Some of the earliest memories of actor Bel Powley her mother expertly applied red lipstick without looking in the mirror. Also Call Powley herself has a preference for strong red lips. Preppy and polished, yet playful with her personal style, the actor feels like the perfect embodiment of today’s Chanel woman.
It’s a busy time for the British actress: Powley recently returned to the theater, playing Annie in Tom Stoppard’s beloved The Real Thing at the Old Vic. With roles such as Princess Margaret in A Royal Night OutBirdy in the TV adaptation of Dolly Alderton’s hit novel Everything I Know About Love and Bianca in the sitcom Benidorm.
Powley just returned from a whirlwind trip to Hangzhou, where she visited the Chanel 2024/25 Métiers d’art show visited, and is already back in Bristol, ready to dive into a new project that starts filming on Monday.
The Métiers d’art showChanel’s annual ode to craftsmanship, was held at Hangzhou’s West Lake. This year’s collection paid tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s love of Coromandel screens. Powley, no stranger to it Chanelsays this season’s show was a particularly magical experience as she sat front row in her look from the current collection.
ELLE UK spoke to Powley about her favorite Chanelpieces, her off-duty wardrobe and her biggest style inspirations.
About attending the Chanel show
I’ve been to one before Chanel couture show been, but never to one Métiers d’art showso it feels different and extra special. I love that the show is dedicated to celebrating the artisans who work so closely on all the pieces, from the buttons to the pleats to the ribbons and the hats.
It was so magical to be at the location of it West Lake in Hangzhou to be. The collection was inspired by the Coromandel screens that Gabrielle Chanel had in her apartment, depicting the lake. It felt like she was walking into Gabrielle Chanel’s dream. It was truly surreal, the models gliding across this shimmering lake. For me the whole experience felt a bit like a dream.
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About her look for the show
My stylist bought a bunch of stuff for us to try on, but it was the first thing we tried on and we immediately thought, “Yes, this is it.” It’s from the cruise collection, it’s an all black sequin skirt with a matching jacket, with a white geometric design on it. I think if you put them together it creates a shift shape. It felt very sixties. I wore it with a pair of white Sixties boots with a black toe and large black ones Chanel-earrings. In the end, my outfit really looked like the sparkling lake.
About her glamor for the evening
I find that if you have an outfit that looks quite sixties, the first thing everyone probably thinks of is really big sixties hair and makeup, but that can look a bit costumey. So I really try to play against things — it’s nice to have contrast in your look. We went for a very simple, very classic Chanel lookhair in a loose wave with one side, tucked behind the ear to show off the earring. And then really beautiful skin, very minimalist eyes and beautiful eyebrows. I applied some classic Chanel burgundy lipstick so that it would look like a stain seemed.
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About her favorite moments from the show
I loved these suede and leather bags that were big enough for a laptop, with a large pocket on the front. They were the bag, just like the traveling woman. There was also this light blue version of a duffle coat, which was so chic and gorgeous – great with simple jeans and ballet flats. But as we got to the end of the collection, you also had the kind of more lacy negligee nightwear piece that also stood out. It felt like everything Gabrielle Chanel would like to have in her suitcase for a trip.
About the Chanel woman
Like the ultimate French fashion house chic is the first word that comes to mind. But I have a feeling that the Chanel woman is more than that. She’s on the road, she’s working, she’s a professional, but she’s also incredibly well dressed. It classic Chanel jacket for example, works so well at work, in a professional environment, but it also works very well with jeans and ballet flats, and then dressed up with heels. Chanel is for women with a versatile life.
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About her time in Hangzhou
I brought my husband Douglas Booth as my guest, and he was so up for anything, so we got to work on it right away. We went to a really nice restaurant and tried a bunch of cool new dishes. We went to the spa and visited some incredible Buddhist temples. I can’t believe we did all that in 36 hours.
About her most cherished Chanel piece
I’ve had my classic calfskin ballet flats for a few years now, and I’ve almost completely worn them out. I wear them all the time, on the plane, in winter, in summer, with jeans, with dresses, with socks or without. They are the most versatile shoes, and they always look so good and are so comfortable.
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About her off-duty style
I actually never wear heels, and I would always wear a trainer. The last year and a half it will always be a Wales Bonner are. Every time a new collection comes out, I immediately buy it. Right now I have the white Superstars, which took me right back to my teenage years. If it’s not sneakers, it’s my ballerinas.
Both are always great with a nice pair of jeans or tailored trousers. I’m much more of a shirt person than a T-shirt person. I’ve always wanted to be a cool T-shirt person, but somehow they never fit me well. My everyday wardrobe would consist of straight leg or baggy jeans with ballet flats and a crisp oversized shirt in different colors. And when I went out, I hardly wore any makeup and only added red lipstick.
About her biggest style inspirations
My grandma was really stylish and my mom was always so interested in clothes, she would wear a white T-shirt and Levi’s jeans, she always looked so cool when I was growing up. She was also a lipstick person. One of my first memories is of seeing my mother putting on lipstick in the car without using the mirror. I grew up with stylish women around me, so they are the first ones that come to mind.
