The Mean Girls&nbsp;actress talks touching grass, buzzy NYFW parties, and her fondness for quality denim.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/avantika-vandanapu-rapunzel-tarot-movie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Avantika</a> is no stranger to the spotlight. The 20-year-old has been in the entertainment industry for over a decade, and every step of the way, from her first televised appearance on an Indian reality dance show to her breakout role in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/lindsay-lohan-cameo-mean-girls-movie-musical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mean Girls</a>&nbsp;(2024), she's put her all into her work. Her passion for storytelling is palpable, and her approach to acting deftly balances both intellectual themes and pure entertainment.&nbsp;
Aside from her magnetic on-screen presence&mdash;her role in Mean Girls earned her the title 'scene-stealer'&mdash;Avantika is beloved among fans online for her commitment to exploring her Indian heritage in film, and setting new industry standards for the representation of South Asian women.&nbsp;
Somewhere in between filming her next show, Not Suitable For Work, and pursuing her undergraduate degree at Columbia University, Avantika has found time to become something of a style icon among her fellow <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/all-the-nyfw-shows-gen-z-is-most-excited-for" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gen Zers</a>. Whether she's in jeans and a baby tee&mdash;her unofficial casual-chic go-to&mdash;or full glam, her sartorial senses are undoubtedly at work.&nbsp;
Ahead of the Coach Spring/Summer 2026 show,&nbsp;L'OFFICIEL&nbsp;caught up with Avantika. Below, see all of the details on her ultra-chic front-row look&mdash;plus, some of her fashion week nonnegotiables.&nbsp;

L'OFFICIEL: What&rsquo;s your favorite part of getting ready to attend NYFW shows?&nbsp;
AVANTIKA: Catching up with my team, my friends, the artists that make the whole engine run! It&rsquo;s nice to just chat and listen to music with them before things get crazy at the show itself.&nbsp;
L'O: How does your personal style fit into the world of Coach&rsquo;s aesthetics and sartorial codes?&nbsp;
A: Coach&rsquo;s aesthetic is very centered around self-expression and individuality. And though my personal style has evolved throughout the years, its spirit sort of remains the same - and more importantly, true to myself and my experiences and my travels.&nbsp;
L'O: How did you decide on your outfit for the show? Were there any styles/pieces that you knew you really wanted?&nbsp;
A: The team at Coach really helped curate my look, so I have to give flowers where flowers are due. Bryant, Chris, and Tao were all so lovely&mdash;and I knew I wanted to wear a baby tee and jeans, so they helped me work off of that!&nbsp;

L'O:&nbsp;Do you have any favorite pieces from Coach that are wardrobe staples?&nbsp;
A: I&rsquo;ve talked about these shoes before, but a wardrobe staple for the past few years has been this pair of vintage Coach boots. They&rsquo;re winter boots and have green detailing and fur, and are just so cute and special. I wear them every time it gets colder out.
L'O:&nbsp;What are you looking forward to seeing from Coach this season?
A: The stars of the Coach show this season for me have been the jeans and the gorgeous necklaces that double as a coin purse.&nbsp;

L'O: Do you have any specific beauty/skincare products that are must-haves in your beauty routine?
A: This fashion week, I&rsquo;ve been carrying around Lanc&ocirc;me lip glosses everywhere.&nbsp;
L'O: What&rsquo;s one thing you absolutely need to bring in your bag for NYFW? Did you learn this the hard way, or did you get advice from a NYFW/front-row veteran?&nbsp;
A: Powder puff and lip liner. My skin isn&rsquo;t feeling the best this week, and a powder puff is just a great way for me to touch up texture on my skin without mindlessly picking at it.&nbsp;
L'O: Have you had fun going to all of the NYFW parties, or are you more in the pajamas and skincare at 8 p.m. camp?&nbsp;
A: I&rsquo;m usually a big partier&mdash;but I&rsquo;m filming right now for my new show, Not Suitable for Work, so I&rsquo;ve been a little more responsible about being in bed by 10 p.m. Exceptions were made tonight for the Coach afterparty, though!
L'O:&nbsp;Do you have any go-to spots in NYC that you&rsquo;re excited for during fashion week?
A: I live in New York&mdash;and have lived here for a few years. This place is always very special to me and after fashion week, I really just enjoy going to Prospect Park and touching some grass haha. Especially as we&rsquo;re on the brink of fall, I love spending time outside in the city.&nbsp;

Avantika Goes Casual-Chic For The Coach Spring/Summer 2026 Show

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