It’s Black History Month, a fitting time to release the first Marvel film to center around a black superhero! (Seriously, it’s about time…)
Black Panther tells the story of T’Challa, the new king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda (played by Chadwick Boseman), who must defend his kingdom from multiple evil forces. He is assisted by his best friend (David Kaluuya of Get Out), a CIA agent (Martin Freeman of Sherlock), and his ex-girlfriend/warrior woman (Lupita Nyong’o of 12 Years a Slave). The movie is set to release on February 16th and has already received rave reviews from critics.
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Lupita Nyong’o at the Black Panther world premiere (LA Times)
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Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen pictures of and read about the jaw-dropping outfits at the movie’s world premiere on January 30th. To put it briefly, the event took the fashion world by storm. The theme was African royalty, and the attendees took it all the way! This red (well, purple) carpet event was an exciting celebration of African culture and identity that we rarely see in Hollywood. As you might know, Lani absolutely loves African prints, so she was very excited about featuring the premiere on the blog!
Scroll down to check out some of the most prominent trends and eye-catching looks from the Black Panther premiere!
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Coronation Ready
Was this a movie premiere or a royal ball? Honestly, I wasn’t sure as I flipped through images from the event. Lupita Nyong’o looks perfect in absolutely everything, so of course she slays in that amazing ultra violet custom Versace gown; however, I think my favorite looks are that of Insecure‘s Issa Rae (wearing a pleated Rose Assoulin dress) and David Kaluuya, who wore a velvet Burberry jacket over a kanzu (a nod to his Ugandan heritage).
L to R: Lupita Nyong’o in Versace | Donald Glover in Dolce & Gabbana | Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano | Michael B. Jordan in Calvin Klein | Issa Rae in Rosie Assoulin | David Kaluuya in Burberry
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Prints Galore
African-inspired prints, fittingly, ruled the night. The biggest show-stopper was Black Panther stunt-woman Janeshia Adams-Ginyard in a two-piece dress and matching hat by Tamara Cobus, a fashion and costume designer and former costume director for the Atlanta Ballet. I also loved Chadwick Boseman (the Black Panther himself) in that gorgeous Emporio Armani shirt! It’s a look fit for a king!
L to R: Tankia Ray in Claude Kameni | Atandwa Kani in Maxhosa & Vukani Fashions | Janeshia Adams-Ginyard in Tamara Cobus | Chadwick Boseman in Emporio Armani | Marija Abney | David Oyenowo
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Tassels & Fringe
Fringe is such a fun choice for a “purple carpet” event. These three women look fabulous, but my favorite is Angela Bassett (who plays the Queen of Wakanda in Black Panther) in her crazy yellow all-fringe jumpsuit by Naeem Khan. Since the jumpsuit is such a statement in and of itself, most people would tone down their accessories so as not to complete with it; however, Bassett opted for large gold earrings and multiple chunky bracelets and it works!
L to R: Angela Bassett in Naeem Khan | Yara Tashidi in Etro | Angel Parker in Jovani
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Heirs to the Throne
Just allow the cuteness to wash over you for a moment. I don’t think there is anything cuter than children in fancy clothes, except maybe the smiles on those little boys’ faces! Marsai Martin of Black-ish looks particularly adorable (and chic) in her little blue Maje dress.
L to R: Miles Brown in Kenneth Nicholson | Marsai Martin in Maje | Seth Carr in Stella McCartney
What was your favorite look from the Black Panther premiere? Share on our Facebook page!
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