19 Times Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe Slayed the Red Carpet Together and Apart
Kimberly Wang
Kimberly Wang
Kimberly Wang writes about all things pop culture, tech, style, and beauty. She's a Bay Area transplant and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. On a sunny New York day, you can find her hanging out with her mini schnauzer Isabelle Jellybean on a blanket in Central Park.
Are they or aren't they? Possibly the most low-key, and stylish, couple in Hollywood, Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe have flown under the radar (and are remaining fiercely private) with their rumored relationship. What we do know is that the multi-talented stars are stepping out in head-turning fashion, and fans couldn't be more thrilled. Because long before news of their potential love hit the headlines, both have been fierce style queens for quite some time. We've rounded up some of their best red carpet looks together and solo over the years.
Crimson Monochrome Cape: Thompson was the lady in red at the 2018 MTV Movie Awards in a billowy cape and skirt by Rosie Assouline. (Photo via Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Playful Houndstooth Playsuit: Monáe chose a black and white houndstooth jumpsuit for iHeartRadio's 2018 KIIS FM Wango Tango blue carpet. Her signature black and white outfits are a nod to her parents who had to wear uniforms to work every day. (Photo via Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
Black, White, and Shiny All Over: The Dirty Computer singer showed support for Thompson at the 2018 Essence Black Women in Hollywood Oscars Luncheon where the latter was an honoree. The Annihilation actress wore a Ralph & Russo silver dress with an embellished neckline while Monáe was in a beaded, puff-sleeved black number by Andrew Gn, accessorized with an oversized pearl tassel earring. (Photo via Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence )
Embroidered Perfection: For the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards, Monae, then 32, wore a colorful embroidered take by Dolce & Gabbana on her signature tuxedo. (Photo via Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Sheer Edginess: At the Fahrenheit 451 New York Premiere in May of this year, Thompson chose a gray, unlined Christian Dior dress that left little to the imagination and a pair of burgundy satin platform heels. (Photo via Bennett Raglin/WireImage)
Feathered and Powder Blue: The adorable duo is often photographed in public surrounded by friends, and this time at the "A Beautiful Future" Campaign kickoff brunch hosted by Monáe in March, it was Black Panther stars Lupita Nyong'o and Danai Gurira. The Westworld actress supported Monáe in a pair of baggy leather pants, a white tee, and a pink, yellow, and black feathered coat by Rodarte. Monáe, in contrast, was wearing a baby blue wide-legged Bella Freud pantsuit. (Photo via Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Belvedere Vodka)
Holy Hotness: While both attended the Met Gala this year in May, they didn't walk the red carpet together. The 34-year-old wore bold white eyeliner with her black Thom Brown evening getup. (Photo via Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Statement Contrasts: The songstress chose a black and white Marc Jacobs design that mimicked her Dirty Computer album cover thanks to the wide-brimmed hat with a gold underside that conjures up the image of a halo. (Photo via Dimitrios Kambouris/MG18/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Mismatched Patterns: The Thor: Ragnarok star attended the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival wearing a patchwork printed skirt topped with a plaid blazer, all by Christian Dior. While the skirt uses a lot of patterns, there's no denying that it just works. (Photo via Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Coordinated Tones: The pair matches their looks for appearances from time to time as they did at the premiere of Thompson's film Annihilation in February. For one of the rare times they actually walked the carpet together, Thompson was in a white tiered Naeem Khan confection with black piping, while Monáe chose a sheer black blouse and a fitted polka-dot maxi skirt by Armani Privé. (Photo via Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Sizzling Hot Pink: For Disney's A Wrinkle in Time premiere in February, the "Make Me Feel" singer wore a magenta pink Wolk Marias three-piece suit and a pair of white-hot boots. (Photo via ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Cold-Shoulder Cool: For the Veuve Clicquot Fourth Annual Clicquot Carnaval in March, Thompson picked a dress right off the Fendi spring 2018 runway, a navy blue cold-shoulder dress with parachute-style yellow ribbons, paired with the Fendi Kan I handbag. (Photo via Alexander Tamargo/WireImage)
Polished Skirt/Pant Combo: At the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Monáe wore a striking red suit by Christian Siriano with an epic train. It's the ideal look when you can't decide whether to go with pants or a dress. (Photo via Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Matching Panels: Back at the MOCA Gala 2015, the pair twinned in brocade panel details. Monáe in a cream high-neck mini by Sass & Bide with a matching capelet, and Thompson in an empire-waist dress that looks straight out of the Renaissance. (Photo via Donato Sardella/WireImage for MOCA)
Geometric Brights: The Hidden Figures actress attended the Refinery29's 29Rooms Los Angeles in December in a statement-making circle headpiece by Dead Lotus Couture with a striped bustier leather ensemble by Kaimin and white Via Spiga boots. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Regal AF: At the premiere of Black Panther back in January, our two queens supported their pal Danai Gurira while looking extra-royal. Monáe wore a Christian Siriano crop top and ballgown skirt with blue and white color block sleeves, and finished her look with African beaded choker necklace and headgear. Meanwhile, her Thompson chose an all-black Elie Saab jumpsuit topped with a beaded lace tunic. (Photo via Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
White Plaid: The actress took a page from her girlfriend's book and chose a white Thom Brown suit and tie for the Sorry To Bother You 10th Annual BAMcinemaFest Opening Night Premiere in June 2018. (Photo via Yuchen Liao/Getty Images)
That PRIDE Skirt: The "Pynk" singer made a splash at the 2018 BET Awards in a gown by Nicolas Jebran that had an epic skirt resembling the Pride flag. The singer, who came out as pansexual in the April issue of Rolling Stone, looked fierce as hell. (Photo via Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Sheer and Stripes: While this one wasn't on the red carpet, the photo was just too sweet to leave out. At the HBO's Official 2017 Emmy After Party, the pair were photographed together with Thompson choosing another all-black Elie Saab lacy cold-shoulder dress while Monáe was eye-catching in a red and black striped Topshop pantsuit pair with a white crop tee and a black hat. (Photo via Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
What’s YOUR fave look from the adorable couple? Tweet us @BritandCo!
What’s YOUR fave look from the adorable couple? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(Photo via Albert L. Ortega/Getty, Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Essence )
Kimberly Wang
Kimberly Wang writes about all things pop culture, tech, style, and beauty. She's a Bay Area transplant and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University. On a sunny New York day, you can find her hanging out with her mini schnauzer Isabelle Jellybean on a blanket in Central Park.