RODARTE’S NEW GIRL: Tessa Thompson first encountered Rodarte when she was searching for a dress to wear to the premiere of “Selma.” The one she wore — iridescent with embroidered netting — landed her on best-dressed lists and created the type of fashion buzz that’s often so helpful to up-and-coming actresses. “We worked so hard on ‘Selma,’ it was such a serious film, and it was kind of the perfect gown to celebrate it and put it out into the world,” she said at the after party for the label’s fall show.
It’s Thompson’s first fashion week, and her own enthusiasm has surprised her. “Not that I’ve ever been dismissive of fashion, but I’ve never felt a part of that world necessarily. I was surprised by how geeky I felt seeing, like, Grace Coddington or Anna Wintour or Bill Cunningham on the street taking photographs — I really squealed when I saw him,” she said. “I guess I didn’t realize how charmed and interested I was until I felt myself nerding out a little bit.”
Thompson won’t confirm or deny if she’ll be at the Oscars this Sunday (“That’s a conversation, we’re still waiting to see…”) but spoke to the media outcry surrounding the Academy’s “Selma” snubs. “Frankly, Ava [DuVernay, the director] was not in a position where she though a nomination was going to happen. I think for all of us, and especially for Ava, we were bummed about David [Oyelowo, the movie’s star], just because we think his work is sensational and you want your friends and your colleagues to get what they deserve. But I don’t think not getting a nomination takes anything away from David. Even that people call it a snub, I guess that’s flattery, it’s weird flattery.” As for Common and John Legend, who were nominated for the film’s song “Glory”? “I think they’re a shoe-in,” she said.