Kerry Washington Wore Brandon Maxwell To The 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards

Kerry Washington was also an honouree at the 2026 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, a night after she received an honour at the An Unforgettable Evening gala.

On this occasion, Kerry wore a Brandon Maxwell Resort 2026 pale pink dress, which delivered a rare minimalist moment for her.

I know what you are thinking: did she really need the leather jacket, especially when it was simply draped over her arms? That was my initial reaction too.

But once you see the dress on its own, the jacket actually starts to make more sense. Without it, the dress leans a little too close to reading like a nightgown slip, so the leather layer adds contrast and a bit of attitude.

We have had three looks from Kerry this week, and I have found myself nitpicking almost all of them. As we move into the new spring season, I would love to see a proper style reset. This current run feels far too inconsistent for someone with her red carpet track record. I miss the days when she delivered hit after hit. Now it feels more like a box of chocolates. You never quite know what you are going to get.

Stylists: Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn.