Speaking of iconic Black costume designers: Michelle Cole, the multiple-Emmy-nominated talent behind the wardrobe on shows like Black-ish, received the Career Achievement Award. Tracee Ellis Ross, with whom Cole has worked for years, presented her with the award. “I feel like you need to come out here so I can say all of this to your face,” said Ross after gushing about her admiration, at which point Cole sashayed onto the stage.
“I’ve been doing this for 43 years,” Cole said, adding that she had dreams of being a costume designer since she was 15-years-old. She also spoke poignantly about the challenges of being a Black woman in Hollywood, even behind the camera, but how she was never afraid of a challenge. Following her speech, the theater full of her peers, colleagues, and fans, gave her a well-earned standing ovation.
Other moments at the awards included Kate Hawley winning the Adrian for Excellence in Period Film for her work on Frankenstein. Her win was met with cheering that recognized a heart-wrenching story about how kindness goes a long way. Folks in the theater also held their breath during Kameron Lennox’s acceptance speech for Excellence in Contemporary Television for her costume designing on The Studio. With a shaky voice, Lennox thanked the late Catherine O’Hara for always knowing how to use a costume to tell the story of the character.
Undoubtedly, the common thread was collaboration and storytelling. Though Taylor was the first to do so, every single speaker, presenter, honoree, and winner after her underscored that costume designers are the first line of defense when it comes to a character’s story.
In fact, James Cameron went so far as to dedicate his Distinguished Collaborator Award to Deborah L. Scott, who presented him with it. “Being honored as a collaborator in a costume design reference point, for me, over the last 30 years, means collaborating with one artist,” he said, while looking directly at Scott—which triggered woos and long applause from the audience. Cameron continued: “When you think of Kate Winslet’s incredible looks in Titanic, specifically when she steps out of that car and her character is revealed for the first time with that hat, that is a piece of cinema that still takes people’s breath away.”
Following James Cameron’s award, people shuffled into the after-party, where there were cocktails flowing and light bites circulating. The sharpest sartorial minds in Hollywood continued toasting and savoring their success. And damn, did they all look really good doing it.
