CARA BECOMES A ‘TRIPLE THREAT’
IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT MODELS
successfully transition into acting (Hi, Claudia Schiffer!), or singing (Hey there, Naomi Campbell!) – but could Cara Delevingne be about to break the mould?
Last week, the super won rave reviews for her role in Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets. Despite the film’s mixed critical reception, trade bible Variety’s chief critic Peter Debruge described Cara as a ‘revelation’, adding that the 24-year-old is ‘sassy, sarcastic and spontaneous’. Cara stars as Laureline, a time-travelling agent who battles to protect the city of Alpha, with him concluding that, ‘She doesn’t just save Alpha – she saves the movie as well.’
Last year, Cara’s performance in superhero saga Suicide Squad was less rapturously received, with her later commenting, ‘The critics have been absolutely horrific. They’re really, really horrible. You know, I just don’t think they like superhero movies. It doesn’t really matter what the critics say, at the end of the day, it’s the fans that we made this movie for.’
According to one source close to Cara, ‘She’s been under no illusion that she needed Valerian to be a hit. She’s got a great team around her these days, but they knew that Cara was lacking any sort of critical acclaim. Valerian had to be the one to break the run of good appearances but mediocre reviews. She needs to work her way up in Hollywood to the point where she can sell a film on her own and she’s not there yet – but Valerian could change all of that now she’s been praised like she has.’
The source continued, ‘Cara’s been deadly serious about the fact she wants to act and not be drawn back into huge modelling assignments, and being away from fashion and living more of a “normal” life has done her the world of good. She’s fit and healthy, avoiding nights out, and has even been thrilled to have had her skin clear up, thanks to lots of sleep. Her make-up artist Molly Stern has been amazing for her and like a mum on the road. She’s found fame hard but, for the moment, she’s plain sailing.’
And for her next trick? Last week, Cara released what one reviewer described as ‘the song of the summer’. I Feel
Everything features on the Valerian soundtrack and is her first official music release – after teasing fans with the prospect of an album since 2013, when she posted a picture of herself with Rihanna’s producer Isabella Machine. The song was produced by Pharrell Williams, who Cara duetted with in a 2015 Chanel campaign.
‘Acting is Cara’s main focus, but she was thrilled to finally share some of her music,’ added the source. ‘Now she’s conquered modelling and acting, she’d love to make her mark on the charts, and has loads of tracks ready to go when the right time comes. The feedback she’s had has been really positive, so she couldn’t be more excited about the next stage of her career.’
of waspish waists, tailored skirt suits and teetering Manolo Blahniks. Swathes of head-to-toe potent, photo-op block hues reign, like the regal red Dior suit (main picture) she wore on her visit to Paris earlier this month.
Standing beside Melania was France’s première dame, Brigitte Macron, who’s quickly shown the world her own spin on the First Lady look, defined by modish Louis Vuitton minidresses, power blazers and skintight trousers. Knowing what works for you is essential (legflashing cuts for Macron, fit-and-flare sleeveless dresses for Trump), as it shows unwavering confidence. Refreshingly, it’s this very confidence that suggests these women are in control, not merely decorative mannequins who provide window dressing for their husbands.
Their chosen weaponry might vary but, make no mistake, this is haute femme, high-impact armour of the highest order, power dressing for the iphone era. Frou-frou and floaty is out; slick, precise silhouettes are in. In today’s topsy-turvy political landscape, where the distinction between fact and fiction is blurred at best, it’s fitting that the new on-display dressing should find its icon in a TV character: House Of Cards’ FLOTUS and ‘Lady Macbeth’ Claire Underwood. Her wardrobe of cap-sleeved shiftdresses, cropped jackets and crisp shirting in an expensive neutral palette sets the tone for a look that is aspirational
but unapologetically unattainable.
This look exudes control, not warmth, perpetuating the wearers’ identities as uber-women. The antithesis of effortless dressing, it’s blatantly effortful (nobody, nobody rolls out of bed with hair like that). Whereas Michelle Obama and Sam Cam seemed at pains to portray the message ‘We’re just like you’, by sprinkling their wardrobes with accessible brands like Topshop and Target, Whistles and J Crew, this is about dressing for the few, not the many (see: Melania’s £40,000 Dolce & Gabbana coat). The royals are at it too. Princess Diana might have been beautiful and glamorous, but she also exuded a touching vulnerability and, to an extent, normality – dashing around Chelsea in her gym gear or jeans – a scenario far removed from the stage-managed perfection of Kate Middleton or Queen Letizia of Spain.
But how does this look work in the real world? In short, it doesn’t. A fondness for white only works if you don’t have to deal with toddlers or use public transport; sky-high stilettos are only a day shoe if your day involves being ferried around by a driver; a capacious carry-all bag can only be replaced by a neat, boxy clutch if your staff are toting your junk around for you. These women might look like they don’t sweat or swear or spill things down themselves – and good for them – but they have teams and the budgets to achieve that. It’s nice to look at in the same way it’s pleasant to peruse expensive holiday destinations, sure – but remember: really, really getting things done has always involved a few stains and smudges.
BUFFED, BRONZED AND BLOW-DRIED TO PERFECTION, THEIR LOOKS ARE AS MANAGED AS THEIR SCHEDULES