Nicola Coughlan is having a main-character moment when it comes to her red-carpet style. The actress – who is currently promoting Bridgerton with the help of her stylist Aimée Croysdill – was in Paris this week for the Christian Louboutin show, where she sat front row in a classic black Vivienne Westwood dress from MyTheresa, paired with shimmering Louboutin accessories.
“Nicola is brilliant,” Croysdill says, of their working relationship. “She brings film references and iconic moments in pop culture and film, then I pair it with fashion moments, so we have a beautiful synergy between the two. Both of us will come with ideas for different events and we will just roll with it, it’s such a great relationship.”
The most important part of the styling process is making sure that her client feels comfortable, Croysdill says. “I want to make people feel amazing and like themselves; that’s at the fundamental core of what I do, to get to know someone’s personality and bring out that sense of the individual.”
Below, we caught up with Coughlan to discuss her evolving style, her most memorable fashion moment, and when she feels most beautiful.
“As we wanted to centre the look around the amazing Louboutin shoes, we paired a really iconic French brand with an equally as iconic British brand, Vivienne Westwood. Aimée and I love Westwood, so we’ve been looking for an opportunity to wear one of her corseted designs – this felt like the perfect time.”
“Aimée and I both keep an eye on what’s happening, without following trends too much. We look for overarching themes in fashion and what will work for the story we want to tell. For example, the Bridgerton press story we’re embarking on at the moment is going to be a month-long event, so it’s about looking at what you want to put across [for the whole run]. In previous seasons, I’ve not been the leading lady; in this one, I am – so we’re definitely taking it in that direction this time, so it feels like a really fun way to advance it.”
“Louboutin is such an iconic brand. Everyone knows the red-bottom soles; to have something so recognisable like that is amazing. There are very few brands that have such an incredible calling card – the shoes just elevate any look that you wear them with.”
“I tend to be quite involved. Aimée and I have a great relationship, so we tend to bounce ideas off one another all the time. We’re constantly sending each other different references and various looks from the runway. The part I enjoy about fashion is that it’s just a different form of storytelling, so I get a lot of joy from it. The more Aimée and I plan looks together, the more I love it.”
“My style has evolved a lot; when I first started going to events or being in the public eye, I used to throw on stuff that didn’t make me feel amazing. I felt so defeatist about the whole thing, which was so silly, as I really love fashion and dressing up – but I was more focused on what being under people’s gaze and being criticised would be like. Then I realised how dumb that was and instead dressed up how I wanted. If you feel good, everything else is completely irrelevant. I always try and take that with me.”
“I really loved the Richard Quinn look I wore to the Met Gala last year, because for me and my team it was all of our first time going to the event. I love sitting at home watching the Met; I’m always very picky when people don’t get the brief right! I felt that Richard Quinn and his team really nailed the brief when we approached them, they pulled it together so quickly, so I always look back on that fondly.”
“It’s an obvious answer, but it has to be Zendaya for me. I love her partnership with Law Roach – it’s so exciting to see what they’re going to do next and that they have so much fun with fashion. It’s always really creative and makes sense for whatever project they’re linking it with. The Mugler look she recently wore on the Dune red carpet – you have to be a serious style icon to pull that off and she really did.”
“I’ll get the playlist going! I like to have drinks and snacks ready for everybody if I’m getting ready at home. I think one glass of champagne before a red carpet is the ideal amount if you can. Just simply having the time to get ready is great; myself and my team all love to have a good chat and gossip about looks we liked and didn’t like, which is all part of the fun of it.”
“I like taking the time to do my own self-care, hair and make-up. I know a lot of people say they feel the most beautiful with no make-up on, but when I do it’s when I’ve really taken care of myself, drank enough water and got enough sleep. Then I can sit down and look at my face, take it all in and just thoughtfully apply my make-up. I really love that process – it’s a different version of myself than I would present on a red carpet or on screen. It feels like something that belongs to me.”
“Fashion matters because it’s how it makes you feel. I always say that you’ll feel different in a pair of pyjamas to a ball gown. When I dress up, it makes me feel more powerful and sometimes sexier – it can make you feel a million different ways. There’s so much power in dressing. If you can utilise it to make you feel your best then that’s a brilliant thing.”