by Calling all Lesley Manville fans; the famous actor has a new role. But it’s not another comedy drama that will win her a series of awards. This time, she stars herself in the latest advertising campaign for luxury fashion house Loewe.
The star of it Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris and The Crown, 68, looks as stunning as you’d expect in the images with fashion photographer Juergen Teller, posing in and around Model Village Bekonscot. The standout is a shot of her in red sunglasses, matched with a bold red lip. Expect those frames to fly out of the shops as we all want the same look.
Although Manville’s appointment came as some surprise, it makes sense. She’s been wearing a lot of Loewe lately and was spotted front row at the label’s Paris Fashion Week show in March.
Her most notable appearance for the brand came at the Bafta Television Awards in April when she wore a red dress with an oversized needle embellishment across the front. The yellow colorway is worn by Aubrey Plaza on the red carpet and FKA Twigs on the cover British Voguewhich was called the ‘post-It’ dress.
“It was a bit uncomfortable,” says Steph Wilson, Manville’s stylist. “She wouldn’t have said it normally, but we had a conversation about it, and I said, “’this is the time’”, she was like, you’re right. It was like she was challenging herself, and that can be exhilarating. It frees you from dressing a certain way.”
It was a risk that paid off as it cemented Manville’s reputation as someone to look out for on the red carpet. Someone who has fun with his style without drifting into stunt fashion territory.
And yet not all labels are falling over themselves to dress her. “I would have thought it would have been easier [to convince brands to lend looks],” says Wilson. “Some assumed it would [only] dress in a certain way. There are some great designers who have supported us – slowly and steadily won the race.”
Their loss is Loewe’s gain. The brand’s creative director Jonathan Anderson also has form for casting mid-life celebrities in advertising campaigns: Sir Anthony Hopkins in 2022 (then 84) and Dame Maggie Smith in 2023 (then 88) model for Loewe in recent years, and the response from both industry and customers has been enthusiastic.
He also had other brands. The late Joan Didion modeled for Celine in 2015 at age 80; Isabelle Huppert, 71, is the face of Balenciaga, while Pamela Anderson, 56 – who is now more famous for her flawless skin and makeup avoidance than her red Baywatch swimsuit – was the face of Jacquemus and Proenza Schouler. Mid and later life has never looked more chic.
You don’t need a designer budget to guide Manville’s approach to style. By sticking to a few key principles, it’s easy to inject a bit of youthful cool into your wardrobe too…
Keep him calm
Manville’s look isn’t overdone, says Annabel Hodin, a personal stylist who specializes in working with middle-aged women and beyond. “Nothing is too firm. She could have just run her fingers through her well-cut hair, added a splash of strong lipstick and voila, she exudes confidence and style and ease. As if any effort was made, but everything is kept to achieve this.”
Don’t be too hidden…
…But at the same time, don’t show too much. “Aging is too much to hide, but too much to reveal is not a great thing,” says Hodin. “Manville only reveals enough. She has beautiful skin, good shoulders and good arms, and her outfits accentuate her best features.”
“It’s about playing to your strengths,” says Wilson, “Leg or arm, not both at the same time.” What feels right will vary from person to person, but a good rule of thumb is a fraction outside your normal comfort zone.
Avoid trends
Instead, work out what works for you. Manville is successful in sticking to a palette that suits her: black, navy, warm reds, bronze. It’s mostly block colors rather than prints, and tailored silhouettes are preferred over billowy ones.
“The proportions are flattering,” says Hodin. “She knows what works for her body, and she looks tall when she doesn’t. The simple and elegant lines suit the shape of her face, with her hair swept back, earrings hanging the length of her neck.”
Take risks
Manville and Wilson first met on a magazine photo shoot, and their bond was a fear of acting. “We had some interesting pieces out there and she was really excited to try them on, crazy things like the Richard Quinn Cape.”
Context is also important. “In private she might cover her arms and have a more androgynous taste,” says Wilson. On the red carpet, she will embrace something more daring.
