Yara Shahidi Makes an Entrance — Twice
Off-White and Bibhu Mohapatra might seem like an unlikely pair. The young Black-ish actress makes it work.
Yara Shahidi knows how to make an entrance. For this year’s People’s Choice Awards, which took place Wednesday evening in Los Angeles, the 16-year-old Black-ish star and activist stormed the red carpet in a checkered Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh design, handily upstaging all the other stars there. (Coincidentally, Shahidi repped Abloh’s beloved brand on the eve of his Fall 2017 menswear show.) Other actors, musicians, and celebrities walked the carpet — J. Lo in Reem Acra, Priyanka Chopra in Sally LaPointe, Blake Lively in Elie Saab, and Sarah Jessica Parker in J. Mendel. Amid all the glitter and fringe, Shahidi’s black-and-white Off-White dress was refreshing. But that wasn’t the end of the night for the chic young actress: As one of the event’s presenters, she kept a full wardrobe on hand, later appearing in a bright and pretty Bibhu Mohapatra dress alongside co-presenter Tyler Posey, who looked frankly underdressed in a black t-shirt and jeans. But it’s hard not to look underdressed next to Shahidi. See below for evidence.
Yara Shahidi in Bibhu Mohapatra, left, and Off-White c/o Virgil Abloh, right, at the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California, January 2017.
Who: Yara Shahidi.
When: Wednesday, January 18.
Where: The 2017 People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles, California.
What: First, a checkered gown by Virgil Abloh’s Off-White from the Spring 2017 collection; then, a butterfly-printed cocktail dress with princess sleeves by Bibhu Mohapatra from the designer’s Spring 2017 collection.
Why: The first look borrows from Janelle Monáe’s playbook in the best way possible. Monáe tends to favor black-and-white ensembles with quirky details like googly eyes in her hair or checkerboard prints, and here, Shahidi channels that playful nature with an Off-White dress. The look closed Abloh’s Spring 2017 show — it’s practically designed to make a statement. The second look is something of a right-turn, a demure, elegant Bibhu Mohapatra cocktail dress with the designer’s trademark flutter bodice and eye for dramatic details. Yet the looks are united by their playful edge — butterflies, checkerboards, oversized sleeves fit for royalty. The People’s Choice Awards might not be known for their style, but Yara Shahidi is singlehandedly changing that.
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