On Sunday night, dancer, choreographer and actress Carmen de Lavallade was honored during the 40th Kennedy Center Honors—a ceremony made more notable this year by the blessed absence of the cretin in chief, Donald Trump. At a still-stunning 86 years old, legendary performer de Lavallade did not disappoint, showing us that true grace and beauty transcend age.
Of course, de Lavallade is also known for having been one half of a famously stylish and creative couple; her late husband was actor, dancer and artist Geoffrey Holder, who died in 2014. Together, the two were a striking pair on the red carpet, with de Lavallade often balancing out Holder’s immense height in her signature, gothic Victorian-silhouetted gowns and period-inspired clothing in a range of dramatic brocades and taffetas.
These days, de Lavallade is holding her own on the step-and-repeat, and still doing it in incredible style. In honor of this icon and new Kennedy Center honoree, we’ve created a retrospective in tribute to her decades of inimitable, fearless, ageless beauty. Congratulations, Ms. de Lavallade—and thank you!