D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Is Hollywood’s Stylish Indigenous Star to Watch

In his new FX sequence, Reservation Canine, actor D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai portrays a younger Indigenous teen who longs to flee his reservation in rural Oklahoma in the hunt for larger and higher alternatives. In additional methods than one, it’s a narrative that mimics his personal profession trajectory: Woon-A-Tai, who’s Oji-Cree, is from Toronto and now making it large as considered one of Hollywood’s freshest faces (alongside his 4 younger costars Devery Jacobs, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Issue). In the course of the press tour for his new sequence—which is the brainchild of filmmakers Taika Waititi and Sterlin Harjo—Woon-A-Tai used his vogue selections to carry issues again house. With the assistance of his stylist, Avo Yermagyan, he proudly championed his Indigenous tradition by sporting his conventional items and highlighting rising designers. 

“I’ve all the time been a fan of vogue, and to be given the prospect to inform my story via garments has been a dream come true,” says Woon-A-Tai of his fashionable press tour outfits. “Avo discovered attention-grabbing methods of incorporating medallions and Indigenous designers into nearly all of the press appears to be like.” It was necessary for the star to mirror his heritage via his vogue selections: He says he acknowledges how one thing like a crimson carpet or panel look offers a significant platform to underrepresented expertise. “I needed to take this chance of collaborating with Avo to assist my folks and showcase our stunning tradition via intentional and significant model selections,” he says. For Yermagyan, styling the star was additionally an thrilling problem to discover a steadiness between the normal and trendy. “I needed to honor his Indigenous tradition, whereas nonetheless exhibiting that he has limitless private model,” says Yermagyan. “His pure nature, shifting presence, and youthful optimism give him a fearless edge in relation to vogue. I needed to rejoice that free spirit in his styling.”

To take action, Yermagyan integrated particular touches to Woon-A-Tai’s appears to be like that nodded to his Indigenous roots. “He was so excited to share up-and-coming Indigenous manufacturers with me,” says Yermagyan. One such model is the Brooklyn-based, Indigenous-owned label Emme Studios. Woon-A-Tai wore designer Korina Emmerich’s graphic Diorite coat for a press shoot, and Yermagyan paired it with a Versace high and trousers. In different press appears to be like, the stylist pulled tailoring contemporary off the runway, together with a teal two-piece go well with from Ami Paris, an all-leather go well with from Dolce & Gabbana, and a cool, squiggly-print two piece outfit from Mans Idea. “I’ve so many favourite appears to be like that we did collectively for this press tour,” says Yermagyan. “The [leather suit by] Versace was particular to me: It had an sudden edge to it, particularly with the addition of the yellow gold choker necklace.”

Yermagyan additionally accessorized Woon-A-Tai’s modern fits with household heirlooms, together with his grandfather’s mukluk boots and one-of-a-kind beaded medallion necklaces. “I liked incorporating his personal beaded necklaces into his appears to be like,” says Yermagyan. “I styled total appears to be like based mostly on the intricate beaded patterns of his necklaces.” A green-and-white beaded necklace worn together with his Ami Paris go well with, as an example, was made by Wet Daybreak Ortiz (the daughter of Pleasure Harjo, the present U.S. poet laureate). “It’s a four-directions image with 4 ivory, billed woodpeckers, which have been thought-about struggle birds within the Southeast,” says Woon-A-Tai. “The picture was initially discovered on a shell.” 

One other beaded medallion necklace—worn with a Dolce and Gabbana go well with—has two tie-ins to his time on Reservation Canine. Not solely does it function his character’s identify, Bear, however it was additionally made by his costar Paulina Alexis’s cousin, Shaneesa Aginas, an Indigenous beadwork artist. “It was an honor for me to find out about his tradition and the work of Indigenous artists,” says Yermagyan of those particular gadgets. “He confirmed me tips on how to deal with them with reverence and particular care.”

Beneath, a more in-depth take a look at all of Woon-A-Tai’s press tour appears to be like.