Every fashion week has an It girl. Last season, Jenna Ortega had her moment, and for S/S24 we’re calling it: Ayo Edebiri is your new front row style crush.
With roles in The Bear, Theatre Camp and Bottoms, the actor is ubiquitous on screens right now, and set to be a firm fixture at fashion week, too, with a prime spot at Proenza Schouler’s show starting her schedule, and an appearance in Rodarte’s new look book.
Proenza is known for its cool girl lineups, so it speaks to Edebiri’s current status that she was front and centre at its latest spot on the New York Fashion Week schedule. She sat beside long-term friend and Bottoms co-star Rachel Sennot , as well as the movie’s director, Emma Seligman. Also cosying up with them were Edebiri’s The Bear co-star Molly Gordon, and Sennott’s Bodies, Bodies, Bodies co-star Chase Sui Wonders.
Edebiri’s look was understated elegance to a tee. A softly tailored white jacquard shirt, black blazer and wide leg trousers were paired with Western-style pointed chunky heels, a tri-coloured clutch and blacked out sunnies. Seligman, whom she met at New York University, wore a complementary look for their shared entrance; a white pleated strappy dress and shoe of the season: ballet flats.
The monochrome look may have appeared effortless, but an Instagram Story from the back of a cab revealed Edebiri’s glam squad as makeup artist Rommy Najor (who incidentally is responsible for many of Ortega’s looks) and Mitchell Cantrell, who created the actor’s soft centre-parted curls. Giving us ‘celebs: they’re just like us’ energy, the actor also caveated that she knew the photo format was “ultimately very chaotic” as she’s “bad at Instagram.” Another reason to love her.
Elsewhere on Instagram, the 27-year-old has been trending as part of the 34-strong celeb lineup for Rodarte’s spring/summer 2024 look book. LA-based designers Kate and Laura Mulleavy eschewed a catwalk show for another season in favour of creating a world of their own, with a stunning portrait series.
A who’s who of young Hollywood, it also features Barbie’s Ariana Greenblatt and Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart, wearing dreamy confections from the brand amid a backdrop of oversized blooms and other whimsical props.
Incidentally Reinhart is the only participant with a ‘likes’ count that surpasses those on Edebiri’s posts from the brand. Given Reinhart’s 27 million-strong following versus Edebiri’s 498K, it speaks volumes about The Bear actor’s rising fashion star. Indeed, Edebiri looks exquisite in a floor-sweeping, floral pattern beaded gown with a peplum detail and cross-over halter neckline. The look was finished with fresh-faced makeup and braids.
Just as Edebiri is known for her ability to play the multi-faceted character of Sydney so effortlessly, she’s fast proving she can fluctuate between traditionally masc and femme looks with ease – and make them look equally covetable.
This season isn’t Edebiri’s first time courting major brands. Working with stylist Laura Sophia Cox, she’s had standout moments in Loewe, Valentino, Rosie Assoulin and Wales Bonner for events and on the red carpet. Thom Browne’s quirky designs seem to be a particularly strong match for her aesthetic. At the brand’s haute couture show in July, a form-fitting strapless midi dress, matching navy jacket with contrast stitching and platform loafers looked made for her.
Finding her style groove may not have been as effortless for Edebiri as it seems, however, as the actor recently told Interview magazine that starting her career in comedy made her elect for a uniform way of dressing. “I’ve always enjoyed clothes, but as a stand-up I got very into this uniform of big shirt, big pants, which I still think is cool, but I had this idea that if people see my body, they won’t take me seriously in stand-up,” she explained.
With the SAG-AFTRA strikes rolling on, Edebiri will have more time on her hands for fashion appearances, and to continue to refine her signature style. We for one are saying a resounding ‘yes, chef!’ to more front row appearances from her.
