The queen has arrived!
At Vogue World: Hollywood, Angela Bassett made a special appearance—reprising her role as Queen Ramonda from the Black Panther franchise, no less. For her walk down the Paramount Pictures lot runwayRunwayThe platform or catwalk on which models present a designer's collection to an audience of editors, buyers, and guests. Runway shows establish the creative statement of a season, and Vogue'sGo to Runway Glossary, Bassett wore an original look from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—the gown Ramonda wears to a U.N. meeting in Geneva.
.Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios © 2022 MARVEL.
Designed by Ruth E. Carter, the dress is marked by a vibrant purple hue (the color of royalty) and a halter silhouetteSilhouetteThe overall outline or shape of a garment or look, such as A-line, column, or hourglass. Silhouette defines the first visual impression of an outfit and is often the mostGo to Silhouette Glossary with a sculptural gold collar. Wakandan hieroglyphs are woven down the center and sides of the dress, and Ramonda’s 3-D printed crown sits atop a isicholo, a traditional hat worn by married Zulu woman.
Carter collaborated with artist Julia Koerner on the 3-D elements of the look, and Douriean Fletcher was tapped to design Ramonda’s jewelery, including her earrings and gemstone-adorned collar.
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Bassett walked during the Afrofuturism section of the show, which highlighted how Carter and others have interpreted traditional African garments for film. In Carter‘s case, that reimagining led to her becoming the first Black costume designer to win an Academy Award when she took home the Oscar for Black Panther. (She would go on to win one for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, too.) So tonight, Angela Bassett wasn’t just wearing a costume—she was wearing history.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.