Tracee Ellis Ross has never been afraid of a bold look, whether it’s shimmering head-to-toe Gucci or a pair of party tights. Most recently, the actor has turned to a wardrobe classic: the leopard-print dress.
The actor showed off a vintage bodycon dress by American-born and Paris-based designer Patrick Kelly, which was sourced by her stylist Karla Welch from vintage dealer Shrimpton Couture. As well as opting for the pre-loved number, which dates back to 1989, Ross explained that she had gone into her own closet to complete the look with gold hoop earrings, a “TR” ring and a chunky belt (a lesson we can all learn from to reduce the environmental impact of our wardrobe).
Instagram content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
Ross’s vintage Patrick Kelly look is a timely one, given that the Black queer fashion designer is currently the subject of a retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. “I think and I hope that the increased interest in his work signifies a larger change happening in the fashion industry and in conversations we’re having as historians of fashion,” de Young curator Laura L. Camerlengo told Vogue.
As well as championing the work of a celebrated Black designer, Ross’s dress also goes to show that well-made clothes never go out of fashion.
