If you haven’t had a chance to head to the movies to see the film Queen and Slim, do yourself a favor and purchase a ticket from your local theatre. Over the holiday weekend, folks came out in droves to watch the touching film that featured a leading role from our ESSENCE November cover girl Jodie-Turner Smith and”Get-Out” actor, Daniel Kaluuya. And unlike many movies who utilize a black cast to grab viewership, this movie from the inside out was produced by black folk. From Lena Waithe to director Melina Matsoukas to stylist, Shiona Turini, Queen and Slim was created by this generations leading black creatives.
During the initial stages of promotion, Smith posed with her co-star Kaluuya in a pair of ankle-high snakeskin boots. What we didn’t know was that these boots would go on to have a voice of its own within the film. As the duo is on the run, (we won’t spoil the movie too much) Smith’s boots stay on her feet until the very end. Turini who was the costume designer of the film pulled those boots from the accessories label Brother Vellies – a black-owned brand created by Aurora James. James has designed for Solange, Beyonce, and most recently collaborated with Pyer Moss for its NYFW Spring/Summer 2020 show. “Thank you for thinking of me, for practically making my shoes a whole character in this movie,” James wrote on Instagram thanking Turini for pulling her product.
And now those boots are for pre-order. The “Palms Boot” is said to be made for a queen and while the Brother Vellies creation is gaining popularity due to the movie, this has been a staple piece in the brands’ archive since 2016. “Support black art, in all its form. We only need each other. I love you,” exclaimed James.
