Taraji P. Henson Puts Forth an Elegant Take on the Shirtless Blazer Trend at NAACP Image Awards 2025

Taraji P. Henson put a black tie spin on the shirtless blazer trend. The actress arrived at the NAACP Image Awards 2025 on Saturday in Los Angeles while wearing an elegant take on the look.

Henson wore an open white blazer with a high-slit, floor-length skirt that featured a train. Henson paired the evening skirt suit with a diamond serpent statement necklace and a pair of peep-toe high heels outlined with crystal trim. She completed her sparkling look with an assortment of diamond stud earrings.

The actress picked up awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special, Movie) with “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” and Outstanding Literary Work – Children with her book “You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book.”

The shirtless blazer trend has been popping up on red carpets and at fashion shows for nearly a decade. Rihanna to Blake Lively, and Jennifer Aniston have all put their stamp on it — as did Kristen Stewart when she wore a burgundy suit with an open double-breasted blazer in 2016 to New York Film Festival. The following year, in 2017, Demi Lovato she wore a plaid suit with an open blazer and no shirt to the MTV EMAs and Kim Kardashian stepped out in a Tom Ford tuxedo with an open blazer and no shirt underneath at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s seventh annual Art + Film Gala.

The skirt suit trend has also been a popular choice on the red carpet in recent months. Last month it was one of the breakout trends at Sundance Film Festival 2025 and over the past year skirt suits have been favored for events by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Zendaya, Demi Moore, Taylor Swift, Hailey Bieber and Sydney Sweeney.

The NAACP Image Awards 2025 also brought out former Vice President Kamala Harris, who was honored with the Chairman’s Award, Kerry Washington, Laverne Cox, Halle Bailey, Gabrielle Union, and more.