Teyana Taylor didn’t just walk the runway at Vogue World 2025 — she commanded it. On Saturday night, October 25th, the multihyphenate artist, actress, and creative visionary transformed the Paramount Studios runway in Los Angeles into a Wakandan battlefield of beauty, power, and heritage.
Taylor, known for seamlessly blending strength and sensuality, took her fashion statement to new heights, donning Ruth E. Carter’s iconic Dora Milaje costume alongside Black Panther star Danai Gurira. The moment wasn’t just cinematic, but it was historic.
A Celebration of Afrofuturism and Cinematic Artistry
The striking presentation unfolded during Act VI of Vogue World, themed around Afrofuturism. A segment honoring Carter’s trailblazing legacy as the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Costume Design. Her visionary work has long transcended the screen, shaping how audiences visualize Black excellence, resilience, and beauty through clothing.
Taylor and Gurira appeared in matching red Dora Milaje uniforms, complete with silver embellishments, sculpted shoulder armor, and intricate detailing that fused power with poise. Originally created by Carter for Black Panther (2018), the designs have become synonymous with grace under armor — an aesthetic and cultural symbol that champions the strength of Black womanhood.
For Gurira, who brought Okoye to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the look was a nod to her cinematic legacy. For Taylor, it was a reclamation of that spirit through fashion. Arriving as a living embodiment of the Dora Milaje’s loyalty, leadership, and divine discipline.
Fashion Meets Film Royalty
The act also featured Angela Bassett, who stunned in the regal purple gown Carter designed for Queen Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Together, Bassett, Gurira, and Taylor created a tableau of power — a triad of women whose presence alone speaks to the timeless strength of Black artistry in both Hollywood and high fashion.
Critics have since called the appearance a “blockbuster twist”, applauding Vogue World’s ability to merge superhero iconography with couture spectacle. While also praising Taylor’s performance as one of the evening’s defining moments.
Teyana’s Reign Continues
This marks Teyana Taylor’s second Vogue World appearance, following her electric Paris debut last year, where she performed in a metallic Rabanne chainmail ensemble that instantly went viral. In Los Angeles, however, Taylor didn’t just perform — she embodied an entire movement.
Her runway moment arrives amid her ongoing creative evolution. Taylor is set to star in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming series All’s Fair, expanding her already illustrious résumé as a director, producer, and actress. With every new venture, she continues to blur the lines between art and activism, performance and power.
Ruth E. Carter’s Long Lasting Legacy
At the heart of the night was Ruth E. Carter, whose genius has shaped the visual language of Black cinema for decades through films like School Daze, Malcolm X, and Selma. Her ability to translate identity into iconography has cemented her as one of the most influential designers in film history.
As seen on the Vogue World runway, Carter’s designs don’t just clothe characters — they craft legacies. And in Teyana Taylor’s hands, her work took on new life: a reminder that fashion, like film, can be both armor and art. At Vogue World 2025, Teyana Taylor didn’t just honor a legacy. In fact, she embodied it. With every step, she proved that power, style, and storytelling still belong to the women who wear them best.
