Cicely Tyson has built a name for herself in the film industry for over 7 decades – Actress, Model, and of course Fashion Icon.
Ms. Tyson made her transition at 96 years old on January 28, 2021, where her manager made the announcement on behalf of the family but did not reveal the cause of death.
A few celebrities took to Social Media to share their condolences and their appreciation for the work she did in the Film industry and the African-American community as a whole.
She is known for portraying strong African-American characters which were not popular at the time, as women of color were always portrayed as “angry” or the typical “pregnant out of wedlock, single mother roles”. Indeed, Cicely was a pioneer and whenever there was a Black Film, we could look for her as the matriarch of the family who was always quiet, but when she spoke her words reached in and touched the depths of our soul. We here at Haute people were of course saddened by her passing, but she lived a full life and we are glad we got to see a few of her films.
Today, we will be paying tribute to the star in the best way we know how by sharing a few of our favorite Fashion Looks and why she is a Fashion Icon.
Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
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Tyson thrived in the fashion world. She earned 65 dollars a week at her modeling peak—a substantial amount in 1950s money—and captured other creatives’ attention. En route to a job for African-American lifestyle publication, Our World, she crossed paths with character actress Evelyn Davis. The latter encouraged Tyson to audition for a role in the independent drama, The Spectrum. The film was shelved, but Tyson emerged as a performer to watch. Elegant, gifted, and arriving on the scene when Black achievement was beginning to be celebrated, her momentum was unstoppable.
From the beginning, Tyson’s model grace and flair resulted in chic moments. Whether she was posing in a white sheath dress in front of Sardi’s in the late ’60s or smiling alongside her A Man Called Adam co-star Sammy Davis Jr. in full Rat Pack finery, Tyson embraced her style and the mood of each era. The revolutionary spirit of the 1960s was expressed through her peasant blouses and flowing caftans; her hair cropped into an alluring afro. Nominated for an Oscar for her performance in 1973’s Sounder, she commissioned designer Bill Whitten to create her dream gown, a white and grey silk slip dress with lace detailing and a heart-shaped cutout. With her hair in retro crokinole, finger waves, and fur draped over her shoulder, Tyson delivered Gatsby-glamour while nodding to her Sounder character Rebecca, and the kind of luxury she was never allowed. Liza Minnelli went home with the Best Actress statue that night, but the evening belonged to Tyson.
Tyson’s wardrobe was marked by a level of thoughtfulness. Attention was paid to every detail, and her style was complemented by the equally gifted men in her life, particularly her husband, Miles Davis. A “certified stepper” in Tyson’s words, he was a fashion icon in his own right and was as invested in her outfits as she was. “Wherever the two of us turned up, oh boy would we turn some heads,” Tyson wrote in her 2021 autobiography, Just As I Am. “I beamed at his side, glamorous in my couture, showing off looks by style mavens such as Arthur McGee, the first Black designer to ever run a studio. I felt proud to stand alongside Miles, loved folding my silk-gloved hands into his strong ones.”
About Cicely Tyson
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
#Cicely Tyson’s Greatest Fashion Looks
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