Collaboration and Storytelling Made Up the Fabric of the 2026 Costume Designers Guild Awards
One message was evident at the 28th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards: actors and directors want audiences to be hyper-aware of a costume designers importance when it comes to a movie’s success. And Kate Hudson was sure to say it loud and clear from the stage as she received her own award.
“Costume designers are responsible for creating an entire world for the director. It’s not just putting clothes on people. It’s specific for color, texture, energy, and it has to keep the whole story in mind,” the Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actress said while accepting the Spotlight Award at this year’s Adrians.
The actress has a litany of iconic costumes, dating back to the Penny Lane coat from the 2000 film Almost Famous. A few years after that, there was the Karen Patch and Carolina Herrera collaboration for How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days which resulted in the unforgettable custom sunshine-hued slip dress. And more recently, you can consider any one of the power suits she sports in Running Point.
The ceremony, which was presented by Bvlgari and saw the introduction of a new edition of the Guild’s iconic statuette The Adrian designed by the luxury brand, also honored One Battle After Another’s Teyena Taylor with the Vanguard Spotlight Award. In her acceptance speech, Taylor shared how “fashion tells the story before [she] ever steps into the room or in front of the camera.” Taylor also recalled ideating her memorable dandy-inspired ensemble for last year’s Met Gala. “I remember thinking, ‘I don’t need a stylist. I need a storyteller. I need a costume designer,’” she shared. “So I snuck into the Met Gala and got ‘best dressed’ with Ruth E. Carter.” (Carter, the costume designer for the record-breaking film Sinners, also broke Oscar records herself, becoming the first Black woman to receive five nominations for her craft.)
Speaking of iconic Black costume designers: Michelle Cole, the multiple-Emmy-nominated talent behind the wardrobe on shows like Black-ish, received the Career Achievement Award. Tracee Ellis Ross, with whom Cole has worked for years, presented her with the award. “I feel like you need to come out here so I can say all of this to your face,” said Ross after gushing about her admiration, at which point Cole sashayed onto the stage.
“I’ve been doing this for 43 years,” Cole said, adding that she had dreams of being a costume designer since she was 15-years-old. She also spoke poignantly about the challenges of being a Black woman in Hollywood, even behind the camera, but how she was never afraid of a challenge. Following her speech, the theater full of her peers, colleagues, and fans, gave her a well-earned standing ovation.
Other moments at the awards included Kate Hawley winning the Adrian for Excellence in Period Film for her work on Frankenstein. Her win was met with cheering that recognized a heart-wrenching story about how kindness goes a long way. Folks in the theater also held their breath during Kameron Lennox’s acceptance speech for Excellence in Contemporary Television for her costume designing on The Studio. With a shaky voice, Lennox thanked the late Catherine O Hara for always knowing how to use a costume to tell the story of the character.
Undoubtedly, the common thread was collaboration and storytelling. Though Taylor was the first to do so, every single speaker, presenter, honoree, and winner after her underscored that costume designers are the first line of defense when it comes to a character’s story.
In fact, James Cameron went so far as to dedicate his Distinguished Collaborator Award to Deborah L. Scott, who presented him with it. “Being honored as a collaborator in a costume design reference point, for me, over the last 30 years, means collaborating with one artist,” he said, while looking directly at Scott—which triggered woos and long applause from the audience. Cameron continued: “When you think of Kate Winslet’s incredible looks in Titanic, specifically when she steps out of that car and her character is revealed for the first time with that hat, that is a piece of cinema that still takes people’s breath away.”
Following James Cameron s award, people shuffled into the after-party, where there were cocktails flowing and light bites circulating. The sharpest sartorial minds in Hollywood continued toasting and savoring their success. And damn, did they all look really good doing it.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images1/18Teyana Taylor
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images2/18Kate Hudson
