It’s one of the smaller ceremonies of awards season, but there was big talent recognized on Tuesday night at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
The queen of the night? Legendary designer Ruth E. Carter, who proved her three decades of influence to be ongoing by accepting the evening’s Lifetime Achievement Award and this year’s award for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film for her made-for-Marvel magic in Black Panther.
The 2019 Oscar nominee accepted her award from Halle Berry and Black Panther star Danai Gurira, and channeled her blockbuster hit by wearing a gorgeous black gown with a laser-printed neck-piece by Julia Koerner that evoked the lacy designs Carter created for Angela Bassett’s “Queen Ramonda.”
But Carter wasn’t the only black designer rewarded for bringing fantasy to life onscreen; for her dynamic work on HBO’s Westworld, designer Sharen Davis accepted the Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television award. Also on hand? Nominated designers Gersha Phillips (Star Trek: Discovery), Marci Rodgers (BlacKkKlansman), Paul Tazewell ( Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert).
And with the Academy Awards now less than a week away, we’re hoping Carter’s third nomination (her previous two for Malcolm X and Amistad) will be the charm in recognizing the enduring impact of this visionary designer. But regardless of whether the academy does right by our favorite designer, like Halle Berry, we salute the incredible, unstoppable Ruth E. Carter. Wakanda forever!