Why Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Resists Stereotypes and Only Wears Pants on Red Carpets: ‘I've Made Choices’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at The Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema & Television on Dec. 9.Photo:Randy Shropshire/Getty

Randy Shropshire/Getty

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s red carpet looks are often bold and colorful or conceptually fantastical, taking up space and demanding attention. And anyone following her style since herOscar-nominated breakout in theWill SmithmovieKing Richardmay have noticed one commonality in each and every fabulous outfit: pants.

“I’ve made choices about not wearing dresses, made sure I’m wearing pants all of the time,” the Mississippi native, 55, tells PEOPLE exclusively. After stepping out on the2022 Oscars red carpetin an orange, ruffled gown from Donatella Versace, Ellis-Taylor has indulged in more theatrical, rock-influenced outfits that favor pantsuits over skirts.

Why? “Because I’m resisting how women have to perform,” she explains. “Particularly on these carpets, there’s this hyper-performance of femininity. And I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do this.’”

At the New York City premiere ofOriginlast December, she made a declarative statement in a ruffled pink cape framing a bright orange pantsuit, finishing the look with dazzling face jewelry and earrings. At the NAACP Image Awards in March, she continued the cape trend in a flowery number over a wide-lapeled suit, all in turquoise.

Ellis-Taylor admits that one of the main reasons for experimenting with her public style is a better variety of options. “I had great people around me" while promoting 2021’sKing Richard, she says, “but I think because I had never done anything like that before, I was just like, ‘Well, what do you think I should do?’ So, I just sort of did what everybody else wanted me to do.”

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Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at the Governors Awards on Nov. 17.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Compared to her last go-around on the red carpet circuit, she says, “I have more choices. I am working with someone who can go to these fashion houses and get stuff like this for me.”

Hence the exuberance in theCritics Choice Award nominee’s looks while promotingNickel Boys: a poncho-like, cream-colored coat with gold embellishments in New York; an all-black confection of ruffles with leather gloves and boots in London; a bright marigold pantsuit-and-cape combo in Los Angeles, to name a few.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor at the 2024 Gotham Awards on Dec. 2.Taylor Hill/WireImage

Taylor Hill/WireImage

There’s an added bonus to testing conventions on Hollywood red carpets for Ellis-Taylor: it’s always an opportunity to express her queerness proudly — and literally — on her sleeve.

Nickel Boys, starring Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson, is in theaters Dec. 14.

source: people.com