Of the films coming out during this holiday season, my husband and I are most excited about Hidden Figures. I’m woefully uneducated on the complexities of the story upon which it is based, I love the cast and, to be completely superficial, the costuming has me all a-titter. Hidden Figures is about the group of African American female mathematicians, engineers and managers at NASA who were instrumental in launching a man into space (sentimentally, that man was John Glenn who just passed). The movie’s premiere in Washington DC on Wednesday took place at the National Museum Of African American History & Culture. Taraji P. Henson, who portrays mathematician Katherine Johnson, looked amazing on the red carpet. She wore this incredible Hellessy dress with taupe suede heels. I would have gone with a brighter hued shoe but the dress is cut so well, I can forgive the choice for not pulling focus. Her sleek hair complements the dress beautifully and her makeup is perfect.

Katherine Johnson, whom Taraji plays, was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Barak Obama in 2015. Last night, Ms. Johnson, along with Taraji and her costars Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner and director Theodore Melfi, all attended a special screening held by Michelle Obama at the White House. Could you imagine what it must have felt like for any of those people to be at the White House watching this? I wish 2016 had more stories like this to tell.

Taraji was on The View recently talking about her memoir, Around the Way Girl, that Kaiser covered when it came out. When asked why she choose to write the book, Taraji made an interesting point about social media. She said that so many people started to learn pieces of her background, like moving to California with only her son and $700 or getting pregnant and graduating from college, but they only had part of the story. So she saw the book as a way to tell all of it in hopes that someone else might benefit. As she put it, “as an artist I was like ‘I have the mic.’ And God said, how are you going to use that mic?” I love that last line. Wouldn’t we be better off if we asked ourselves, ‘how are you going to use that mic?’

Also at the DC premiere was Octavia Spencer in the pretty teal dress. It’s not flashy but it’s a lovely silhouette and the simplicity lends to an overall elegance.

Janelle Monae always makes interesting fashion choices – some that work and some that don’t. She went off-road with a giant houndstooth coat, turtleneck, black tights and bright red hat. I love this. Plus, Janelle wears her look with confidence. Yeah, I’d wear this if I could.

Kevin Costner was also there, looking very Kevin Costnery *sigh* I just can’t quit him (except for that milk smudge under his lip)

And Pharell Williams who wrote the music with Hans Zimmer. I can quit him no problem.

Photo credit: WENN Photos and Getty Images