Teyana Taylor and Thom Browne are featured on the cover of the WWD Weekend Fall Fashion Issue, with the actress and designer detailing their unique bond.
In the accompanying interview and photo shoot, Taylor, 35, is seen in a striking black-and-white beaded coat dress with exaggeratedly long sleeves, a signature element of Browne's designs. The actress sports a platinum pixie cut for the cover image, while Browne, 60, is pictured in one of his characteristic short suits.
Taylor, who considers herself a muse for Browne, also models a gray overcoat and matching suit, as well as a pierced skirt set. She described their relationship as being "weirdly similar," despite outward appearances. "I feel like I’m your spirit animal in a weird way; I’m like your extrovert and you’re like my introvert," Taylor told WWD. She emphasized the importance of connecting with the person behind the designs, stating, "The heart, the genius, the person behind this work of art is very important for me. That’s why I ride for you the way I ride for you. I gotta love here before I can even love the design."
The partnership between the New York-based designer and Taylor has been ongoing for years. Taylor has frequently worn Browne's creations to high-profile events, including the 2023 Met Gala and the 2026 SAG Actor Awards. For the latter, she wore a complex trompe-l’oeil “naked” dress, a design composed of 160 pattern pieces and adorned with approximately 400,000 sequins and 175,000 beads.
Taylor has also been a consistent presence at Browne's fashion shows. She recalled one particular show, the designer's fall/winter 2022 collection, which was themed around the "Island of Misfit Toys," that moved her to tears. Browne noted that the theme reflected a sense of individuality and self-reliance, saying, "The show was based on the Island of Misfit Toys, because I feel like we are so true to ourselves. Sometimes we are very much on our own."
Taylor expressed her admiration for Browne's creative process, stating, "I feel like the way you put your imagination and your dreams on paper is really iconic to me. That’s a fashion icon to me as someone that could put it on paper and bring it to reality, and then I just get to wear it."