On Monday, the American Black Film Festival Honors: A Celebration of Black Excellence in Hollywood brought together some of the best and brightest in film and television.
Only Keke could pull this off
Keke Palmer, as always, made sure all eyes were on her in this strapless Balmain Resort 2025 dress that looked like a crisp white shirt had been attached directly onto her body—complete with a full collar sitting out in front. This is one of those dresses that could’ve gone terribly wrong, but Keke’s personality is so vibrant and playful that she made it work. On anyone else, I’d probably be questioning the choice to wear this, but she sold it to me with her confidence alone.
Styled by Zoe Costello.
Science project? No. A fashion statement? Absolutely
Ethan Herisse’s look was one of those rare moments where a high-fashion risk paid off. On anyone else, I’d think they were about to present their latest science project. But Ethan? He’s owning it. The uniqueness of the look, combined with the way it’s been styled, makes it feel effortlessly cool rather than overly conceptual. It’s giving modern intellectual meets fashion-forward trailblazer, and I’m here for it.
Styled by Jason Rembert.
New role, new look, new era
Aaron Pierre, who is gearing up to play John Stewart in HBO’s Lanterns, stepped onto the red carpet looking freshly shaven. While most are speculating that the British actor’s missing goatee is a clue about his upcoming role, here, his outfit is the topic of conversation. The actor kept things sleek in a monochromatic grey Fear of God ensemble that was effortlessly sharp. It was a night for new beginnings, and Aaron, who only gave us black suits for his Mufasa: The Lion King press tour, dressed the part perfectly.
Styled by Jason Bolden.
Dipped in ink or just the sleekest suit of the year?
If anyone is making a case for the most perfectly tailored black suit of 2025, it’s Kelvin Harrison Jr. This Dolce & Gabbana suit is so sharp, it looks like it was dipped in black ink. There’s something undeniably powerful about a suit that’s this polished, and Kelvin wears it like it was made just for him (which, let’s be real, it probably was). Minimal, classic, and completely striking.
Styled by Michael Fisher.
Quiet moment? Not with those accessories
At first glance, Yvonne Orji’s velvet Alexander Wang dress might seem like a rare subdued fashion choice, but the devil is in the details. The matching velvet gloves? Dramatic. The Giuseppe Zanotti embellished wedges? Eye-catching. The Earrings Envy jewels? Statement-making. Yvonne gave us elegance with just the right amount of edge, proving that a “quiet” moment can still make a lot of noise.
Not just a cold shoulder
Cold shoulder dresses? Been there, done that. But Tika Sumpter took things a step further, serving cold shoulders, arms, and elbows in this striking Rheo Costa dress.
Styled by Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald.
From Keke Palmer’s avant-garde risk to Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s effortlessly cool tailoring, this year’s ABFF Honors red carpet was anything but boring. Every look had personality, every outfit had a moment, and most importantly, everyone showed up dressed like they owned the night, which they did.
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images / Frazer Harrison/Getty Images / Vogue.com
FTC Disclaimer: Keep in mind that I may receive commissions when you click links and make purchases. However, this does not impact my reviews.
