Once upon a time, a young actress named Lily James seized the opportunity to turn a never-ending press circuit into a fashion fairy tale.
Taking cues from the Lupita Nyong’o playbook, the 25-year-old Brit leveraged the hype surrounding Disney’s live-action “Cinderella” to score princess-worthy looks from top designers (all hail Queen Prada, King Christian Dior!).
In honor of the film, out Friday, here are the star’s most enchanting red-carpet moments.
Perfect match
George Pimentel/WireImage;George Pimentel/Getty ImagesWho: Christian Dior dress, Aquazzura pumps, Olympia Le-Tan clutch
Where: “Cinderella” screening in Toronto, Canada (March 11)
Why we love it: The sophisticated dress made our hearts skip a beat; the book clutch made them explode.
Floral affair
Ben Gabbe/Getty ImagesWhat: Christian Dior dress, Stuart Weitzman sandals
Where: SiriusXM Studios in NYC (March 10)
Why we love it: It’s femme yet miraculously not too frilly, despite being completely covered in flowers.
Cut above
Disney Consumer Products/AP ImagesWhat: Christian Dior top and skirt, Roger Vivier sandals
Where: “Cinderella” window unveiling at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC (March 10)
Why we love it: Any crop top you can wear to a formal fête is A-OK with us.
Quite all white
Jenny Anderson/WireImage; Steve Mack/FilmMagicWhat: Camilla and Marc dress, Stuart Weitzman sandals
Where: AOL BUILD Speaker Series in NYC (March 9)
Why we love it: The look is both classically feminine and fashion-forward, which is what James is all about. Plus, angelic white: always a winner.
Outside the box
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images; Kristina Bumphrey/StarPixWhat: Dolce & Gabbana dress, Stuart Weitzman sandals
Where: “Cinderella” screening in NYC (March 8)
Why we love it: Although ladylike and romantic, the silhouette is more challenging than that of anything else she’s worn. “A+” for shaking things up.
Prints charming
Victor Chavez/WireImageWhat: Mary Katrantzou dress, Alexandre Birman sandals
Where: “Cinderella” photocall in Mexico City, Mexico (March 6)
Why we love it: What’s not to love about an easy, breezy dress set with surrealist prints and paired with killer Cinderella-blue shoes?
Now factor
Victor Chavez/WireImageWhat: Prada dress, Anya Hindmarch clutch
Where: “Cinderella” premiere in Mexico City, Mexico (March 5)
Why we love it: It’s a princess gown for a modern girl — no puffy tulle, just layers of slick chiffon.
Make it reign
Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.comWhat: Elie Saab couture dress
Where: “Cinderella” premiere in Hollywood, Calif. (March 1)
Why we love it: In addition to being absolutely gorgeous, it’s the epitome of “theme-appropriate.” Everyone in Tinseltown should be taking notes.
Lady in red
Nick Zonna / Splash News; Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty ImagesWhat: Gucci dress, Christian Louboutin sandals
Where: “Cinderella” photocall in Milan, Italy (Feb. 18)
Why we love it: It’s sleek, simple and a refreshing change of pace.
Needle points
Paolo Diletto/startraksphoto.com; Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty ImagesWhat: Erdem dress, Jimmy Choo sandals
Where: “Cinderella” premiere in Milan, Italy (Feb. 18)
Why we love it: This folkloric embroidery makes her a walking enchanted forest.
Bling it on
Gennady Avramenko/Epsilon/Getty Images; Starface.ru / Splash NewsWhat: Nicholas Oakwell dress, Chelsea Paris sandals
Where: “Cinderella” premiere in Moscow, Russia (Feb. 16)
Why we love it: Nothing says “royalty” — or “Russia,” for that matter — like a blinged-out couture dress.
Royal blush
A-way! / Splash News; Aurore Marechal/startraksphoto.comWhat: Christian Dior dress
Where: “Cinderella” premiere at the Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany (Feb. 13)
Why we love it: Ballet-pink ruffles don’t usually read as minimal, but here James is a paradigm of contemporary, uncomplicated elegance.
Fun and fancy chic
Jochen Zick/startraksphoto.com; AP Photo/Michael SohnWhat: Mary Katrantzou dress, Jimmy Choo sandals
Where: “Cinderella” photocall during the Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, Germany (Feb. 13)
Why we love it: This proves prim doesn’t have to mean boring.
