Jennifer Lawrence's fashion renaissance

From the success of Succession to the focus on Gwyneth Paltrow's courtroom looks via TikTok's two million views #OldMoneyAesthetic, quiet luxury is the aesthetic of the year. Simple but sophisticated lines, minimal designs, quality materials, basic colours, classic pieces but with a twist that gives them character, and a brand list that includes maisons like Loro Piana and Jil Sander have inspired the latest catwalks and won over many celebrities, propelling them towards a style revolution. A few examples? Sofia Richie, Kylie and Kendall Jenner and, most notably, Jennifer Lawrence.

The actress took time off from acting between 2019 and 2021, during which she and husband Cooke Maroney welcomed their first child, Cy. Now JLaw returns to the big screen with No Hard Feelings, a comedy with a similar plot to Failure to Launch starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew McConaughey. In it, she plays the character Maddie, who, in order to avoid losing her childhood home, answers a Craigslist ad from two overprotective and obsessive parents looking for someone willing to hang out with and nurture their introverted 19-year-old son Percy, who is about to leave for university. Although the star's return to the big screen brings with it all the makings of an entertaining audience, it's not Jennifer's acting performance that has caught the eye in recent months, but the looks she has worn during the promotional tour. Thank you to a series of polished, minimalist outfits chosen with the help of new stylist Jamie Mizrahi, the Hunger Games actress has gone from the awkward, watery-eyed little girl who tripped over her Dior gown when she fell on the steps of the Dolby Theatre on the way to accepting her Oscar to a new style muse.

The first signs of change could be seen at the Cannes Film Festival with a crimson bustier dress by Christian Dior Couture that concealed a pair of plain black flip-flops by The Row, but confirmation that Lawrence has grown up and is adapting her style to this stage of life came a few weeks later at the London premiere of Failure to Launch. On this occasion, the Silver Linings Playbook star alternated between an asymmetrical outfit by The Row and an hourglass dress by Dior, which featured a completely sheer top and was complemented by leather opera gloves. For the Spanish leg, however, she opted for a white mini chemise dress by Alaïa, held together at the waist by a black belt, followed by a nude sheath dress with a sculptural neckline from Loewe's FW23 collection.

From Madrid, the cast of the film flew to Berlin. There, Jennifer walked the red carpet at Zoo Palast in a triple-buttoned jacket dress from Givenchy's FW23 collection with a tulle turtleneck peeking out from underneath. She paired it with a pair of black patent leather slingbacks with a stiletto heel. In New York, the actress opted for the timeless elegance of Giorgio Armani Privé, a nude-coloured rhinestone-studded dress with a plunging neckline and jacket, paired with Oliver Peoples sunglasses and Christian Louboutin heels. The other two outfits spotted in the Big Apple? An ivory, one-shouldered Greek Goddess dress from Dior's Pre-Fall 2023 collection, followed by another white dress, this time by Proenza Schouler, complemented by gold accessories.

In between tour stops and appearances at TV, Jennifer also wore a little black dress by Stella McCartney, a dress by Carolina Herrera with a Blair Waldorf headband, a knitted waistcoat by Loewe over a Leset t-shirt and trousers by Jonathan Anderson. The final outfit, which fully embodied the quiet luxury aesthetic and new vibe of her wardrobe, was worn by Jennifer for a Longines commercial. The actress was dressed almost entirely in The Row, with the exception of Manolo Blahnik's Ballerimu mules: $3,950 Cadel Coat, $1,950 Benji Crew Neck in cashmere, $1,950 Lukre shirt, $1,190 Gala Pant in virgin wool, $990 and $5,890 Soft Margaux 17 bag. Not enough for you? On her wrist she wore the Dolce Vita watch by Longines. Who knows what she'll wear on her next outing?

JLaw's return to the limelight has reignited comments and speculation about cosmetic touch-ups the actress has allegedly undergone in recent years. On social media, many are insinuating with many photos that the star has undergone cosmetic surgery, particularly to alter her eyes, nose and facial contours. Fed up with the rumours, Jennifer responded in an interview with Kylie Jenner for Interview Magazine. She denied everything. The reason for the changes to her face? Simply great make-up and the passage of time. Jlaw explained that she is a big fan of contouring and make-up: “I also think it’s incredible what makeup can do because I work with Hung [Vanngo], who overlines the lip, and I call him a plastic surgeon, because everybody in the last few months since I’ve been working with him is convinced that I had eye surgery.” Later, spurred on by Jenner, who, like her, always takes centre stage for the same reasons, she also made it clear that it is extremely misleading to compare photos from different historical periods. “I have the same thing. I started at 19, so I get the before and after pictures from when I’m 19 to 30 and I’m like: I grew up. I lost baby weight in my face, and my face changed because I’m ageing. Everybody thought I had a nose job, and I’m like: I’ve had the exact same nose. My cheeks got smaller. Thank you for bringing it up.” Change is inevitable, it's just that our eyes, frozen in eternal youth, are no longer trained to recognise the signs of ageing, not just wrinkles but also natural facial changes such as hollowed cheeks or decreasing skin firmness. It used to be Sarah Jessica Parker who reminded us of this, now it's Jennifer Lawrence's turn. Will the day come when we stop scrutinising and judging our own looks and those of other women and hold them responsible for deciding whether or not to have cosmetic surgery? To quote the Sex & The City actress: Shouldn't it just be important for a woman to feel comfortable in her skin and have good self-esteem?