Da’Vine Joy Randolph Evokes New, Old Hollywood Glamour at the SAG Awards

As The Holdovers star Da’Vine Joy Randolph heads into the home stretch of awards season (and her continuous sweep of trophies), her red carpet glam sessions with stylists Wayman + Micah reflect the exhilaration.

“Cocktails, good music and laughter,” says Micah McDonald — who co-styles Randolph, along with fellow first-time Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo, with Wayman Bannerman — of the experience of working with Randolph ahead of the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards. “We’ve done the work. She’s done the work. The time calls for celebration.”

During her pre-carpet practice of staying present and focused, Randolph maintains her tried-and-true rituals of FaceGym, gua sha routines, wood therapy and lymphatic massages. “It hasn’t changed much,” says Randolph of her routine as she also credits “connecting with people” along the way with keeping up her energy. “For me, consistency is key.”

For the SAG Awards, the trio also continue — and progress — their sartorial narrative, too. “The new Mae West of the carpet,” says McDonald, about Randolph’s team’s ongoing “modern” take on Old Hollywood glamour. “Mae West was a larger than life, robust soul and we’re keeping that spirit alive with silhouettes and textiles.”

A draped ivory mermaid gown, with exquisite hand-stitched 3D roses at the neckline, by Valdrin Sahiti brings the team’s captivating vision board to life. “Valdrin has dressed iconic women, like Beyoncé and Winnie Harlow,” says Randolph. “This is a dress that I’ve wanted for a very long time and the guys and I worked together to make this come to fruition. This dress is romantic, feminine and soft. It reminds me of magnolia flowers, New Orleans and the South.”

The evocative gown also holds significant meaning to Randolph, not just for her strong and affecting performance as grieving mother Mary Lamb in The Holdovers — which earned the Tony nominee her first Oscar nod — but also the impact of African American designers in fashion and greater history.

“Mary is so effortlessly graceful. She is beautiful and feminine. This dress is timeless, and for me, I think that this dress captures that part of her spirit,” says Randolph. “There’s a Black designer from the ‘50s, Ann Lowe, who designed Jackie O’s wedding dress [to John F. Kennedy in 1953], and this look reminds me of her designs. I feel that if Mary were going to a fancy event she would have had a dress from Ann Lowe.”

Through collaborating with the Pristina, Kosovo-based Valdrin Sahiti, Wayman + Micah also continue to give a platform to international and independent designers — with a deeper goal for Randolph, too. “We create this magical moment that’s special to Da’Vine and not to anyone else,” says Bannerman.

As an Omega Brand Ambassador, Randolph adorns the sleek gown with an elegant Constellation Manhattan Quartz timepiece. “It allows me to express myself,” says Randolph, who appreciates the Swiss luxury house’s history of women’s watchmaking.

Wayman + Micah further accessorized Randolph’s stunning look with Steve Madden shoes and earrings by Dauphin. Hair by Keshaun Williamson (a.k.a. Lace Assassin) and makeup by Sheika Daley complete her look.

Next up for Randolph: the Oscars, and the grand finale to her new Old Hollywood story — well, for this season anyway.

“One teaser is that the opulence will be even more grand, even more beautiful, even more exuberant,” says Bannerman, with McDonald chiming in, “a true moment.”