Photo: Trevor Smith/WWD
Ruth E. Carter is a national treasure and no matter what award she wins, we’ll always love her for how her work represents us on the big screen. While some may have been introduced to her by way of ‘Black Panther,’ the costume design legend has been a staple in Black Hollywood for decades. And in honor of Black History Month, Carter travels down memory lane to remind us all why she’s an icon in her own right.
If you follow her on Twitter, she’s using #28DaysOfCostumeDesign to share details and knowledge about her movie moments. From several Spike Lee joints to Amistad and everything between, each tweet delivers insight on how Carter dressed some of the most famous Black real-life superheroes. And it’s just as glorious as you’d imagine.
For the next few weeks I’ll be sharing daily sketches and behind the scenes photos from many of the films I’ve designed throughout my career. School Daze was my very first movie as a costume designer – filmed 30 years ago (1988). #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/ENB6SAfPg3
— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 2, 2019
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Day 2: Real Life Superheroes
Before @theblackpanther, I’ve designed many real-life superheroes including Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King (SELMA), Thurgood Marshall (MARSHALL), and Tina Turner (What’s Love Got To Do With It?).#28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/HqrLIyq5LG— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 3, 2019
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Day 3: B.A.P.S
BAPS was so over the top it became a cult classic! @halleberry’s rubber jumpsuit was designed after I read the bathroom scene. I wanted to create a costume that once it was confronted w/ water would become a very funny & slippery performance. #28daysofcostumedesign pic.twitter.com/tKJA2X8ccD— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 4, 2019
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Day 4: Black Panther
1500 Costumes in @theblackpanther is approx. Could be more, could be slightly less. Let’s add them up:
500- King’s Accention Challenge
200- Casino
100- PRINCIPLES & Battle Costumes
300- Busan Fish market
300- Step Town
50- CIA Office#28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/wbQ2KXzXcN— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 5, 2019
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Day 6: Amistad
After my initial meeting w/ Steven Spielberg he gave me the script & said “Read it and call me tomorrow if you want to do it together.” That’s respect. @msdebbieallen was also a producer that had unwavering support & dedication to the story. #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/umTefpSCde— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 6, 2019
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Day 7: Chi-Raq
Chiraq directed by #SpikeLee was shot in Chicago. I was also working on Keeping Up With The Joneses & Being Mary Jane at the same time. 3 projects- one in Chicago and two in Atlanta. It was incredibly challenging. I just can never say no!!! #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/NjR2mImJjj— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 8, 2019
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Rosewood took place in Orlando. I was hit by the history of this town, built by blacks. They built it w/ their own hands & then the hate burned down their dreams. Together w/ #JohnSingleton we turned back the hands of time & gave this community a gift by telling their story. pic.twitter.com/ubYdayepFm
— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 9, 2019
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Day 9: I’m Gonna Git You Sucka Crazy as it sounds, but comedic costume design is probably one of the greatest challenges of my career. Fly Guy’s costume “the outdated pimp” costume couldn’t get any bigger. And the goldfish shoes became iconic.#28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/ZmcbmZrujD
— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 10, 2019
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Day 10: Do The Right Thing
1989. A time of Spike Lee, Nike, Public Enemy and Sneaker Jams! Outta Brooklyn NY and Ossie Davis was Da Mayor. I designed shorts and tank tops out of African fabrics. And LOVE HATE rings came from Fulton Mall! #28daysofcostumedesign pic.twitter.com/y2MYFQY2fl— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 11, 2019
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Day 11: The Five Heartbeats
Music in film is better when its a part of the scene & plays out loud on the set. Robert Townsend created The Five Heartbeats based on the story of the Temptations, but everyday it felt like the story of a young filmmaker making their dreams come true. pic.twitter.com/YEklgFUmma— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 12, 2019
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Day 12: Mo’ Better Blues
If the “purest” approach trumpet player Bleek Gilliam /Denzel wasn’t doin it for you then maybe you was on the side of Shadow the avant-garde sexy saxophone player /Wesley Snipes. Mo Better Blues. One of Spike Lee’s greatest films!#28DaysOfCostumeDesigns pic.twitter.com/BJlxB95fJF— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 13, 2019
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Day 13: How Stella Got Her Groove Back
This was a film about a single professional woman who goes on vacation w/ her girlfriends & falls in love w/ a HOT Jamaican boy & gets her GROOVE back! Stella had over 60 costume changes. We shot most of it in Jamaica. #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/HNgHwG05Gj— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 14, 2019
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Day 14: The Meteor Man
To be honest, my 1st superhero was Meteor Man. People may not remember it but I worked w/ @Robert_Townsend quite a bit. He created an inner city fairytale that was just as fantastical as any of the other comic book stories out there! #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/agSX9d0kGm— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 14, 2019
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Day 15: Jungle Fever
Jungle Fever was shot uptown on Strivers Row. You know. Harlem’s Strivers Row where Scott Joplin, Eubie Blake & other Harlem legends lived. But the craziest part was the crack house called the Taj Mahal. #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/UIAXtQlJ96— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 16, 2019
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Sparkle was 60’s fashion in film. Dress looks were inspired by Rudy Gernreich (Black & White dresses) Paco Rabanne (gem dresses) & Balenciaga’s cabbage cape. By my favorite male costumes hands down of all belongs to my main man @TheRealMikeEpps. He was fly fly! #28DaysOfCostume pic.twitter.com/3u6FRHtpKQ
— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 17, 2019
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Day 17: Baby Boy
Baby Boy was my 3rd Film w/ John Singleton. We had done Shaft & Rosewood. We were like family. I was married to Ice Cubes former bodyguard Snag and baby boy hit home to my husband and a lot of those who knew this life growing up in LA #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/ZvvicTUXcL— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 18, 2019
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Day 18: Seinfeld
Seinfeld pilot was first name Seinfeld chronicles. I remember meeting Jerry at his apt in Hollywood and picking his clothes out from his own closet. It was so neat everywhere it felt strange to me, compared to my apt #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/lVPOWBn9KK— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 19, 2019
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Day 20: The Great White Hype
The Great White Hype united me again w/ @SamuelLJackson. It also starred Damon Wayans, Peter Berg & @iamjamiefoxx. I was a young costume designer & had fun w/ these costumes from The Sulton turbans to the Irish ☘️ lucky charms! #28DaysOfCostumeDesign pic.twitter.com/7dT1KBbibk— Ruth E Carter (@iamRuthECarter) February 21, 2019
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Having started her career with ‘School Daze,’ we’re so blessed to have Ruth E. Carter dressing our dreams for over thirty years and being a living Black History monument.