Redefining Fall Fashion and Black Excellence – Azat TV

Tessa Thompson: Making ‘Wrong’ Feel Right in Fashion

Some actors effortlessly command the spotlight. But few do it with the quiet magnetism of Tessa Thompson. As autumn settles over New York, Thompson is rewriting the playbook for fall fashion, turning heads not just with her roles but with her bold, slightly offbeat style choices. Her recent public appearances—while promoting her latest film, Hedda—have become a masterclass in reimagining classic looks, challenging the rules of what’s considered ‘right’ in fashion.

On a brisk Tuesday afternoon, Thompson stepped out in a full Tory Burch look from the Spring 2026 collection. The centerpiece? A radiant red maxi skirt worn low on her waist, cinched not for function but for flair with a thick black belt. Above, a sweater played tricks on the eye—a double-stacked collar, origami folds, and the illusion of layered knits. The outfit’s final act was its most daring: burgundy kitten heels, their toe boxes elongated far past convention, each shoe adorned with a mixed-metal chain that caught the light (and the gaze of passersby).

This wasn’t a one-off experiment. Earlier that same day, Thompson chose another quietly eccentric ensemble: a striped rugby shirt, check skirt with crisp white piping, and a structured leather moto coat. Even here, her accessories told a story—dark brown kitten heels with split silhouettes and a gold-charmed Hermès Birkin bag, adding an unexpected twist to otherwise classic autumn staples.

Reimagining Classics: Subtle Statements and New Silhouettes

Thompson’s approach isn’t about loud rebellion—it’s about subtle subversion. At the screening of Hedda at New York’s Museum of Arts and Design, she chose midnight blue satin heels with a padded front and an extended heel, paired with a silk bomber jacket and lace-trimmed skirt from Maria McManus’s Spring 2026 runway. Each detail was considered, each piece a gentle nudge against the ordinary. The result? A personal style that feels intimate yet unapologetically unique, inviting the audience to rethink what elegance looks like in 2025.

For Thompson, fashion is less about rules and more about possibilities. Her choices—elongated kitten heels, double-stacked collars, unexpected color pairings—signal an embrace of individuality in a season often dominated by conformity. It’s as if she’s asking, through every look: Who says you have to blend in to be beautiful?

Honoring Excellence: Critics Choice Celebration of Black Cinema & TV

While Thompson’s wardrobe is making waves in the fashion world, her work on screen is earning critical acclaim. On December 9, 2025, she will be honored at the 8th annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, hosted by the Critics Choice Association in Los Angeles. The event, set to air on Starz in early 2026, celebrates the achievements of Black artists in film and television—an arena where Thompson has consistently pushed boundaries and elevated stories that matter.

She joins a prestigious roster of honorees, including director Ryan Coogler and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee, who will receive the Career Achievement Award. For Thompson, this recognition isn’t just about personal achievement—it’s about the power of representation, the importance of diverse voices, and the ongoing evolution of Black storytelling in Hollywood. Nearly four decades after Lee’s debut feature, the impact of Black cinema continues to ripple through the industry, with artists like Thompson carrying the torch forward.

Style, Substance, and the Power of Narrative

Thompson’s recent appearances—whether on the streets of New York or the stage in Los Angeles—are more than just moments of style; they’re acts of storytelling. Her fashion choices echo her roles: complex, layered, and always a little unexpected. In a world that often rewards sameness, Thompson’s approach is a quiet revolution, a reminder that self-expression is its own kind of artistry.

Her journey, marked by both sartorial risks and critical accolades, invites us to look closer—not just at what she wears, but at what she stands for. In every elongated heel and every cinematic honor, Thompson is building a narrative of authenticity, resilience, and possibility. The message is clear: Sometimes, the most memorable stories are the ones that refuse to play by the rules.

With her fearless approach to fashion and her ongoing contributions to Black cinema, Tessa Thompson exemplifies how true influence comes not from following trends, but from rewriting them—on the runway, on screen, and in the stories that shape our culture. W Magazine and The Wrap have chronicled these moments, but it’s Thompson’s own vision that keeps us watching, waiting, and wondering what she’ll do next.