The Woman Behind the Look: Ruth E. Carter on Beauty, Legacy, and Storytelling
The world often sees the finished product first. The look. The glamour. The transformation. But behind every iconic visual moment is intention, discipline, and storytelling. In this special edition of Naked Beauty, Brooke DeVard sits down with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter to explore the meaning behind the work that has shaped generations of visual culture. With a career spanning decades, Carter is responsible for some of the most defining images in film history, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther. Her work doesn’t just dress characters, it builds worlds, communicates history, and reflects the emotional truth of the people on screen. Throughout the conversation, Carter reflects on the discipline of her process, the importance of research, and the power of intentionality. Whether she’s studying archival records for Malcolm X or building the Afrofuturistic world of Wakanda, every detail serves a purpose. Because for Carter, style is never surface-level. It’s storytelling. That philosophy extends beyond fashion and into the rituals that help women feel grounded, clear, and prepared for the demands of their everyday lives. From moments of reflection to creative preparation, beauty is often shaped by the small choices that help us show up fully as ourselves. As the sponsor of this episode, smartwater® aligns naturally with that mindset. An everyday luxury rooted in clarity, balance, and intention, smartwater® complements the routines and rituals that support how she moves through the world. Because sometimes elevation lives in the details. And every detail tells a story. Watch the full episode here: Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Black News 
The world often sees the finished product first. The look. The glamour. The transformation. But behind every iconic visual moment is intention, discipline, and storytelling.
In this special edition of Naked Beauty, Brooke DeVard sits down with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter to explore the meaning behind the work that has shaped generations of visual culture.
With a career spanning decades, Carter is responsible for some of the most defining images in film history, from Do the Right Thing to Black Panther. Her work doesn’t just dress characters, it builds worlds, communicates history, and reflects the emotional truth of the people on screen.
Throughout the conversation, Carter reflects on the discipline of her process, the importance of research, and the power of intentionality. Whether she’s studying archival records for Malcolm X or building the Afrofuturistic world of Wakanda, every detail serves a purpose.
Because for Carter, style is never surface-level. It’s storytelling.
That philosophy extends beyond fashion and into the rituals that help women feel grounded, clear, and prepared for the demands of their everyday lives. From moments of reflection to creative preparation, beauty is often shaped by the small choices that help us show up fully as ourselves.
As the sponsor of this episode, smartwater® aligns naturally with that mindset. An everyday luxury rooted in clarity, balance, and intention, smartwater® complements the routines and rituals that support how she moves through the world.
Because sometimes elevation lives in the details.
And every detail tells a story. Watch the full episode here:
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
