Looking at this list, it's no wonder Black Panther: Wakanda Forever walked away with the Oscar for Best Costume Design earlier this year.
Double-Academy Award Winner Ruth E. Carter is the genius behind the costumes of both Black Panther and its sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Throughout her career, Carter has worked with film directors like Spike Lee and Ryan Coogler, as well as networks like BET for the series Being Mary Jane. Whenever she’s the costume designer, Carter brings layers of elegance interwoven with history into every piece, whether it’s streetwear or elegant gowns fit for a queen. Her work in Marvel’s Black Panther put her on a global stage, and won the Academy Award for Best Costume, becoming the first Black woman to win the award.
Carter uses Afrofuturism for the suits T’Challa and Shuri wore in both Black Panther installments. According to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Afrofuturism is how the past thought about the future. Carter also drew on inspiration from over one dozen tribes throughout the continent of Africa to represent the different tribes of Wakanda. She also paid special attention to the materials used for the Dora Milaje’s new outfits. From funeral attire to streetwear, Carter’s brilliance shines through in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. These are the best costume designs in the film.
The Cast’s Funeral Attire
Chadwick Boseman’s passing rocked Marvel fans, and with a sequel of Black Panther in production, director Ryan Coogler chose to center the collective grief with a funeral procession much like a second line in New Orleans. The entire cast wore white or mostly white from head to toe. According to In Style, the funeral procession pays homage to the tribes throughout Africa who view death as a celebration. Furthermore, in the Afro-diaspora cultures around the world, white is worn when communing with ancestors. Since Wakandans do ancestral work, T’Challa’s passing means he is now an ancestor.
M’baku’s Outfit
The Jabari Tribe became one of T’Challa’s greatest allies in the first Black Panther film. Each Wakandan tribe is represented by an animal, with the Jabari Tribe being represented by a gorilla. In the first film, the Jabari leader, M’Baku (played by Winston Duke) wore a mask and armor mimicking the gorilla. Carter expanded upon this for the second installment. M’Baku’s new costume updated the breastplate and added more spikes to his forearm guards. Compared to his first costume, M’Baku is more covered, indicating his role in Wakanda is more active.
Shuri’s Black Panther Suit
Marvel fans have seen several forms of the Black Panther suit in the MCU. From King T’Chaka to King N’Jadaka, aka Killmonger, the Black Panther suit was a technological innovation that even Tony Stark couldn't dream up. While T’Chaka and T’Challa’s suits had purple in them, Killmonger's suit was lined with gold. Shuri’s success in artificially replicating the Heart-Shaped Herb allowed her to possess the power of the panther, with her suit being lined with gold. Screen Rant postulates that the gold in Shuri’s suit means that she agrees with her cousin’s pursuit of revenge.
Ramonda’s Vibranium Gown
As Queen of Wakanda, Ramonda (Angela Bassett) was never subservient to her husband or son when they ruled. She held her own and was held in the same regard as the king. Yet T’Challa’s death left a chasm in Wakanda that Ramonda had to fill. As her son built a bridge between Wakanda and the world, she was left to maintain and even fix the damage. Being the life force of her country, Ramonda’s wardrobe physically placed her as an equal to her husband and son. Cater told Hollywood Reporter that the vibranium gown was a physical and emotional representation of Ramonda taking up space as Queen.
Namor’s Huipil
The antagonists of the Black Panther franchise are not necessarily at war with Wakanda, but with the entirety of colonialism and its lasting impact. Namor is no different from Killmonger in his pursuit of justice for his people. He is the savior of his people, the Talokanil, and will lead them to victory over colonizers. Carter revealed that her deep dive into MesoAmerican culture led to Namor’s Huipil, a traditional hand-woven garment worn by those in Central America. Each piece Namor adorns was intricately researched and crafted to honor MesoAmerican culture, both pre-and post-colonial eras.
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