Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw made history at the 98th Academy Awards as the first woman and the first Black person to win Best Cinematography.
She took home the Oscar for Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, who later went on to win Best Actor that same night. As she stepped onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre, Arkapaw joined a night filled with memorable fashion moments—from Priyanka Chopra’s elegant Dior gown paired with sleek Jimmy Choo “Brigitte” pumps to Jessie Buckley’s romantic Chanel ensemble with pink satin pumps, Kate Hudson’s shimmering Armani gown styled with Aquazzura platforms, and Anne Hathaway’s Old Hollywood Valentino look finished with Roger Vivier heels.
For the historic moment, Arkapaw chose a head-to-toe Thom Browne ensemble that felt perfectly in tune with the evening—sharp tailoring, subtle drama, and footwear that quietly anchored the look.
Cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw celebrates her historic Best Cinematography win at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, wearing a head-to-toe Thom Browne ensemble as she accepts her Oscar onstage (Credit: Trae Patton / The Academy)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s Thom Browne Patent Court Pumps at the 2026 Academy Awards
I found myself drawn to her shoes as she walked onstage to accept her award. Autumn wore a pair of Thom Browne court pumps that were a clever mix of menswear and womenswear, something the brand is well known for.
The American fashion designer has built a reputation for tailoring that borrows from classic suiting while adding modern twists, and these pumps captured that idea perfectly.
The shoes were crafted from glossy black-and-white patent leather, giving them a polished shine that elevated the entire look. Like traditional menswear oxfords, they featured white panels along the topline with a tiny notch detail, adding contrast against the dark leather. A structured grosgrain bow sat across the front, adding a feminine touch while keeping the overall design tailored and refined.
The pumps also featured squared toes with softly rounded corners, which gave the silhouette a modern feel. They were finished with about 3.5-inch block heels trimmed with grosgrain fabric running down the center, along with Thom Browne’s signature red, white, and blue loop tab at the back.
Her Thom Browne 90mm patent-leather court pumps are available for $1,300 at Farfetch.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw wears a pair of Thom Browne court pumps featuring a shiny black patent base with a white topline panel, a structured grosgrain bow, square toes, and high block heels (Credit: Etienne Laurent / Trae Patton / The Academy)
Autumn Durald Arkapaw Completes Her Thom Browne Look With Tailored Red-Carpet Styling
Autumn paired the sleek pumps with an intricately embroidered Thom Browne coat that carried the same tailored energy. The coat featured texture throughout the fabric and was finished with frayed fringe trims along the cuffs and lapels.
Underneath, she wore a sheer gray collared shirt with a black tie, partially covered by a ribbed corset top, paired with a long black column maxi skirt. I loved how the outfit mixed structured tailoring with softer details. It blended classic suiting with a modern red-carpet twist, making her historic Oscars moment even more memorable.
Autumn Durald Arkapaw pairs her Oxford-inspired pumps with a full Thom Browne look featuring an intricately embroidered black coat, a sheer gray shirt underneath, a black tie, and a column skirt (Credit: Etienne Laurent / The Academy)
Why Celebrities Love Thom Browne’s Tailored Footwear on the Red Carpet
Autumn Durald Arkapaw’s polished patent pumps perfectly captured Thom Browne’s signature design philosophy—blending classic menswear tailoring with modern, fashion-forward femininity.
The designer has become known for reimagining traditional brogues, spectator shoes, and court pumps through a sharply tailored lens, creating footwear that feels both structured and unexpectedly elegant on the red carpet.
Over the years, a growing number of celebrities have embraced Thom Browne’s distinctive approach to footwear and tailoring, styling the brand’s brogue-inspired heels, statement pumps, and sharply cut suits for premieres, press tours, and major awards ceremonies. Explore more standout Thom Browne shoe moments below.
👞 Explore Thom Browne Shoe & Fashion Stories on Your Next Shoes:
- ✨ Gigi Hadid’s red-carpet Thom Browne moment spotlights pointy heeled brogues styled with a sharply tailored look, showing the label’s signature mix of masculine structure and fashion-forward polish.
- 🎬 Storm Reid’s Thom Browne couture look at the NAACP Image Awards highlights the designer’s dramatic proportions and red-carpet tailoring in one of her standout early fashion moments.
- 💼 McKenna Grace’s office-chic Thom Browne brogues focus on black-and-white spectator heels that blend classic wingtip detailing with feminine curved heels.
- 🖤 Rebecca Ferguson’s Thom Browne tailoring in Venice pairs the designer’s sharp suiting with brogue-style platform pumps for a sleek, androgynous take on festival dressing.
- 🌟 Brooke Shields’ gray Thom Browne power-suit look shows how the brand’s precision tailoring can be softened with gleaming silver pumps for a polished modern finish.
- 🎥 Julia Roberts’ Thom Browne blazer romper and brogue pumps captures the label’s androgynous charm through lace-up pumps and a tailored romper with signature striped details.
- 📺 Rachel Brosnahan’s Thom Browne blazer dress and brogue pumps delivers a playful preppy twist with wingtip-inspired white pumps, a tailored mini silhouette, and Thom Browne’s unmistakable collegiate mood.