On Monday evening, Janelle Monáe commanded the red carpet at New York’s “Is God Is” premiere in a gown that felt pulled from a shadowy Elizabethan court. The actor and musician chose Abodi Transylvania’s fall 2026 collection—a label that has made its name by weaving Transylvanian folklore into darkly romantic silhouettes. The ensemble’s black velvet and satin bodice, punctuated by sheer panels and cascading velvet ribbons, evoked the structured corsetry that has influenced lingerie design for centuries. Indeed, the boned bodice, a precursor to the modern bustier, first emerged in the 16th century to shape the torso beneath heavy gowns, much like the architectural foundation of Monáe’s look.
The voluminous sleeves and deep crimson bows added a macabre sensuality, but the true centerpiece was the white ruff collar. This iconic accessory, famously worn by Queen Elizabeth I, was more than decoration: in the 1500s and 1600s, ruffs signified wealth and status, their size expanding as a direct display of privilege. For lingerie historians, the ruff also echoes the elaborate neck trims seen on chemises and early corset covers—garments that, like Monáe’s ensemble, balanced opulence with restraint.
Completing the look, the Vampire Castle Bag—inspired by Bran Castle, the alleged lair of Bram Stoker’s Dracula—offered a modern counterpoint in black leather and gold hardware. Styled by Alexandra Mandelkorn, whose roster includes Lainey Wilson and Madelaine Petsch, Monáe’s appearance was a masterclass in historical reference reworked for the present. “Is God Is,” a revenge thriller co-starring Sterling K. Brown and Vivica A. Fox, opens May 15—a fitting stage for Monáe’s darkly regal homage to the ruffs and corsets that once defined power, and still inspire it today.
Originally reported by WWD