The Year in Cynthia Erivo

Rooting through last year’s Golden Globes, I stumbled upon Cynthia Erivo in a neon green dress and thought, “Ooh, we should highlight that — actually, she had a big year, let’s look at ALL OF IT.” But then when I went to license the photos, the Globes gown in question had been removed from our subscription. Thus, the entire inspiration for this slideshow now can’t actually be in the slideshow.

Thank God for social media (in this specific instance)! In addition to an impressive slew of gowns that are also Instagram-only, and which I’ve also included below, Cynthia posted the green Valentino as a slow-motion video:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cynthia Erivo (@cynthiaerivo)

Her stylist, Jason Bolden, said he worked on this with Valentino without Cynthia being involved. Basically, she trusted him, and holy cow, that’s a healthy and strong relationship because her trust was more than rewarded. The rest of her year is just as dramatic, sometimes fabulous, occasionally fugtacular, and never, ever dull. Much like the Florence Pugh retrospective from earlier this week, Cynthia has a strong personality and point of view and isn’t afraid to try anything, and I respect the hell out of that.

Here’s more:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

This is Vera Wang, from the Critics Choice Awards, and… Vera has been at best hit-or-miss lately, so I’ll count this as one of her hits even if it’s not my favorite of Cynthia’s outfits lately.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

This is stunning custom work from Louis Vuitton, further solidifying the argument that they should just ONLY be bespoke. The collections are garbage but that? Divine.

Not into the fancy Lanvin basket here:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

Her underwear is… way too central to it.

Allow this Schiaparelli, however, to soothe and thrill you:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

This Valentino is magnificent on-stage:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

This Louis Vuitton would be vastly improved without the clown ruffle, right?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

Her magnificent orange Gucci had a heart cut-out on the back, which you can see in the IG carousel:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

THIS Vera Wang is substantially less successful than the first:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jason Bolden (@jasonbolden)

As I said at the time: “I want a sexy minidress, but make it IRRITATING,” said no one.

[Photos: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock for SAG Awards, David Fisher/Shutterstock for BAFTA, JP Yim/Getty Images for The New School, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET, Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for The Cut, London Entertainment and IPA/Shutterstock, Anthony Harvey, Matt Baron, Maria Laura Antonelli, Earl Gibson III, Richard Young, David Fisher/Shutterstock, ETTORE FERRARI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock, Ernesto S. Ruscio/Getty Images for Campari, Evan Agostini, Joel C Ryan, Richard Shotwell, and Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP/Shutterstock, Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tory Burch, Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images for Black British Theatre Awards, Shutterstock]