1968
First, Cicely is amazing-looking, always. The simplicity and beauty of this is striking. Second, she's here with Miles Davis, with whom she had a long entanglement. They were dating now with the intention of getting hitched, as he was in the act of getting divorced, but then... he randomly married someone else a couple months later? I need to read her book, clearly. These two didn't rekindle until another decade passed. (They finally did marry in 1981 and divorced in 1988.)
1970
Cicely loves a fur. I know that's taboo nowadays, but it wasn't then, as much; still, you'll see them a lot in here. But a) it's very possible she kept repeating the same ones from her collection, which is at least better than continuing to invest in new furs, and b) for all we know she DID invest in artificial furs after a point.
1973
Here, she's at Heathrow, a place where I have never looked this fresh and stylish. Also, in this and the previous photo -- and some of the ones coming -- she really bears a resemblance to Michelle Obama.
1973
My Bitmoji has a monocle, just for fun. MIGHT WE BE SOULMATES?
1973
Another thing besides fur that will recur: Cicely LOVED to throw her arms wide.
1973
She was so stunning.
1974
Here, she poses with the two Emmys she won for "The Autobiography Of Miss Jane Pittman." We showed this gown in September in an Emmys throwback slideshow, but it's worth repeating because it's fabulous and she truly could have repeated it right now.
1976
Again, I am really sad that she was the wrong era to PLAY Michelle Obama. (Interestingly, her TV daughter Viola Davis HAS been tapped to play Michelle.)
1977
Here, she's at the 1977 Oscars (she had two movies out that year, but wasn't nominated; she won in 1973 for Sounder but somehow I didn't have an Oscar photo from that year). This is all objectively A LOT, which is why it's so notable that my eyes still go straight to hers.
1979
Cicely looks kooky here, like she's wearing someone's binder that they covered in stickers. I mostly downloaded this one because I don't know if I've ever really SEEN Young Jon Voight I mean, I must have, in something, but I guess it never sank in? (That's Dyan Cannon with them.)
1983
This is some interesting history: She's in Nevis, where her parents were born, to dedicate the childhood home of fellow native son Alexander Hamilton.
1987
Yes, well. The 1980s happened to many of us, including Cicely Tyson.
1994
She won the Emmy here for "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, Parts 1 and 2," and looks like an extremely regal streamer.
2001
The suit is cut well, but the gloves really sell it.
2005
Spoiler: You're going to see that jacket again, which is a good thing, and with a better outfit (which is ALSO a good thing).
2005
She wore this intense ruffle to the premiere of Spamalot, which all just feels so RIGHT to me somehow? It also makes me wish she'd had her own TV courtroom show. This thing needs a large bejeweled gavel.
2005
She kept those gloves clean, that's for sure.
2006
And she never made a gentle statement. She ARRIVED.
2007
THE JACKET RETURNS. The other outfit was kind of shapeless and stumpifying, so I appreciate that this one has elan.
2009
Now THAT is an entrance, and it's how I wish I arrived in every room. Once we start doing things like arriving, and being in rooms, maybe I will live out my dreams.
2009
Cap and necklace don't QUITE play together, but... damn, the cap is wonderful. I just think the necklace is somehow too casual for it.
2009 with her granddaughter Rebecca
Of course Cicely Tyson liked houndstooth. She was a woman of tastes. I wish Drinks With Broads were real. She's going to have some kind of honor there -- whatever the equivalent of retiring her jersey and hanging it in the rafters. Maybe it'll be an etched martini glass on a deluxe shelf.
2010
She often did go big, but when she toned it down, it was just as stunning.
2010
But BLESS HER, those times were few and far between, because the lady loved to make a splash. That dress is also legitimately lovely.
2011
Amazing.
2012
This woman was 88 years old and she was like, "Hmm, maybe some sheers." I don't have to like sheers, in order to hand it to her for deciding there was NOTHING she couldn't try.
2012
EVERYTHING in this photo is super.
2012
Good color.
2012
Aw, this was on my birthday. I am honored that she inadvertently celebrated my day in a fabulous dress.
2012
This shirt is another one that I think we're going to see again soon, and the hat is familiar also. Ms. Tyson certainly knew how to make her separates last.
2013
And she casually won a Tony at age 89, in an eruption of ruffles.
2013
SO DRAMATIC AND GOOD.
2014
"I really miss that old thing with the giant red neck ruffle. Someone find me a replacement."
2014
Okay, and I think this is the same blouse she had on under her suit a few slides ago? Also, that's another incredible cap and some seriously adventurous shoes.
2014
Santa's all, "Wait a minute, she's doing my aesthetic better than I do?!?" (This was the Thanksgiving parade.)
2015
She is 91 here, and as radiant as ever. This might be my favorite look of all.
2015
Although that's pretty damned cool too.
2015
I love the flare of the skirt, and the bright lining. This is dreamy.
2015
And, she looked like a million bucks at her Kennedy Center Honors celebration. I'm glad Obama got to give this to her.
2016
He also gave her a Presidential Medal of Freedom, and of course she looked awesome.
2016
"I matched my hair to my dress! And it WORKS!"
with Regina King
I would like to be in this hug.
2017
This would be great on its own, but the addition of the long leather gloves takes it to an extra place.
2017
"I'm back, and I'm fabulous! AGAIN!!!"
2017
I just. This is so good. I want to know everything. What stylist was she using? This has been a string of statement outfits.
2018
And then she just casually went all street-style chic on us?!?!!?
2018
And then OMBRE HAIR. She was 94. I only keep bringing it up because it's SUCH a great reminder that age can be whatever you make of it.
2018
That's another great hem with a pretty contrasting lining that we can see. I love this.
2018
"You're not SURPRISED I look amazing are you? Have you not been paying attention?!?"
2018
This is how she arrived to the Oscars where she won the honorary trophy, and I LOVE IT. It was her night and she claimed it. (I also enjoy the round purse, which we've seen her carry before, notably with the pink Emmy outfit.)
2018
This is said honorary Oscar.
2019
In case you're wondering, yes, she does have a blue tint in her hair. She's the best.
2019
"Another good jacket. DRINK IT IN!"
2020
Here, she's arriving at the Tamron Hall Show, colorful and joyous as ever -- and also practical, because of COURSE you'd wear Uggs in January in NYC if you could.
2020
This is the last photo we have of her, from when she was inducted in the TV Hall of Fame almost exactly a year ago, her arms wide open as ever. The pandemic has stolen time from all of us, and robbed us of whatever she might have done artistically in that year -- she clearly had a lot left in her to give. We're just lucky she left us the gift of her book before she left us.