Olandria Carthen returned to the CFDA Fashion Awards in a striking black ensemble by Brandon Blackwood, continuing her collaboration with the designer through a sheer, lingerie-inspired red-carpet look. The 28-year-old Love Island USA star attended the ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on Monday, 2 November 2026, wearing a structured corset bodysuit with transparent panels and a flowing train.
The appearance marked another chapter in her professional relationship with Blackwood, following their previous red-carpet collaboration and handbag collection. This time, Carthen moved away from a traditional evening gown in favour of a design that combined fitted construction with lightweight draping.
Olandria Carthen Embraces Sheer Fashion at CFDA Awards
Carthen arrived at the ceremony in an all-black Brandon Blackwood ensemble featuring a fitted corset bodysuit with a sweetheart neckline. The structured design emphasised her waist, while transparent fabric extended from the bodice into a flowing train, contrasting the closely fitted silhouette with softer, flowing material. Rather than opting for a conventional evening gown, the reality television personality chose a lingerie-inspired design that placed the corset at the centre of the outfit.
She completed the ensemble with black tights, pointed pumps and a statement necklace, adding sparkle to the monochromatic styling. Her hair was styled in a sleek, pulled-back look, keeping attention on the neckline and structured detailing. The combination of corsetry and transparent fabric reflected the continued presence of lingerie-inspired designs in celebrity eveningwear. Compared with Carthen's previous appearance at the ceremony, the latest outfit adopted a more revealing silhouette, highlighting a different approach to formal dressing.
The look sparked mixed reactions online, particularly on Reddit, where fashion fans debated both the design and fit of the ensemble. Several commenters questioned the corset construction and bust fit, with one user responding to descriptions of the outfit as custom-made by writing, "'Custom? Yikes'."
Others compared the design to a Playboy Bunny costume, while some criticised the styling and makeup choices. However, several commenters argued that the revealing silhouette was likely intentional, noting that Carthen has embraced similar looks in the past.
Blackwood and Carthen's Fashion Partnership
Carthen's latest appearance was not her first collaboration with Blackwood. In November 2025, she attended the CFDA Fashion Awards wearing a custom gown by the designer, establishing an earlier connection between her growing fashion profile and his namesake label. Their professional relationship subsequently developed beyond red-carpet dressing. In May 2026, the pair collaborated on a handbag collection, bringing Carthen's personal style into a product category closely associated with Blackwood's brand. The collection marked another development in their partnership, which had already included his designs for her public appearances.
Blackwood later discussed their working relationship in an interview with ELLE, providing further insight into their collaboration. Blackwood, who established his namesake label in 2015, became known for his handbags and has since developed a broader fashion offering. His latest creation for Carthen placed clothing design at the forefront, combining structured tailoring techniques with sheer fabric to create a distinctive eveningwear silhouette. The appearance highlighted the continuing relationship between the designer and Carthen, whose collaborations have included formalwear and accessories.
Olandria Carthen Builds Her Presence in Fashion
Carthen gained recognition as a contestant on the seventh season of Love Island USA in 2025, finishing as a runner-up alongside Nicolas Vansteenberghe. Since leaving the programme, she has attended fashion events and worked with designers as her public profile has expanded beyond reality television. Her continued association with Blackwood reflects that transition, with their collaborations spanning consecutive CFDA ceremonies and a handbag collection.
The 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards brought together designers, models and entertainment figures to celebrate achievements across American fashion. Hosted by actress and television personality Keke Palmer, the ceremony recognised leading figures in womenswear, menswear and accessories. Rachel Scott, the designer behind Diotima, received American Womenswear Designer of the Year, while Ralph Lauren won American Menswear Designer of the Year. Jewellery designer Ana Khouri received American Accessory Designer of the Year.
For Carthen, the event offered another opportunity to showcase her red-carpet style while continuing an established designer partnership. Her Brandon Blackwood ensemble contrasted with more traditional evening gowns, bringing lingerie-inspired elements to the formal occasion. The appearance also demonstrated how their professional relationship has continued to develop, with Blackwood creating another distinctive look for Carthen at one of American fashion's annual celebrations.
