Jayme Lawson Steps Into Her Own In Valentino

For the 24-year-old Jayme Lawson, fashion has always been an act of “becoming.” Her own sense of style started with a quiet observation, then a desire: “I saw the way my mother commanded a room in her heels,” she says. “And I wanted that.”

Lawson slipped into her mother’s oversized slingbacks, practiced her walk, and realized the unspoken power of clothes. When at last her mother bought her a pair of pumps, they came with instructions: “Her thing was, ‘If you want to wear heels, you’re gonna learn how to strut.’’”

The Juilliard-trained actress is only a few years removed from graduation, but she’s quickly learning what it means to perform on the largest possible stage. In 2022, she’ll appear in two major productions: The First Lady, a highly anticipated drama series on Showtime, and The Batman, a blockbuster-bound superhero film from Warner Bros. Pictures. Beyond the impact these career-making roles will have on her future in Hollywood, the characters Lawson embodies (and the looks that come with them) expand her sense of self.

Here, Lawson indulges in Valentino’s buoyant spring 2022 collection: Valentino Le Progrès Paris 3ème Arrondissement. Inspired by the intersection of luxury and daily life, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli imagined the fashion of a post-lockdown Paris, where glamour can exist without pretense. Ready-to-wear is offered in eye-catching shades of lime green and fuschia; Mary Jane pumps get a platform twist; streetwear-inspired separates are reimagined in geometric prints and oversized silhouettes.

Dressed in a few daydream-inducing looks from the collection, Lawson expands on her mother’s influence on her personal style, honing her craft, and where she’s headed next.

What was your exposure to fashion growing up?

My earliest introduction to fashion came from watching my mother when I was a child. Every morning she would meticulously prepare her outfits. She wasn’t a woman who could afford the most elaborate closet, which meant that suits and outfits would stay in rotation, but she would always wear them with pride and would strut down every street as if it were a runway.

What type of clothing makes you feel most powerful?

Heels! I had my first pair of heels before my first training bra.

Bright graphics, bold colors, and playful details are core to Valentino’s spring 2022 collection. How do these looks speak to your personal style?

It’s inspiring. I used to embrace color in my childhood – and then came conservatory training – and everything was black and gray, sweats and nondescript T-shirts. Since I’ve graduated, I’ve slowly begun to incorporate more color into my wardrobe. I am really falling in love with these vibrant colors against my complexion.

“Fashion, like acting, empowers me to make bold choices I wouldn’t otherwise make in my ordinary life. It’s through the ‘performance’ that I find more freedom.”

How do you prepare for a new role? What are your favorite ways to channel “main character energy” when you’re not on set?

It always starts with the script, followed by the research – both dictate “what,” “how,” and “when” I will begin the “becoming” process.

[Off-screen], I sometimes find that I push myself to the margins of my own life. Practicing self-care has proven to be a helpful self-validating tool: taking breaks from social media, investing in personal happiness, and practicing daily meditation.

Valentino is rooted in the idea that personal identity creates aesthetics. As you enter the public eye in a major way, how do you express your identity through fashion?

Fashion, like acting, empowers me to make bold choices I wouldn’t otherwise make in my ordinary life. Like acting, it’s through the “performance” that I find more freedom.

Shop key pieces from Jayme’s looks below or visit a Valentino boutique to receive personalized gift ideas from a concierge.