The world fell in love with her as a zany 22-year-old who tripped on her dress on her way to scoop up her Oscar. More than a decade later, Jennifer Lawrence is still as disarmingly charming as ever, but look closer and you’ll notice something a bit different about the actor: a certain poise, a palpable sense of peace.

In 2019, the star put her movie career on hold to focus on her life off-screen. She wed art gallerist Cooke Maroney, and the couple welcomed their first child, a son named Cy, in February 2022. “I just think everybody had gotten sick of me. I’d gotten sick of me,” she told Vanity Fair of her sabbatical from stardom. “It had just gotten to a point where I couldn’t do anything right. If I walked a red carpet, it was, ‘Why didn’t she run?’… I think that I was people-pleasing for the majority of my life.”

She emerged from the hiatus with a revived spark and a much-raved-about new look. She’s since been hailed as a fixture in fashion’s stealth-wealth movement, right up there with Sofia Richie, the cast of Succession and Gwyneth’s courtroom couture. Think immaculate tailoring, plush textures and tasteful tones of black, white, grey and camel. The look is an apt reflection of the 33-year-old’s relaxed confidence these days. “I normally lean toward a more understated elegance and quiet luxury,” she admits.

On this fall day, she sits on a couch in a New York City hotel suite, embodying the sartorial ethos to a T in a black A-line midiskirt, a fitted short-sleeved sweater and nude patent pumps. A black Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti Bone Cuff wraps one wrist, a Longines Mini DolceVita adorns the other.

The launch of the latter is the reason for our meeting: Lawrence was recently appointed “Ambassador of Elegance” for the storied watchmaker. (You may have seen paparazzi shots of her filming a commercial for the brand back in June—you know, those photos of her wrangling a bunch of dogs?—when the internet went wild for her outfit: a navy sweater casually knotted over a long trench coat, trousers, ballet flats and a dainty silver timepiece.) Here, the actor opens up about her approach to style, prioritizing family time and the restorative benefits of a good Housewives episode.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATCHES? DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST ONE YOU EVER WORE?

“The first watch I ever wore was a digital watch that had kind of a [Magic] 8-Ball question-answer situation. You could say ‘Does so-and-so have a crush on me?’ [And it’d be] like, ‘No way!’ Then I started caring about watches about four or five years ago. My husband and I were engaged, and my brother- in-law gifted me a watch from his father. It was just really meaningful to me, obviously. That’s when I started to notice watches, which led me to Longines.”

AS AN AMBASSADOR OF ELEGANCE FOR THE BRAND, WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST ELEGANT?

“What I like about the Mini DolceVita is it’s the perfect staple for going from daytime casual to black tie and formal. I always think it’s elegant to change really quickly and not take too long. You know in Eyes Wide Shut, when Nicole Kidman has her hair up and glasses on and then she just takes her hair down and her glasses off? It’s that effortless beauty where you don’t need to do too much.”

HOW DOES A WATCH FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE?

“For me, it’s more of a fashion accessory. I just think that it’s more expressive than a normal piece of jewellery. It says something more profound about you; it’s more professional. There’s something more serious about it that I like. I don’t think there’s any outfit you can put on that this watch isn’t going to elevate.”

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME?

“I try to be organized because being on time is important to me. My job involves so many people—hundreds of people—that to be late would be very disrespectful. And, of course, once you have a family, there are these added factors of just trying to keep your time organized so you can be more in control of your day and your week and so you can look back and [be glad about] the way you spent your time.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY?

“My favourite time of day now is morning because that’s when my husband and son and I can be together and have our coffee. I mean, [my husband] and I have coffee [laughs] and just watch [our son] and laugh before the day gets started.”

HOW DO YOU MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF?

“The time that feeds my soul is watching Housewives. Also, ever since I had a child, people always say the same thing: ‘It goes by so fast.’ I hate hearing that because I don’t want it to go by fast, but it actually makes me really appreciate every moment. Even if I’m tired, I try to take it in and enjoy it and know that this moment is going to pass and I’m never going to get it back.”

IF YOU WERE ABLE TO STOP TIME FOR ONE MOMENT, WHAT MOMENT WOULD IT BE?

“I’m actually lucky—I have a few moments that I would want to elongate. Maybe walking down the aisle and seeing my husband.”

Stainless-steel and diamond Mini DolceVita, Longines

Price: $4,800

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