Fantasia Barrino instantly drew my attention when she graced the red carpet at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall for the 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards, wearing a black-and-white plunging gown.
Fantasia Barrino, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture winner, wows in a black-and-white plunging gown by Mônot at the 55th Annual NAACP Image Awards at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on March 16, 2024 (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Triumphant in ‘The Color Purple’
Barrino was among the night’s biggest winners, taking home the Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her exemplary performance in the musical period drama movie The Color Purple.
With 11 wins from 13 nominations—including Outstanding Motion Picture and Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture—the movie currently holds the record for most nominations and wins at the said awards ceremony. Barrino was also up for Entertainer of the Year, which Usher won.
Fantasia Barrino initially hesitated to accept the role of Celie Harris-Johnson in “The Color Purple” due to the character’s complexity and significance, but ultimately embraced the challenge, delivering a celebrated performance (Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Color Purple is a movie about Black women’s empowerment. It tells the story of a poor and illiterate African-American teenager who suffers abuse and injustice. As she grows older, she learns from other women how to stand up for herself, eventually reclaiming her voice.
Old Hollywood Glamour Meets Modern Elegance
Fantasia, The Color Purple’s lead star, looked every bit the Old Hollywood movie star in her black and white gown featuring a classic plunging halter neckline and a sweeping train. I was surprised to learn that the outfit was custom-made for the actress by Mônot.
The New York-based label, founded by Lebanese designer Eli Mizrahi, is known for its modern, playful silhouettes and daring cutouts; Fantasia’s gown, however, has a retro-style halter neck design. Its flattering form-fitting silhouette nevertheless captures the sensual elegance of the brand’s signature aesthetic.
Exquisite Details and Styling
What I like most about the dress is the oversized black bow at the back, embellished with glimmering sequins. It provides a fascinating element to the otherwise plain white mermaid dress.
Her matching black sequined opera gloves also appealed to me; they enhanced the ensemble’s retro flair.
Fantasia Barrino’s Monot gown features an oversized black sequin-embellished bow at the back and a sweeping train (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Completing the Look: Jewelry and Accessories
Stylist Daniel Hawkins secured a pair of statement diamond earrings by Messika on Fantasia’s ears to add even more glitter to the outfit. He also adorned her gloved fingers with a few diamond rings and kept her essentials in a silver clutch by Judith Leiber.
Her mini bag complemented her flashing jewels, but I would have preferred if she had carried either a white or a black one for a more cohesive look.
A pair of black suede Le Silla pumps with pointed toes rounded out Fantasia’s stunning ensemble.
Derickus Crawford styled Barrino’s signature short in a messy brushed-up look, giving her vintage, feminine gown a hint of modern edge.
Blessed Hands, meanwhile, applied soft, smokey eyeshadow to her lids with a hint of shimmer and extra-long lashes to draw attention to her sultry eyes. A hint of blush and a swipe of lip gloss completed her natural beauty look.
Wearing her short hair up and accentuating her features with soft, smokey eyeshadow and lip gloss, Fantasia Barrino styles her retro look with Messika diamond jewelry and a Judith Leiber silver clutch (Credit: Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
A Personal Triumph for Fantasia
In her speech, Fantasia admitted having reservations about portraying Celie in The Color Purple.
“I was afraid to play Celie, but I’m glad I did. I kept saying, if I don’t win an award, the awards that I’ll win is the people who will watch Color Purple and the women who will relate to her and feel like Oscars when they walk out.”