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September 30, 2016

Cookie Lyon Would Approve of Taraji P. Henson’s Style

By Leah Rodriguez

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Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage

You’re probably already familiar with Cookie’s bold wardrobe on Empire, even if you’ve never seen the show. Season three just started, so there’s still plenty of time left to catch up on her fabulous coats, but actress Taraji P. Henson’s personal style is worth checking out, too.

Whether she’s wearing vintage YSL or Naeem Khan, Henson owns the red carpet with her confidence. At the Emmys, she gave a sleek lemon-yellow Vera Wang gown a personal touch with a clutch bearing her initials — and don’t you forget them. Whether it’s trying a purple lip, making a mullet-esque cut work in Roberto Cavalli, or braving a full-on latex suit at a James Bond premiere, Henson loves to experiment.

See all her best looks, including wild animal prints, a white tuxedo, and more in our slideshow below.

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1 / 74 Photos
May 7, 2017 Where: At the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles. What: Dress by Emilio Pucci. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
February 26, 2017 Where: At the Academy Awards. What: Dress by Alberta Ferretti. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
September 18, 2016 Where: The 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Fil... September 18, 2016 Where: The 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
September 10, 2016 Where: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle's annual celebration of the Toronto International Film Festival at ... September 10, 2016 Where: The Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle's annual celebration of the Toronto International Film Festival at Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images for InStyle
September 10, 2016 Where: The 'Hidden Figures' premiere during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Can... September 10, 2016 Where: The 'Hidden Figures' premiere during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Canada. Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage
September 7, 2016 Where: M.A.C. Cosmetics Event at MAC Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for MAC
August 8, 2016 Where: The FOX Summer TCA Press Tour in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
June 15, 2016 Where: The Women In Film 2016 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented By Max Mara And BMW at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills... June 15, 2016 Where: The Women In Film 2016 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented By Max Mara And BMW at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
May 20, 2016 Where: the 'Empire' FYC ATAS event at Zanuck Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
April, 2016 Where: On the set of 'Empire'. Photo: FOX/FOX via Getty Images
February 13, 2016 Where: The Alexander Wang Fall 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. P... February 13, 2016 Where: The Alexander Wang Fall 2016 fashion show during New York Fashion Week at St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
February 6, 2016 Where: The 5th Annual NFL Honors at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
February 5, 2016 Where: The Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat at The 47th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Califo... February 5, 2016 Where: The Backstage Creations Celebrity Retreat at The 47th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for Backstage Creat
January 10, 2016 Where: The 2016 InStyle And Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills... January 10, 2016 Where: The 2016 InStyle And Warner Bros. 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards Post-Party at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
January 10, 2016 Where: The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: George Pimente... January 10, 2016 Where: The 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: George Pimentel/WireImage
December 31, 2015 Where: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and CIROC Ultra-Premium Vodka New Year's Eve Party On Star Island in in Miami, FL. Photo: John... December 31, 2015 Where: Sean 'Diddy' Combs and CIROC Ultra-Premium Vodka New Year's Eve Party On Star Island in in Miami, FL. Photo: John Parra/Getty Images for CIROC
 November 15, 2015 Where: The VH1 Big In 2015 with Entertainment Weekly Awards at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California. Pho...  November 15, 2015 Where: The VH1 Big In 2015 with Entertainment Weekly Awards at Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
November 2, 2015 Where: The 19th Annual Accessories Council ACE Awards in New York City. Photo: Brian Ach/Getty Images for Accessories Cou
September 20, 2015 Where: The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo: C Flanigan/Getty Im... September 20, 2015 Where: The 67th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. Photo: C Flanigan/Getty Images
September 12, 2015 Where: A private dinner in her honor at Asia de Cuba in New York City. Photo: Thaddaeus McAdams/Getty Images
 September 12, 2015 Where: The 'Empire' Season 2 New York Premiere at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
June 13, 2015 Where: The opening ceremony of the 55th Monte Carlo TV Festival in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
June 12, 2015 Where: The 2015 American Black Film Festival at the New York Hilton Grand Ballroom in New York City. Photo: Noam Galai/WireImage
 June 11, 2015 Where: The 'Dope' Opening Night Premiere at the 2015 American Black Film Festival at the SVA Theater in New York City. Phot...  June 11, 2015 Where: The 'Dope' Opening Night Premiere at the 2015 American Black Film Festival at the SVA Theater in New York City. Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images
June 6, 2015 Where: Spike TV's 'Guys Choice 2015' at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
June 1, 2015 Where: The 2015 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
May 31, 2015 Where: The 5th annual Critics' Choice Television Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Jason LaVe... May 31, 2015 Where: The 5th annual Critics' Choice Television Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
May 22, 2015 Where: 'Verses And Flow' Season 5 at Siren Studios in Hollywood, California. Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images
May 17, 2015 Where: The 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: C Flanigan/Getty Images
May 11, 2015 Where: The 2015 FOX Programming Presentation at Wollman Rink in Central Park, New York City. Photo: Chance Yeh/Getty Images
May 4, 2015 Where: The 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Ph... May 4, 2015 Where: The 'China: Through The Looking Glass' Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
April 2, 2015 Where: The Samsung launch of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge at Quixote Studios in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris... April 2, 2015 Where: The Samsung launch of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge at Quixote Studios in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
March 12, 2015 Where: Fox's 'Empire' ATAS Academy event at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Imeh Akpanudose... March 12, 2015 Where: Fox's 'Empire' ATAS Academy event at The Theatre at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images
February 7, 2015 Where: The 67th annual Directors Guild of America Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California. Photo:... February 7, 2015 Where: The 67th annual Directors Guild of America Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
February 6, 2015 Where: The 46th NAACP Image Awards presented by TV One at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Photo: Alberto E. ... February 6, 2015 Where: The 46th NAACP Image Awards presented by TV One at Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awa
January 17, 2015 Where: The FOX winter TCA All-Star party at Langham Hotel in Pasadena, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
 January 6, 2015 Where: The red carpet premiere of 'Empire' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, California. Photo: Tommas...  January 6, 2015 Where: The red carpet premiere of 'Empire' held at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, California. Photo: Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
December 8, 2014 Where: The Empire premiere party at the Public Chicago Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Paul Warner/WireImage
2014 Where: On the set of 'Empire'.  Photo: FOX/FOX via Getty Images
August 27, 2014 Where: The Atlanta screening of 'No Good Deed' at Strip Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Prince Williams/FilmMagic
June 21, 2014 Where: The Hollywood Bowl Opening Night and Hall of Fame Inductions event at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. Ph... June 21, 2014 Where: The Hollywood Bowl Opening Night and Hall of Fame Inductions event at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California. Photo: Amanda Edwards/WireImage
June 9, 2014 Where: The premiere of 'Think Like A Man Too' at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
May 12, 2014 Where: The FOX 2014 Programming Presentation at the FOX Fanfront in New York City. Photo: Steve Mack/FilmMagic
April 23, 2014 Where: The screening of 'From The Rough' at ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images
April 16, 2014 Where: 106 & Park at BET studio in New York City. Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images
April 24, 2013 Where: The 8th annual Chanel Artists Dinner during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival at The Odeon in New York City. Photo: Gilbert C... April 24, 2013 Where: The 8th annual Chanel Artists Dinner during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival at The Odeon in New York City. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
April 21, 2013 Where: The Cinema Society with FIJI Water & Levi's screening of 'Mud' at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Photo: Ch... April 21, 2013 Where: The Cinema Society with FIJI Water & Levi's screening of 'Mud' at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic
March 26, 2013 Where: Chaka Khan's Birthday Party in New York City. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
January 20, 2013 Where: The Creative Coalition: Night Before Dinner at Mari Vanna DC in Washington, D.C. Photo: Michael Kovac/WireImage
January 13, 2013 Where: The Weinstein Company's 2013 Golden Globe Awards After Party at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Californi... January 13, 2013 Where: The Weinstein Company's 2013 Golden Globe Awards After Party at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images
November 26, 2012 Where: The Cinema Society with Men's Health and DeLeon Tequila screening of The Weinstein Company's 'Killing Them Softly' at SV... November 26, 2012 Where: The Cinema Society with Men's Health and DeLeon Tequila screening of The Weinstein Company's 'Killing Them Softly' at SVA Theatre in New York City. Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic
February 17, 2012 Where: The press room at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Frederic... February 17, 2012 Where: The press room at the 43rd NAACP Image Awards held at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awa
February 12, 2012 Where: The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage
November 2, 2011 Where: The L'Oreal Paris Legends Gala to Benefit Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at American Museum of Natural History in New ... November 2, 2011 Where: The L'Oreal Paris Legends Gala to Benefit Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Photo: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Ovarian Cancer
November 30, 2010 Where: The 'Frankie And Alice' Los Angeles Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Dr. Billy Ingram... November 30, 2010 Where: The 'Frankie And Alice' Los Angeles Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage
September 14, 2010 Where: The In Style HFPA Party during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival at Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, Canada. ... September 14, 2010 Where: The In Style HFPA Party during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival at Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images
October 26, 2009 Where: The 13th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Gregg DeGui... October 26, 2009 Where: The 13th Annual Hollywood Awards Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
 June 28, 2009 Where: The 2009 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
May 31, 2009 Where: The 2009 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
February 22, 2009 Where: The Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2009 held at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
February 22, 2009 Where: The 81st Annual Academy Awards held at The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
January 24, 2009 Where: The 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Steve Granitz... January 24, 2009 Where: The 20th Annual Producers Guild Awards at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
March 5, 2008 Where: The 78th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage
August 14, 2007 Where: The Los Angeles Confidential Magazine Summer Celebration for the Creative Coalition at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Bev... August 14, 2007 Where: The Los Angeles Confidential Magazine Summer Celebration for the Creative Coalition at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image
May 11, 2006  Photo: Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage
December 4, 2005 Where: The 'Memoirs of a Geisha' Los Angeles Premiere at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jason Merritt/Film... December 4, 2005 Where: The 'Memoirs of a Geisha' Los Angeles Premiere at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jason Merritt/FilmMagic
September 7, 2005 Where: The 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Photo: S... September 7, 2005 Where: The 10th Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
June 28, 2005 Where: The 2005 BET Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
March 23, 2005 Where: 'Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous' Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. ... March 23, 2005 Where: 'Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous' Los Angeles Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
January 28, 2005 Where: 2005 Park City, The Activision House Benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 262 Grant Avenue in Park Ci... January 28, 2005 Where: 2005 Park City, The Activision House Benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 262 Grant Avenue in Park City, Utah. Photo: Chris Weeks/WireImage
May 7, 2003 Where: 'The Matrix Reloaded' Premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
April 28, 2003 Where: The 'X2: X-Men United' Premiere Los Angeles at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jeff Kravitz.co... April 28, 2003 Where: The 'X2: X-Men United' Premiere Los Angeles at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Jeff Kravitz.com/FilmMagic
November 11, 2002 Where: The 'Die Another Day' Los Angeles Premiere at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/Wi... November 11, 2002 Where: The 'Die Another Day' Los Angeles Premiere at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
July 26, 2001 Where: The 'Rush Hour 2' Hollywood Premiere at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
1 / 74

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  • look book
  • taraji p. henson
  • empire

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