Honestly, after the premiere of Marvel’s Black Panther last Friday, we just keep losing count of all the elements we love about this film. However, the fashion of Black Panther is a perfect place to start! Thanks to the film, African style is blazing across Fashion Week runways and the film’s cast has become the world’s newest style icons. We’re dealing with a totally different fashion beast here, and everyone’s clawing to join the frenzy (no pun intended). But if you’re still puzzled by the praise for this film’s fashion sense and costuming, we’ve got the complete guide for why you need to get in on the Black Panther fashion phenomenon.
The outfits are vibrant and dynamic.
Designed by Oscar-nominated African American designer Ruth E. Carter, Black Panther’s ensembles have snatched our attention, and for good reason. Nakia (played by Lupita Nyong’o) sports form-fitting tops and dresses which are in deep forest greens, vermilion reds and striking yellows. When Nakia isn’t channeling Wakandan elegance, she wears earthy tones accented in gold and silver. The women’s outfits were never Plain Jane; they always featured colorful prints, threads and beaded designs that represent African cultural wear, and audiences can’t get enough of them.
Even our very own Black Panther (played by Chadwick Boseman) made our hearts swoon with his regal African garb, featuring intricately threaded and printed details across his fitted shoulders and chest. The film’s outfits truly enraptured audiences for their unique color palette, meticulous African-inspired designs and stunning construction. Basically, it takes all your willpower to tear your eyes away from their beauty.
Fans are loving the African wear more than the cosplay.
Now, we really haven’t seen movie fashion popularity quite like this before. Droves of Marvel fans and Black Priders alike filled theaters to the brim on Black Panther’s opening weekend. We didn’t just see a theater filled with Black Panther cosplayers, but African-American women and men dressed in gorgeous African mixed-prints and black pride embossed T-shirts. African-Americans especially revel in the excitement of seeing a movie that highlights the beauty of their very own cultural origins. The movie’s African-styled outfits are not just wonders to behold on the big screen, but they mean so much to the fans who see themselves in these characters. Through its fashion, Black Panther shows black folks as strong and beautiful and ready to command the nation’s attention.
These costumes are socially powerful.
Beyond the fictitious plot of Black Panther (which is awesome, but we won’t spoil it for you) are the real stories of the black experience, and the film’s style tells all those stories perfectly. There’s real power emanating from each character’s battle armor. Whether it’s the Black Panther himself or the Wakandan Royal Guard, the Dora Milaje, their armor is extravagant and grabs your attention to let you know these characters mean business. Black Panther’s super suit is high-caliber and all black with sharp edges and sleek finishing, making it the most desired cosplay costume among Marvel fans at the moment.
What’s most interesting, though, is the racially-charged history behind the Black Panther’s suit. Back in the ’60s, when Marvel’s Black Panther comics were published, the Black Panther’s mask was first designed to show the bottom half of his face. It concealed his identity while letting people know he was a black superhero. Unfortunately, a black superhero was too controversial at the time, and they decided to redesign the suit to cover his whole face.
On the bright side, however, the Dora Milaje costumes in the movie were actually inspired by real armor from an African women’s army! Known as the “most feared women in history,” the N’Nonmiton women were fierce protectors of the Kingdom of Dahomey, now known as the Republic of Benin. The N’Nonmiton women inspired the Dora Milaje in the film, who sported similar combat armor. Beautifully crafted and detailed but still perfect for kicking butt, the Dora Milaje’s costumes pay tribute to real African women who kicked butt in awesome African style.
Need we say more? Ruth E. Carter fantastically brought the Wakanda style to life and audiences only want more of it. The film really focused its attention on aesthetics and social consciousness through its extraordinary fashion sense. These garments tell the story of black beauty, strength and potential, and we don’t expect these rich style trends to fade away anytime soon. They will truly scream “Wakanda Forever,” forever.
Header Image: Lupita Nyong’o / Instagram