Last night the 46th annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards took place in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California. The lads & ladies of the Hollywood movie & the recording industries walked the red carpet with many of the actresses donning Spring palettes for the new season and flashing some skin while the men really pulled out their Friday bests. So who exactly made the Killer Fashion Best Dressed list?
The Best Dressed
Teyonah Parris. Just wow. The gorgeous actress donned this stunning champagne-coloured gown to the NAACPs, with her dress featuring an embellished plunging neck- & waistline, a mermaid fit and then that romantic tulle overlay from the waist. A chic updo, simple jewellery and nude pink lips completed her look. I’ll say it again, just wow.
Spring Pastels
Gabrielle Union led the way in her pastel pink hue gown by Gauri & Nainika. The dress featured a crisscross neckline that complimented the cutouts on the sides with her skirt slightly flared & pleated, which gave the gown a lovely balance. The actress teamed her look with smokey eyes, a slicked back bun and silver jewels.
Actress Tessa Thompson also opted for a pastel pink dress by Kenzo, wearing this v-cut look that featured a non-fitting fishtail skirt, which cut off at the ankles. Her textured gown was worn with nude pointed pumps, a white marbled Edie Parker clutch, Kimberly McDonald jewels, smokey eyes and a raspberry pink lip with an updo to finish.
Going for the full pastel look, Karla Souza attended in this pastel colour block wide-v gown by Raoul. Her Spring-perfect look featured blue, white, beige & orange with a matching beige waist belt that she teamed with a metallic Treesje clutch, shoes by Le Silla and EF Collection jewellery.
Karima Westbrook wore a mint-coloured gown by Baccio Couture to the awards (and she was kind enough to reply to me on Instagram!), which featured an embroidered & embellished upper bodice with a plunging neckline, a zebra-like patterned body with a scalloped hem and a sheer skirt to finish. Her barely there makeup & red lip and white clutch bag finished up her classy look beautifully.
Black Beauties
Imani Hakim brought the right amount of sexiness without overdoing it, donning this gorgeous black gown with its wrap over effect on the waist, the thigh high split and bronze embellished shoulder details. I really love the styling with this look too; black barely there sandals, an embellished clutch and a dewy makeup finish that worked well with her straight hair & full fringe.
Selma actress Niecy Nash wore a very figure-hugging gown to the awards, that featured off-the-shoulder sleeves with tulle pleats on the fishtail skirt for quite the interesting va va voom finish. An embellished clutch and statement drop earrings with dark eye makeup & a curled do completed her look.
Liza Weil attended in a black midi dress by Lorena Sarbu. Her LBD featured gold embellished panels along the outer sides of the dress with a mix of a scooped neckline and off-the-shoulder sleeves. Black satin peeptoes and a cocktail ring completed her look.
Opting for black & white, Melissa Grimmond donned a full-length A-line dress that featured white panels on the outer sides and black in the middle. Though the dress is slightly architectural, the finishing fit doesn’t suit the actress the best. Rouge cheeks with matching red lipstick & manicure and exaggerated eyelashes finished this look.
Young Jenna Fredrique made quite a statement on the red carpet, donning a full tulle skirt & bodice ensemble, complete with an array of black bead necklaces and barely there sandals, which gave off a Madonna circa 1980 kind of vibe. Deep mermaid waves and a nude lipstick rounded this up.
Summer Moore wore a simple black look that featured a loose, scooped neckline bodice and a full satin skirt with a waistbelt. Black sandals, a silver watch and a scooped wavy hairstyle with kohl-rimmed eye makeup rounded up her red carpet look.
Lady in Red
Kerry Washington looked gorgeous in her red deep sweetheart cut dress by Zuhair Murad. Her laser-cut lace dress had a great fit for the actress, which she teamed beautifully with an embellished box clutch by Salvatore Ferragamo, jewellery by Cathy Waterman, Graziela Gems and Vita Fede, heels by Christian Louboutin and her hair was styled into a wavy pinned back do.
New Girl actress Hannah Simone looked divine in her Lorena Sarbu dress, which featured an asymmetrical ruffle neckline and a relaxed mermaid-fit finish. Se styled her lace dress with Eva Fehren jewels and her shoes & clutch were by Jimmy Choo, complete with a full-fringed ponytail and smokey eyes. Just gorgeous!
Toni Ann Johnson attended in red too, wearing this scarlet coloured gown with a plunging neckline that featured an embellished insert & motif on the bodice. Her sparkly peeptoe shoes matched the embellished box clutch too, finished with a a slicked back hairstyle, smokey eyes and red lipstick.
White Hot
Omarosa Manigault wore a classic mermaid gown with ruched detailing on the waist & hips, adding extra curves to the gorgeous actress. Her off-the shoulder look was styled with a sparkling cuff bracelet, ringlet curls and exaggerated lashes with a dark red lip.
Katie Findlay attended wearing this all-over crystal embellished dress. Her off-white look matched her beautiful complexion perfectly, as well as her dark hair, which was styled into flouncy flicks and she finished her look with barely there makeup and cat eyeliner.
Carmen Ejogo wore quite the interesting white gown, donning an asymmetrical off-the shoulder look, but that looked as though her left arm was restricted by that tight sleeve. Her bob was styled into chic Old Hollywood loose curls, with red lipstick and a silver box clutch to finish.
Now Jerrika Hinton looked fabulous! From her one-sleeved sheer cape relaxed bodycon to the gold arm candy, and the big & beautiful afro to the dark lipstick choice, this look was every bit fierce. It was definitely a killer fashion look!
Soccer star Shawna Gordon attended with her boyfriend Criminal Minds’ actor Shemar Moore, donning this v-cut midi bodycon, that really showed off her curves. I love the addition of her chain-accented sandals and the torc necklace & armband, which she finished up with a messy updo and kohl-rimmed eye makeup. Gorgeous!
A Splash of Colour
Shaun Robinson wore a two-tone gown the to awards, in a blue & yellow fitted look with a slight pleated skirt. The presented styled her hair up with smokey eyes & nude lipgloss, drop earrings and an embellished bangle bracelet.
Opting for a statement blue look, actress Demetria McKinney wore this structured strapless gown on the red carpet. It sure had a lot going on; there was a folded bustier, a cross-hatched detailed corset bodice, peekaboo lace panels along the thighs with architectural folded detailing along the hips & upper legs and then the train. A cocktail ring & drop earrings with barely there makeup & subtle smokey eyes finished the look.
Garcelle Beauvais wore a strapless sweetheart floral printed gown, with hues of red, green & purple on an off-black body which she styled with a black waistbelt. Honestly I hate that belt…but the dress looks great other than that, and her hair & makeup finished it all very nicely.
Orange is the New Black actress Uzo Aduba attended wearing this pink shaded gown, which featured a v-cut on the neckline and an exaggerated pleated skirt finish. I like that the dress also featured subtle silver swirl designs on the waist, adding to her minimal silver jewellery and that beautifully styled hair.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw looked very Spring-forward in her pastel yellow strapless by Burberry, which featured all-over floral motifs on the textured body and a thin black waistbelt that matched her black box clutch & hairstyle perfectly. She also added Brian Atwood heels, an Edie Parker clutch and earrings Pamela Love to finish.
Wife of Aloe Blacc, Maya Jupiter attended in a powder blue sleeveless look, that featured butterfly graphics in section on the gown with a black waistband to finish. I really adore this look, again it’s very Spring-forward.
Laverne Cox opted for a big gown to the awards, wearing this dark purple number by Gustavo Cadile. Her gown featured a deep plunging neckline but with an embellished mesh panel that matched the embellished waistline, and a full soft-pleated skirt. The blonde highlighted hair doesn’t work for me with this dress, but her makeup & accessories were on point.
Also going for a statement blue look was actress Naturi Naughton, whose strapless sweetheart mermaid dress featured peplum detailing on the waist with a black trim. She added a coloufrul bib necklace and held a hot pink clutch, and finished up with smokey eyes and a wispy updo.
Yara Shahidi looked every bit her age donning this cute schoolgirl-like look; wearing an LBD with a dress shirt & red bow tie, along with a textured light grey blazer with white trims & a red pocket square to finish. Brogue booties and her natural curls with dewy makeup & a nude lipgloss completed this perfectly.
Notable Mentions & Menswear
Click to see all the winners from NAACP Image Awards
Images courtesy of Zimbio
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