LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Cynthia Erivo attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
It's the neck ruff, I think. And maybe the way she's posing with it, which is clearly to emphasize the bolero top, but it just reminds me that her neck is missing.
Tyra Banks
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Tyra Banks attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Miss Tyra looks DELICIOUSLY witchy, though.
Marsai Martin
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Marsai Martin attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Oh, that is a lot of underboob for a daytime awards lunch.
Jodie Turner-Smith
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Jodie Turner-Smith attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
"You said LUNCH. This is what I wear to lunch."
Jessica Williams in Carolina Herrera
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Jessica Williams attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
I don't love these shoes that creep so far over the whole foot -- they look like she dipped her feet in rubber to take a mold -- but that purse with this is super.
Skai Jackson
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Skai Jackson attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Cute, and also, I think Express sold something very similar in 1991.
Ruth Negga in Diotima
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Ruth Negga attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Oh dear. These proportions are drunk.
Nafessa Williams
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Nafessa Williams attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Glorious, glorious, glorious. Would I nitpick for a deep berry lip? Yes, maybe, but... damn.
Coco Jones
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Coco Jones attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
See, this just looks like her skirt got caught by the hand dryer and ripped off when she walked away.
Zoe Kravitz
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Zoë Kravitz attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
She makes this minimalist wisp of a dress look cool, at least.
Karen Pittman
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Karen Pittman attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
She is an ode to Jiffy Pop.
Laverne Cox in Thom Browne
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Laverne Cox attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
At least it's not transparent? I actually like the skirt.
Dominique Fishback
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Dominique Fishback attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Super shoes, but this reads as oversize lingerie to me.
Tramell Tillman
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Tramell Tillman attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
MILKSHAKE! He looks tremendous.
Taye Diggs
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Taye Diggs attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
I was going to knock his influencer hat, but I actually think he's been in this hat phase since long before influencers decided Big Dumb Hats were a brand, so. He's the OG.
Boris Kodjoe
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Boris Kodjoe attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Yes INDEED.
Luvvie Ajayi
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Luvvie Ajayi attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
I love it when Luvvie wears one of her perfectly fitted suits and kick-ass sneakers -- her OOTD pics on Instagram, when she does them, are goals -- but this Thom Browne ensemble looks great on her. I'm sure you all already follow her, but if you don't, DO IT. She's so smart.
Natasha Rothwell
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Natasha Rothwell attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
GORGEOUS. The curve of that bodice is stunning.
Danielle Brooks
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Danielle Brooks attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Danielle looks very at-ease and confident in an outfit I do not remotely understand.
Ryan Destiny
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Ryan Destiny attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
This is just so well done.
Teyana Taylor
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Teyana Taylor attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Sure! It's not much but she's delightful.
Jurnee Smollett
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Jurnee Smollett attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
None of her outfit have quite fit her in the bust lately.
Aldis Hodge
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 27: Aldis Hodge attends the 2025 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
I love it when a slideshow ends well. Although that's also a lie, because sometimes I love to FREAK YOU OUT at the end, as a surprise. But this is the good kind of ending.
