Crazy Rich Asians Star Gemma Chan Turns the Red Carpet into a Showcase of Asian Fashion Talent

“Astrid was my favorite character,” says actress Gemma Chan, who plays the old-moneyed Singaporean style icon Astrid Leong-Teo in the summer’s most anticipated film, Crazy Rich Asians. “There were layers to her character. The top layer is the glamorous façade that seems very perfect. You dig a little deeper and you see there’s more going on there.” Such a multidimensional character resonates with the Oxford-educated Chan, who left behind a promising law career for acting and whose family roots extend from Hong Kong to Scotland. Now 35, the actress is using the widely covered press tour for her upcoming film as an opportunity to promote American and European designers with Asian heritages, like Adeam, Joseph Altuzarra, and Prabal Gurung. “I was keen to use this opportunity to put a spotlight on Asian creativity,” says Chan. “I’ve loved doing that and the designers have seemed to appreciate it.”

Of course Chan, who stands nearly six feet tall, would be any designer’s dream. The actress has continually turned heads on the red carpet, wearing everything from streamlined and sophisticated floor grazing dresses from Burberry, to a floral embellished, flapper-inspired Mary Katrantzou to sultry eveningwear by Stella McCartney. For the Crazy Rich Asians promotional tour, however, Chan wanted to use fashion to send a message — one that she crafted with the help of her new stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray. “We wanted it to reflect the values of the film,” says Chan, adding, “we tried to design it in the spirit of diversity and inclusivity.”

In Boston, Chan slipped into a floral dress from Kenzo. In Los Angeles, she wore a plaid number from Prabal Gurung. In Philadelphia, she embraced masculine tailoring from Oscar de la Renta (which is co-designed by the Korean-born, New York-based Laura Kim). In Dallas, she debuted a feather-hemmed frock by the London-based, Chinese-born designer Huishan Zhang. “I was channeling [Astrid]!” beams Chan, her voice lighting up when describing her refined updo borrowed from the character she plays. “That was one of my all-time favorites.”

It seems a lot of Astrid’s style has worn off on Chan, who admires the “timeless quality” she projects. Chan admires the way the film's costume designer, Mary E. Vogt, was able to capture Astrid's mix of high and low fashion. “She’s a character who’ll mix up high street stuff with haute couture,” adds Chan. “She loves fashion [and] she may buy expensive things but she doesn’t wear them to show off. She wears things because she’s in love with them.” One of those things was the pink Dior dress that Chan wears when her character is first seen on screen. “It’s so striking. Her hair is up and her sunglasses on. That’s kind of iconic. There’s a touch of Audrey Hepburn about that kind of look.”

As much as she loves haute labels, fancy frocks and sky-high heels, Chan says she's most at home in low-key separates and comfy kicks. “I’m obsessed with sneakers,” says Chan who swapped out the stilettos for Adidas Gazelles to offset her girlish Vampire’s Wife dress while in Dallas. When she’s not promoting projects, Chan can be found in vintage Levi’s 501s, silk shirts from & Other Stories, and custom Reeboks. But perhaps after spending so much time in Astrid's shoes her tastes are changing? “I’d love some Gucci loafers,” says Chan laughing. “They look so comfortable. They could elevate my jeans. Maybe I’ll treat myself to a pair…soon.”

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