Aunjanua Ellis-Taylor’s red carpet looks are often bold and colorful or conceptually fantastical, occupying space and demanding attention. And everyone following her style since her Oscar escape in Will Smith’s film King Richard may have noticed one common feature in all fairytale outfits: pants.
“I chose not to wear dresses, I made sure to wear pants all the time,” the 55-year-old Mississippi native tells PEOPLE exclusively. After hitting the 2022 Oscars red carpet in a ruffled orange Donatella Versace gown, Ellis-Taylor indulged in a more theatrical, rock-influenced outfit that favors pantsuits over skirts.
Why? “Because I resist how women have to act,” she explains. “Especially on these carpets there is this hyper-performance of femininity. And I say, ‘I don’t want to do that’.”
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor changes her professional name in honor of her late mother: ‘Love of my life’
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at the BFI London Film Festival on 14 October.
Lia Toby/Getty
At the premiere of the film in New York Origin last December she made a statement in a ruffled pink robe framing a bright orange pantsuit, finishing off the look with sparkling face jewelry and drop earrings. At the NAACP Image Awards in March, she continued the trend of a floral robe over a suit with wide lapels, all in turquoise.
Ellis-Taylor admits that one of the main reasons for experimenting with her public style is to have a better variety of options. “I had great people around me” while promoting 2021 King Richardshe says, “but I think because I’ve never done anything like this before, I thought, ‘Well, what do you think I should do?’ So I was kind of doing what everyone else wanted me to do.”
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Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at the Governor’s Awards on November 17.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Continuation of appearances in popular films by Ava DuVernay OriginTina Mabry Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-EatLee Daniels’ Deliverance and Titus Kaphar An exposition of forgivenessEllis-Taylor is back in the awards campaign for RaMello Ross Nickel Boysscreen adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s historical novel.
Compared to her last run on the red carpet, she says, “I have more choices. I work with someone who can go to these fashion houses and get me things like this.”
Hence the exuberance in the Critics Choice Award nominee’s appearance during the promotion Nickel Boys: a poncho-like coat, cream-colored with gold trim in New York; an all-black ruffled ensemble with leather gloves and boots in London; bright marigold-colored trouser and coat combinations in Los Angeles, to name a few.
The best photos of celebrities in red carpet style: updated daily
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Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at the 2024 Gotham Awards on December 2.
Taylor Hill/WireImage
For Ellis-Taylor, there’s the added bonus of testing convention on Hollywood red carpets: It’s always an opportunity to proudly—and literally—wear her queerness on her sleeve.
“I was surrounded by so much freaking homophobia and bigotry in this industry,” she says of publicly acknowledging her bisexuality in 2022. Several queer people, including some who have not publicly claimed to be sexual, privately thanked Ellis-Taylor for being so open and proud. As he points out, “someone still needs it.”
Nickel Boysstarring Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, is in theaters December 14.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education