Podcast Summary: The Run-Through with Vogue

Episode: Behind the Scenes at Vogue World! | PLUS Angela Bassett and Ruth E. Carter on Working Together For 25+ Years

Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Chloe Malle (Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.), Chioma Nnadi (Head of British Vogue)

Episode Overview

This episode dives behind the scenes of Vogue World in Hollywood and features a captivating conversation with acclaimed actress Angela Bassett and legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter. The hosts explore the professionals’ 25+ year collaboration across iconic films including Black Panther, Malcolm X, and What’s Love Got to Do With It, focusing on the artistry, mutual respect, and powerful storytelling that define their partnership. Listeners are treated to insider stories from the Vogue World event, the creative process behind cinematic costumes, and reflections on embodying historic and fictional characters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inside Vogue World: Hollywood

• On-the-Ground Buzz & Backstage Moments

  • Reporters describe the electric energy as Vogue editors, models, and creative staff gather before the Hollywood spectacle ([01:22]-[03:47]).
  • Highlights include live reporting from LAX, the American Airlines lounge, and Paramount Studios’ backlot.
  • Memorable moments:
    • Angela Bassett appearing in her Wakanda/Queen Ramonda costume—Viola Davis was seen audibly gasping in awe ([03:47]).
    • Gracie Abrams’ unique entrance by truck and live performance.
    • Baz Luhrmann and Nicole Kidman as a standout duo.

• Quote:
  “Angela Bassett in her Wakanda costume was such an iconic moment. I was sitting next to Viola Davis and Viola just gasped with awe.” (Unnamed Vogue World Reporter, [03:47])

2. Angela Bassett & Ruth E. Carter: A Creative Sisterhood

• Their Beginnings & Shared Journey

  • Ruth refers to Angela as her “muse and my sister from the start” ([12:28]).
  • Angela recalls her early career moments, including her nervousness before Malcolm X and intense preparation—involving sleeping with the script under her bed and wearing a Malcolm X T-shirt ([14:15]).

• The Black Panther & Vogue World Collaboration

  • Ruth’s excitement to showcase Queen Ramonda’s costume, and honor Zulu women through the isicholo and regal adornment ([07:00]).

  • Marvel’s archiving of costumes, allowing them to be “museum pieces” that can be revisited for special events ([08:35]).

  • Quote:
    “A lot of times the costume is just an entryway into who the character be... Once you envelop your costume, in this case, they were just so regal.” (Angela Bassett, [09:27])

• Costume & Fashion Crossover

  • Discussion of Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain creation inspired by the Dora Milaje as part of Vogue’s “twinning” editorial ([11:01]).
  • Ruth describes her pride in how designers are bringing storytelling into high fashion, and the satisfaction of seeing her film work honored on the Vogue Runway.

3. Deep Dives into Iconic Films

• Malcolm X & Tina Turner Biopic Memories

  • Ruth details meeting Dr. Betty Shabazz ahead of costuming Malcolm X, learning about her upbringing and dignified style ([15:59]).

  • Angela and Ruth share poignant memories from the sets of Malcolm X and What’s Love Got to Do With It, including Tina Turner doing Angela’s makeup in 10 minutes—with less fuss than any makeup team ([19:35]).

  • Unique insight into how wearing an actual Tina Turner costume and receiving her blessing impacted Angela’s performance.

  • Quote:
    “She did makeup in 10 minutes. It would take [the studio team] an hour. ...She also went into her archives and gave me one of her costumes to wear for the Disco Inferno.” (Angela Bassett, [19:36])

  • Ruth recalls building trust and quickly forming a creative bond:
    "I needed to shepherd her to the film, to the lens, by giving her everything she needed, needed to feel in that costume." ([12:40])

4. Artistry, Research, and Collaboration

• The Role of Research

  • Ruth’s approach adjusts based on available sources—personal interviews (with Dr. Shabazz), archival deep dives (Department of Corrections files for Malcolm X), and artistic creativity ([30:50]).
  • Consolidating history into powerful, visual storytelling.

• Mutual Trust & Growth

  • Both recall starting early in their careers—“it’s like, finally made to the top of this mountain. ...We as women, as artists, as creatives, grow and challenge ourselves and take the hard road and wind up exactly where we’re supposed to.” (Angela Bassett, [22:16])

  • Ruth’s perspective on fittings:
    “You can say that she’s not looking at Angela Bassett, she's looking at the image of the character in the mirror... you want to also give her the space to feel it out.” ([23:21])

5. Recent Projects & Motherhood

• Ruth discusses her work on the film Sinners, creating historically resonant costumes within the horror genre, using clothing to evoke the legacy of the Mississippi Delta and the Great Migration ([26:13]).
• Angela reflects on playing iconic women (e.g. Rosa Parks) and how her upbringing by a strong single mother and theater background let her “disappear” into roles ([27:58]).
• Angela shares advice for her son embarking on his first play and the joy of seeing him follow in her theatrical footsteps ([36:09]).

6. Red Carpet Style: Authentically Angela

• Long-standing partnership with stylist Jennifer Austin; Angela trusts Jennifer’s intuition and vision, noting their collaborative approach to fittings and individualized looks ([33:08]).
• “She understands that I’m only 5’3… She dresses me for the energy I bring... And I look nothing like the way she dresses herself.” (Angela Bassett, [35:36])

7. Personal Highlights

• Angela recently celebrated her 27th wedding anniversary and shared that she and her husband planned a trip to Paris for Thanksgiving ([37:54]).
• Rumors of Black Panther 3: Neither Angela nor Ruth could confirm anything—“Literally, we know nothing... I think Denzel knows more than we do.” ([38:41]-[38:59])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On their collaboration:
  “We’ve built a long legacy of strong black women... I show up like I’m in the queen’s court, and we put the isicholo on, and we’re honoring the Zulu women.”
  – Ruth Carter, [07:00]

• On embodying characters:
  “It’s almost as if I could disappear. I could disappear [into] those characters. ...Being raised by a single mother, a proud woman... I think it all plays a hand.”
  – Angela Bassett, [27:58]

• On red carpet style:
  “I’ve just come to trust her to that degree. She understands my proportions... She understands my energy as a person, ...she dresses me for the energy I bring.”
  – Angela Bassett, [35:36]

• On creative process and research:
  “Sometimes I do have to be creative and think of this as, you know, something that’s a two hour... encapsulation of a person’s story. ...We do have to consolidate and sort of pick out those things that were those pivotal moments and express them visually.”
  – Ruth Carter, [30:50]

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [01:22] – [03:47]: Live Vogue World event reporting, highlights from the runway, and backstage excitement.
• [06:01]: Main interview with Angela Bassett and Ruth E. Carter begins.
• [07:00] – [09:27]: Discussing Black Panther costumes and the ritual of fitting.
• [11:01] – [12:28]: Reflections on the Vogue/Balmain pairing and working on Malcolm X.
• [15:59] – [21:55]: Memories of meeting Betty Shabazz, working with Tina Turner, and building trust.
• [22:16] – [24:44]: The evolution of their collaboration and artistic growth.
• [26:13]: Ruth Carter on designing for Sinners and entering the horror genre.
• [27:58]: Angela Bassett’s perspective on playing iconic women and entering the industry.
• [33:08]: Angela on red carpet collaborations and personal style.
• [36:09]: Angela’s son’s first foray into acting.
• [37:54] – [38:22]: Personal life: anniversary celebrations and Thanksgiving plans.
• [38:41] – [38:59]: Teasing Black Panther 3—nothing confirmed.

Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is rich in warmth, sprinkled with good-natured humor and mutual admiration. Both Angela and Ruth speak candidly about their vulnerabilities, inspirations, and the sister-like trust that infuses both their working relationship and friendship. The tone is celebratory, focused on the impact of Black creatives in Hollywood, with insights into the effort behind achieving such powerful onscreen moments.

Summary Takeaways

• Angela Bassett and Ruth E. Carter’s partnership illustrates the power of longstanding creative collaboration in bringing Black excellence and history to the screen, while evolving as artists and women.
• Vogue World’s Hollywood event brought fashion, costume, and cinematic storytelling together, honoring the intersection of high fashion and film costume design.
• Both women reflect on the importance of research, authenticity, and honoring lived experiences in character/costume creation.
• Angela’s and Ruth’s legacies are built on mutual trust, deep respect for craft, and a willingness to embrace new challenges—even in motherhood and new genres.

For listeners or readers, this episode is a masterclass in the collaborative art that goes into creating visual and emotional power on both screen and runway, with inspiration for artists of all kinds.