Tessa Thompson's Best Red Carpet Dresses and Street Style
Tessa Thompson's Stylists Explain How She Dresses Like Her "Creed" Character
Among the celebrities who consistently command attention on the red carpet, few do it like "Creed III" star Tessa Thompson. A sartorial risk taker, Thompson knows how to stop people in their tracks with her head-turning looks. Styled by the celebrity dressing duo Wayman Deon and Micah McDonald, the 39-year-old actress always delivers bold and thoughtful appearances, as her recent press tour proves.
Thompson was particularly inspired by the passing of Vivienne Westwood, whose work infused the punk aesthetic with avante-garde glamour. Accordingly, Deon and McDonald pulled vintage Westwood pieces from the archives for several of Thompson's appearances. They also sourced looks from emerging designers inspired by Westwood like Wiederhoeft and Saint Sintra. And Thompson had a say in every outfit. "Tessa loves to be involved and we work very well together collaboratively," Deon and McDonald told POPSUGAR collectively over email. "We developed mood boards together and began conversations for the creative direction we wanted weeks in advance in order to make sure we had a clear vision for all her looks."
Deon and McDonald explained that Thompson's courageous "Creed" character Bianca influences her off-screen style by encouraging experimentalism. For example, Thompson has an affinity for high platform shoes. "Tessa loves height, and a 6-inch shoe with a platform is always a favorite because it quite literally elevates a look," Deon and McDonald said, naming Roger Vivier, Stuart Weitzman, and Naked Wolfe as her go-to footwear brands.
While Thompson's entire red carpet repertoire is visually stimulating, Deon and McDonald share that their favorite moments in recent history include the silver Robert Wun tent dress she wore to the "Creed III" London premiere because it "felt so cool and effortless but still had some drama to it." She also loved the head-to-toe red Elie Saab Haute Couture look from the Venice Film Festival, capped off with Christian Louboutin pumps and a Brandon Maxwell box bag.
Clearly, the "Westworld" actress has solidified her place as a style icon, and her future appearances will continue to deliver. Ahead, bask in her best ensembles to date.
— Additional reporting by Shelcy Joseph and Corinne Sullivan
Tessa Thompson at the 2023 LA Premiere of "Creed III"
Tessa Thompson at the "Creed III" London Premiere
Tessa Thompson at the "Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever" Premiere
Tessa Thompson at the Closing Ceremony of the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the "Blonde" Premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the "Don't Worry Darling" Premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the "Bones And All" Premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the "Bardo" Premiere at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the Opening Ceremony For the 2022 Venice International Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at a UK Screening of "Thor: Love and Thunder" in July 2022
Tessa Thompson at the "Thor: Love and Thunder" Screening in June 2022
Tessa Thompson at HBO's "Westworld" Season 4 Premiere in June 2022
Tessa Thompson at "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in June 2022
Tessa Thompson at the 2022 Met Gala in May 2022
Tessa Thompson at the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscars Afterparty in May 2022
Tessa Thompson at the Celebration of Black Cinema in December 2021
Tessa Thompson at the 2021 Gotham Awards in November
Tessa Thompson at the 6th Annual InStyle Awards in November 2021
Tessa Thompson at Netflix's "Passing" Premiere in October 2021
Tessa Thompson at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Tessa Thompson at a 2020 Gucci Opening in Beverly Hills
Tessa Thompson at the Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 Show
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 "Men in Black: International" Photo Call in Paris
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 "Men in Black: International" Photo Call in Russia
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 Chanel and Charles Finch Pre-Oscars Dinner
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 NYC "Lady and the Tramp" Screening
Tessa Thompson Wearing Platform Sneakers in 2019
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 Oscars
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 MTV Movie and TV Awards
Tessa Thompson at the 2019 "Men In Black: International" World Premiere
Tessa Thompson Wearing Blue Camouflage Pants in 2019
Tessa Thompson at the European Premiere of "Creed II" in 2018
Tessa Thompson on the "Creed II" Press Tour in 2018
Tessa Thompson at the 2018 HBO Golden Globe Afterparty
Tessa Thompson at the 2018 Met Gala
Tessa Thompson at the 2018 MTV Movie And TV Awards
Tessa Thompson at the 2017 Emmy Awards
Tessa Thompson at a 2017 Emmy Awards Party
Tessa Thompson in Soho, New York in 2017
Tessa Thompson at the Fall 2016 Rodarte Fashion Show
Tessa Thompson at the 2016 European Premiere of "Creed"
Tessa Thompson at the 2015 "Creed" Premiere in Westwood, CA
Tessa Thompson at the Fall 2015 Rodarte Fashion Show
Tessa Thompson at the 2014 NYC Premiere of "Selma"
Tessa Thompson at IFP's 24th Gotham Independent Film Awards
