slices and hamburgers from meals vans and cocktails from bar vans.

The actress, author and producer dressed for the night in Chanel head-to-toe, sporting a whimsically patterned grey and peach costume with metallic gildings and a pearl-strung belt anchored by the long-lasting double-C emblem.

“My outfit was a standout piece that felt timeless and stylish. The mix of patterns and colours instantly attracts your eyes into the outfit and the equipment have been the right contact to tie every part collectively,” Rae says.

This occasion marked Vice and Rae’s first time working collectively, however the inventive collaboration got here collectively effortlessly. Says Vice: “I really like the imagery that she has already introduced, so the prospect to work with somebody who’s of that stature and sort of legacy, it’s an honor … When it got here to Issa, there’s her pores and skin tone, her lovely smile, simply the best way that she wears her hair — so her look tonight was positively based mostly off of these issues, like simply her private magnificence.”

Rae’s favourite seems to be from the night time have been two items that instantly wowed her: a peachy golden jumpsuit and a pastel tweed set. “Each have that traditional feel and appear of Chanel,” she says. The take a look at proper “has a nostalgic twist that I’m drawn to, whereas [left] nearly dominates the scene with the easy total look, however the design and particulars exude sophistication.”

Rae’s make-up look drew inspiration from the costume she wore, together with the setting of Los Angeles, Rae’s hometown. “I utilized heat bronzes and peachy, berry, blush tones, as they felt like a California sundown,” Simkin says, who used Chanel for Rae’s complete face — from pores and skin to lips and brows.

For a contemporary, mushy eye, the make-up artist recommends utilizing the Chanel Les Beiges Wholesome Glow Pure Eyeshadow Palette in Intense. “Brush the nice and cozy copper shade everywhere in the eyelid, from the lash line to crease, utilizing a fluffy mixing brush,” she says, including: “Faucet the highest peach shade everywhere in the lid, then smudge the deepest brown shade on prime of a black pencil across the lash line for refined smolder.”

In accordance with the stylist — who has labored with Taraji P. Henson, Alicia Keys, Andra Day and H.E.R. — Rae has a transparent concept of her aesthetic and can be keen to “take completely different items and blend and match parts.”

“I’m actually enthusiastic about working along with her as a result of her model is robust, and she or he’s a robust Black lady. And thats part of the model in my legacy of who I’ve labored with,” Vice says. “I costume individuals from the within out, and this occurs to be a very particular [partnership] as a result of I’ve an excellent relationship with the Chanel household typically. … It’s sort of superior as a result of Chanel is such an enormous home that has so many various features. And there’s somewhat little bit of one thing for everyone.”