To commemorate her inaugural nomination, Brooks had a few essentials in mind. “I desired a hue that complemented my complexion while also making an impression. Red represents strength, and I’m feeling dominant,” she expresses. Thus, she chose a tomato-colored Moschino gown by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and jazzed up her ensemble with Swarovski accessories and Louboutin footwear. She carried with her a secret asset in her purse—a piece of awards ceremony advice: “Always have a snack in your bag,” she shares.
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“We took inspiration from classic haute couture outlines and visuals of Dorothy Dandridge, who was recognized with a Golden Globe nod for Porgy and Bess, paying tribute to the legacy of Black women in theater and film,” elaborates stylist Jennifer Austin. Another muse was Joyce Bryant, referred to by Austin as, “the Black Marilyn Monroe.” “She was an amazing jazz singer, dubbed ‘The Belter;’ mermaid gowns were her trademark,” Austin elaborates.