From premiers to award shows, red carpets have always been a medium that is used to connect the audience to people around the world who are given a platform to display their own sense of style and fashion, ideally establishing their personal brand along the way. 

Tracee Ellis Ross is one among many, and she even hosted The Fashion Awards in 2019 and was named People’s Fashion Icon 2020 in November. However, the accolade was a long time coming, as Ross has proved time and time again that she takes risks — and they pay off. 

Not only was Ross the daughter of Diana Ross, known for her own iconic style, she also got her start as a model in the ’90s. Ross modeled for brands like Theirry Mugler, giving her a head start in diversifying her wardrobe. 

But the looks didn’t stop there, after breaking into television Ross was able to use her experience on the runway and channel that into her clothing in shows and on red carpets. 

Most noticeably, she starred in the sitcom Girlfriends and currently works as a lead in Black-ish. While these aren’t her only credits, these are the two most prominent shows that saw Ross incorporate her own sense of fashion into her characters — something that she would continue to do throughout her work. 

Ross became a staple on red carpets, with her commanding presence in the fashion industry as a constant reminder that people looked to her in anticipation of looks to come. 

There were some more than mediocre looks, like the skintight Mugler snake print dress that Ross wore to host the BET Awards in 2016, or the Marc Jacobs dress in 2019 which left viewers feeling like the outfit was wearing her and not the other way around. 

While these weren’t altogether bad choices, they fell flat in comparison to the expectations that she already garnered with some of her more iconic looks. In 2018, Ross arrived at the Emmys wearing a haute couture Valentino look which demanded attention. The hot pink dress displayed that Ross doesn’t shy away from billowing silhouettes and that she doesn’t have to sacrifice her love for bright colors in order for people to take her style seriously. 

Continuing with this trend, Ross attended the 2019 Met Gala where the theme was camp. Although many celebrities in attendance shied away from the theme, Ross dove headfirst in a custom Moschino black dress that seamlessly pulled together in the middle, creating an alluringly simple and elegant silhouette. The dress was topped off with a golden picture frame, which was attached to the dress and gave Ross the perfect amount of “camp” by making her look like she was in a painting in every photo she took. 

Ross’s affinity for fashion is something that has continued to evolve over time, leaving viewers like me wanting, and always expecting, more from her next look. As she continues to raise the bar for red carpets everywhere, her style will only continue to cement her place as a true fashion icon for the years to come.