Nyong’o kicked off the night in a red two-piece with a gathered crop top and maxi skirt, which she and stylist Micaela Erlanger paired with a denim jacket and jewelry from Elsa Peretti’s Tiffany & Co. collection. Afterwards, she swapped her red-hot two-piece for a plunging white gown to present Rachel Scott of Diotima with womenswear designer of the year, and ended the night in a navy jersey dress with a denim bomber with a jean clutch to match.
The looks were right in line with Nyong’o’s personal tastes. “My off-duty style is relaxed, effortless, and comfortable, but always with a sense of personality. I love pieces that feel easy to wear but still allow me to express myself,” Nyong’o tells Vogue. “Tonight’s looks are a reflection of that—classic, versatile pieces with a fresh approach, inspired by a tried-and-true basic: a T-shirt, but with a modern point of view.”
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Taylor Hill
Erlanger was on hand to help make each look red carpet-ready, adding a very Gap twist with a denim bomber jacket and clutch, plus jewelry from Boucheron, Tiffany & Co., and CFDA accessory designer of the year winner Ana Khouri. “When Lupita and I started discussing the vision for [the night], we kept returning to the beauty of effortless dressing. The process was all about playful reinvention,” Erlanger says. “I wanted Lupita to feel comfortable and true to herself, while elevating an everyday staple into something elevated, modern, and distinctly appropriate for the CFDA.”
Below, follow along as Lupita Nyong’o gets ready for the 2026 CFDA Awards.
