As you probably are aware,  Chadwick Boseman died on Friday of colon cancer, which he’d been dealing with (unbeknownst to most people) since 2016. This is a heartbreaking and shocking loss of an incredibly talented and — by all accounts — deeply kind and thoughtful man; we are worse off as people to no longer have him with us, as a performer and as a person. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler wrote a beautiful and deeply heartfelt tribute, which I encourage you to read in full:

He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.

I’m sure there will be other beautiful and moving pieces coming out over the next week, too; I just read this thoughtful and moving essay from Kelley L. Carter, which I also really recommend.

Boseman’s personal style is, obviously, far from the most important thing about him or his legacy, but his presence on the red carpet will be hugely missed. He and his stylist Ashley Weston created some of the most iconic fashion moments of the last several years and he was inarguably one of the best dressed men in the world. As a person who covers the red carpet professionally, I always have in my head a few celebrities whom I trust to never disappoint, to always give 110%, whose style is impeccable, creative, moving, and inspiring; Chadwick Boseman has been on the top of that list for as long as he’s been in the public eye. He will be missed and mourned for so, so much more than this — but the red carpet is yet another place where this loss cuts deeply, and where there will forever be an empty space where he ought to be.

Part of this slideshow was originally included in a large retrospective we wrote celebrating Chadwick in 2018; I’ve updated it and added to it.

[Photos: Getty, Shutterstock]