When Teyana Taylor was announced as the Chief Curator of the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, expectations were high—and she exceeded every one of them.
From shaping unforgettable moments inside the Superdome to leading conversations throughout the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Taylor’s creative vision was woven into nearly every corner of the festival. But beyond the programming, it was her team’s custom uniforms that became one of the weekend’s most memorable fashion statements.
Designed exclusively for the occasion, the matching jumpsuits served as both a functional backstage uniform and a bold expression of creative identity. Worn by Taylor, her stylist, hairstylist, makeup artist, and the rest of her team, each jumpsuit featured ESSENCE branding down the sleeves alongside a collaborative logo that merged the ESSENCE Festival of Culture mark with Taylor’s Aunties Productions insignia. Playful illustrations and graphics were scattered throughout the design, while “Aunties” stretched boldly across the waistband, giving each piece a personal touch.
The crew switched up the colorway throughout the weekend, sporting crisp white, soft gray, and rich purple versions of the jumpsuit, each paired with coordinating fitted caps featuring the same dual-branded logo.
Naturally, Taylor made every look her own. She personalized the uniforms with her signature styling, pinning them with statement Schiaparelli brooches, swapping between fresh red-and-white Converse and coveted Jordans, and even transforming some of the jumpsuits into shorts. The result was a masterclass in personal style—proof that even a uniform can become a fashion moment when viewed through Teyana Taylor’s creative lens.
