Taraji P. Henson’s Shoe Style: Red Carpet Evolution & Designer Favorites

Taraji P. Henson’s approach to the red carpet has always mirrored her career: intentional, bold, and grounded in self-advocacy.

From her early days paying off student loans with her first acting checks to her vocal stance on pay equity in Hollywood, she has maintained a consistent public identity as an artist who understands her value.

Whether she is appearing in Pasadena or New York City, her style choices often serve as a visual extension of that confidence.

Standing 5 feet 4 inches (162.6 cm) tall and wearing a US shoe size 7 (EU 37), Henson frequently selects footwear that balances her proportions, favoring architectural heels and strappy silhouettes that elongate her frame.

Her wardrobe history, spanning from the peak of the Empire era to her celebrated turn in The Color Purple, offers a clear look at how a modern icon navigates high-fashion trends while staying true to her personal aesthetic.

Preen Power: Taraji P. Henson in Blue Layered Spring Ensemble

Clad in a layered look from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi’s Spring 2020 collection, Henson delivered a bold ensemble just as dynamic as her presence.

Taraji P. Henson wore a blue Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Spring 2020 ensemble at the FOX Winter TCA All-Star Party at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 7, 2020, in Pasadena, California (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN / Nicky Nelson / Oscar Martin / Future Image / Avalon)

Case in point: the actress made a confident and fashion-forward appearance at the FOX Winter TCA All-Star Party, held at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena on January 7, 2020.

The Christian Louboutin Loubi Queen sandals added a polished metallic edge to her layered Preen ensemble

Green Goddess: Vera Wang at the Golden Globes

In January 2019, Taraji P. Henson lit up the red carpet at the Golden Globe Awards in a striking forest green gown.

The actress, known for her bold fashion choices, effortlessly commanded attention in a custom Vera Wang design that highlighted her signature confidence and style.

Taraji P. Henson highlighted her cleavage at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 6, 2019

The Empire actress looked sexy in a custom forest green Vera Wang gown paired with Roberto Coin jewelry.

She starred as Loretha “Cookie” Lyon and reportedly earned $175,000 per episode of the American musical drama series, which concluded on April 21, 2020.

Taraji P. Henson’s forest green Vera Wang gown features a daring neckline

While the American actress, author, and singer has appeared in many movies and television series, including Abbott Elementary, she is best known for playing Cookie Lyon on the Fox series Empire. In 2016, she also released a New York Times bestselling autobiography, Around the Way Girl: A Memoir (available on Amazon).

She received Academy Award, SAG Award, and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a single mother of a disabled child in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

In her memoir, Henson revealed she was paid “less than 2%” of co-star Brad Pitt’s salary for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. While her successful runs on Empire and in films like The Color Purple have elevated her annual earnings to millions, she remains a vocal advocate for pay equity.

She has openly discussed the “math” of Hollywood, noting that after taxes and the “overhead” of a professional team, even high-grossing stars face a significant gap between their sticker price and their take-home pay.

A red carpet regular and Emmy winner, Taraji P. Henson has built a reported $12 million fortune through acting and advocacy

Red Radiance: Carolina Herrera and Jimmy Choo

Toward the end of 2018, Taraji showed off her pedicured feet in Jimmy Choo’s ‘Minny’ sandals at Disney’s ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet premiere in Los Angeles, California.

Taraji P. Henson’s red strapless dress from Carolina Herrera’s 2019 Spring Collection

She styled her ankle-strap shoes with a red strapless ruffle dress from Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2019 Collection.

Taraji P. Henson at the world premiere of their new movie Ralph Breaks the Internet held at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on November 5, 2018

Her glam team included makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff and hairstylist Tym Wallace, who completed the polished red carpet look.

While the strapless Carolina Herrera dress delivered bold visual impact, the fabric’s structure appeared somewhat rigid under the lights—adding volume but slightly compromising fluidity.

Taraji complemented her red gown with sleek Jimmy Choo sandals and a vibrant yellow pedicure for a pop of contrast

Brandon Maxwell Jumpsuit Moment

The same month, Taraji also attended the 2018 Hollywood Film Awards and served as a presenter. She presented John David Washington with the Hollywood Breakout Actor Award for his role in BlacKkKlansman.

Her two-tone jumpsuit from Brandon Maxwell’s Spring 2019 Collection consisted of a white one-shoulder top and exaggerated wide-leg pants.

Taraji P. Henson looked gorgeous at the 2018 Hollywood Film Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on November 4, 2018

Hot Pink in Solace London and Sophia Webster Heels

Two months earlier, she looked radiant in pink while leaving The View studios after appearing in New York City. She styled a hot-pink sleeveless Ariana dress from the Solace London Pre-Fall 2018 Collection with glittering Sophia Webster sandals.

Taraji P. Henson turned heads outside The View studios in New York City on September 25, 2018, wearing a vivid hot-pink sleeveless dress that skimmed her frame, paired with delicate strappy sandals featuring slim toe straps and barely-there ankle detailing that subtly elongated her legs and let her deep burgundy pedicure take center stage

Designers Remix and Carey Sandals at Empire Premiere

Her hit show, Empire, is a major contributor to her net worth, and the previous day, she attended the season five premiere at Lafayette in New York City.

Taraji P. Henson brought modern edge to the Empire season five premiere at Lafayette in New York City on September 24, 2018, pairing a structured Designers Remix ensemble with minimalist black strappy sandals featuring slender toe bands and wraparound ankle ties that framed her feet and added a sleek, barely-there finish to the softly flared skirt

She showed off her pretty feet in Jimmy Choo’s ‘Carey’ sandals paired with a Designers Remix Resort 2019 shirt and skirt.

Her Jimmy Choo Carey sandals featured a barely-there design that balanced her two-piece look

Sleek in Alexander Wang at the NAACP Awards

In February 2017, Taraji P. Henson won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series as Cookie Lyon on ‘Empire’ at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards on Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.

Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe joined her on the red carpet.

Taraji P. Henson with Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe at the 2017 NAACP Awards

The then 46-year-old ‘Hidden Figures’ actress donned a lovely leather-accented Alexander Wang dress featuring a thigh-high split.

Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe joined Taraji P. Henson on the red carpet as she celebrated her award, with Taraji stepping out in strappy black sandals featuring slim intersecting toe bands and delicate ankle straps that elongated her legs through the thigh-high slit, while Janelle balanced her sculptural black ensemble with classic platform pumps that grounded the dramatic silhouette

She styled the sultry black gown with a statement ring, a bracelet, earrings from David Webb, a top knot, and black suede sandals from Jimmy Choo.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe coordinated their looks with statement heels on the NAACP red carpet

Taraji P. Henson’s earrings from David Webb and a top knot

Taraji P. Henson won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Cookie Lyon

Taraji P. Henson’s endless legs in a lovely leather-accented Alexander Wang dress

Taraji P. Henson styled her look with minimalist strappy Jimmy Choo sandals that complemented the sleek black gown

Romantic Reem Acra at the SAG Awards

One month earlier, the American actress and author stunned at the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Award in a layered organza gown from the Reem Acra Spring 2017 collection.

Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monáe at the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) held at The Shrine Auditorium Media Complex in Los Angeles on January 29, 2017

She styled the romantic beaded dress with Nirav Modi jewelry, Jimmy Choo heels, and a Judith Leiber bag.

Janelle Monáe and Taraji P. Henson celebrated their SAG Awards win with playful energy, both lifting their trophies while stepping out in strappy black sandals—Taraji opting for sleek, minimalist heels with fine ankle straps that lengthened her silhouette beneath the flowing embellished gown, while Janelle’s barely-there sandals added a light, modern finish to her textured, tea-length ensemble

Taraji and the other stars of ‘Hidden Figures’, including Janelle Monáe, won the night’s top prize for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Taraji P. Henson won the top prize of the night

Taraji P. Henson accessorized with Nirav Modi jewelry

Taraji P. Henson’s romantic beaded dress featured an open back

Taraji P. Henson turned heads in a layered organza gown from the Reem Acra Spring 2017 collection

More of Taraji P. Henson’s Boldest Designer Shoe Moments

From barely there sandals and metallic pumps to embellished stilettos and statement boots, Taraji P. Henson’s style history shows just how confidently she moves between glamour, color, and sharp red carpet polish.

For a closer look at more of her standout footwear choices across premieres, press appearances, and major awards shows, explore more of her best shoe and fashion moments below.