Olivia Wilde's black latex costume gives Erika Tracy a severe visual authority as Empire examines Gregg Araki's provocative new film, *I Want Your Sex*.
Olivia Wilde’s wardrobe as Erika Tracy in I Want Your Sex is built to establish control before the character speaks. In the September 2026 issue of Empire, the glossy black catsuit, fingerless gloves, wide belt, and metal chains give Olivia Wilde in provocative film costume a hard, tightly organized presence against the bright red figure beneath her.
The high standing collar closes the neckline and keeps the upper section severe, while the fitted surface reflects light across every bend in the pose. A broad belt interrupts the uninterrupted black and adds visible weight at the waist. Hanging chains, cutaway gloves, dark nails, and the scissors extend that same visual language into the smallest details. Nothing about the costume is soft or incidental.
That styling matches the wider world Gregg Araki describes in the magazine. He presents I Want Your Sex as a lighter, more playful work than some of his earlier films, but one still centered on sexual confusion, generational conflict, and characters pushing against inherited rules. Cooper Hoffman plays Elliot, a young artist working for Wilde’s Erika, whose authority, sexuality, and unpredictability drive the story into increasingly chaotic territory.
Araki also explains that Erika began as a male role before he reversed the character dynamic, creating a female boss and male subordinate. Wilde prepared for the role by researching the work and methods of a dominatrix, while costume designer Arianne Phillips drew on decades of provocative fashion references. The resulting wardrobe includes latex, sculptural runway pieces, strong reds and blacks, and a Jean Paul Gaultier cape.
That context gives the costume more purpose than simple shock value. As celebrity photos drawn from a film performance, the outfit functions as character design: restrictive in line, aggressive in shine, and loaded with hardware that reinforces Erika’s authority.
The styling earns 9/10. The reflective surface, strict fit, belt placement, gloves, chains, and red-black contrast create a complete screen image with a clear dramatic function.
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