The Look Book: Fashion Is Art on the Lempicka Red Carpet

For a Broadway musical celebrating the life of a painter, it's fitting that the fashion of the opening night red carpet be works of art.Lempicka officially opened on Broadway April 14 and its company showed up in style. From the berets of gay Paree to deco-inspired patterns to gender-fluid styling, the red carpet looks leaned into several aspects of the musical's setting and theme.

The story centers on Polish painter Tamara de Lempicka, a young aristocrat-turned-artist who flees with her husband from the turmoil of the Russian Revolution for exile in Paris. Once there, Tamara meets her new muse, Rafaela, and claws her way to success. The artist was best known for her art deco portraits and stylized nudes.

Read our full coverage of opening night here and take a closer look at some of our favorite red carpet styles below.

Decked in Deco

Star Eden Espinosa, who plays the title artist Tamara de Lempicka, brought the streamlined geometry of Art Deco to the red carpet in her gown by Marc Bouwer. Jake Sokoloff styled the performer, adding silver shoes by Nina and Nickho Rey and Ippolita rings to complement shimmering lines in her sheer dress with angular train. A sleek ponytail and dark eyes complete the look. Hair is by Lindsay Block and makeup by Kat Nejat.

Woman Is Green

Amber Iman brings the green of Lempicka's self-portrait to life in her beaded vert dress with billowing satin coat by South African designer Gert-Johan Coetzee. The leggy muse was tailored by Atelier Domio and styled by @mrvladpl, who chose strappy green sandals by Stuart Weitzman, bag by Sondra Roberts New York, and green jeweled and beaded earrings and rings from Alex Soldier. Makeup is by Jessica Smalls and hair is by Monique Gaffney.

Holli’ Conway, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, and Khori Michelle

The Beret's the Thing

Nothing says "Paris" like a beret. The classic black cap was spotted atop three heads on the Lempicka red carpet: ensemblists Holli' Conway, Khori Michelle Petinaud, and guest Kevin Smith Kirkwood. All three tams topped off particularly sleek looks, as well. Petinaud's short black velvet dress was designed by herself and stylist Neka Zang, and her Wolf and Badger beret was adorned with a Resistance Pin by Jim Clift (supporting The Equal Justice Initiative). Kirkwood showed off their slender silhouette in a white sheath dress and double-breasted jacket from Maison Blanche.

Fluid Fashion

Ensemblist Nicholas Ward paired a tuxedo from SuitSupply with a black pleated skirt from the Black- and woman-owned small business Sandra Quinn Boutique. The black-and-white head (hat by Rodney Patterson)-to-toe (shoes by Marc Nolan) ensemble proves that there are no black-and-white gender rules on the red carpet.

Production stage manager and red carpet regular Cody Renard Richard added ball gown glamour to their men's tailored white shirt and black bowtie. Richard is self-styled and the gown was a custom collaboration between himself and Ryan Masline from Brooks/Masline. Hair is by Joliedens Beauty Bar and makeup is by Brandlyn Fulton.

The New Woman

Natalie Joy Johnson plays lesbian nightclub owner Suzy Solidor in Lempicka, once known as "the most painted woman in the world." On the red carpet, Johnson gives a nod to the masculine with an aqua green bow tie and cummerbund, and an ode to the feminine with the sexy thigh-slit in her sheer, Art Deco-inspired skirt. She told Playbill on the red carpet that she was inspired by the character Dorothy Zbornak from Golden Girls, who wore a memorable turquoise tuxedo in season two of the show. Johnson's college friend/costume designer Martha Smith created the look, with makeup by Em Katz.

Team Italy

George Abud was "perfection" on the red carpet in his vintage Fila Team Italia Ski jumpsuit—a playful nod to his character in Lempicka, Futurism poet and artist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Abud added Zadig & Voltaire Paris Flash white sneakers, an off-white silk rippled cravat, and iridescent mesh sunglasses. The entire outfit was purchased resale from Buffalo Exchange and Beacon's Closet. We love a thrift.

See more red carpet looks from Lempicka below.