As Hayes entered her teenage years and roles grew more mature (including voicing the rebellious Angrboda in God of War Ragnarök and starring in the horror film The Lie ), her fashion gallery underwent a deliberate shift. The tulle and pastels gave way to structure, monochromes, and the first real experiments with high fashion.
Her stylist, who has worked with her for three years (and who requested to remain unnamed for this piece), describes Hayes as a "collaborative visionary." "Most celebrities come with a mood board. Laya comes with a mood book . She knows fashion history. She can tell you the difference between a 1980s Mugler and a 2020s Mugler reinterpretation. She’s not a mannequin; she’s an editor."
Another hallmark of this era is her fearless use of texture. She layers mesh under tweed, latex over silk, and denim with chiffon. At a screening for The Equalizer season 4, she appeared in a Thom Browne-inspired ensemble: a grey flannel suit jacket worn over a lace bodysuit, paired with patent leather combat boots. The androgyny was intentional. "I don't like being boxed in by gender expectations in fashion," she told Essence . "Some days I want to feel like a warrior. Some days I want to feel like a queen. My closet has room for both." Laya Deleon Hayes Nude
The current chapter of Laya DeLeon Hayes’ style gallery is the most arresting. With her critically acclaimed turn as Delilah (a young vigilante-in-training) in CBS’s The Equalizer opposite Queen Latifah, Hayes has entered the A-list conversation. Her fashion has risen to meet the moment.
Her street style has also become a source of inspiration. Paparazzi shots from Los Angeles show her in relaxed but deliberate ensembles: wide-leg leather trousers, a cropped cashmere sweater, and pristine white Air Force 1s; or a vintage Chanel tweed jacket thrown over a hoodie and cargo pants. She has a particular love for corset tops worn loose (untied or worn open over a t-shirt), a trend she has single-handedly popularized among her Gen Z following. As Hayes entered her teenage years and roles
Every style gallery must begin with its foundation. For Hayes, that foundation was built in the primary colors and whimsical textures of the Disney era. As the voice of the beloved title character in Doc McStuffins , Hayes attended red carpets in a wardrobe that mirrored her on-screen persona: approachable, joyful, and meticulously polished.
What comes next for Laya DeLeon Hayes’ fashion legacy? If her trajectory continues, expect to see her at the Met Gala within three years, likely in a look that deconstructs the theme through a diasporic lens. Expect a potential collaboration with a sustainable fashion brand, given her public disdain for fast fashion. And expect her to continue mentoring younger actresses of color on navigating the industry’s often punishing beauty standards. Laya comes with a mood book
During this period, her style gallery is dominated by A-line dresses, floral prints, and soft pastels. Think lavender tulle overlays, white kitten heels, and hair styled in neat, high buns or natural curls. At the 2016 Emmy Awards (where Doc McStuffins won for Outstanding Children's Animated Series), Hayes wore a custom navy blue number with a sequined bodice and a flowing chiffon skirt. The look was age-appropriate but never childish—a first hint of the discerning fashion eye she would later develop.
Her style gallery is still being painted. New canvases arrive with each premiere, each magazine cover, each candid moment. But the brushstrokes are already confident. Laya DeLeon Hayes is not following trends; she is archiving her own growth. And in a world where young women are often dressed by committees and publicists, her ability to remain the sole author of her image is the most stylish statement of all.
In interviews, Hayes often speaks about fashion as a tool for psychological preparation. "When I put on Delilah’s tactical gear on set, that’s costume," she explains. "But when I put on a custom gown before walking into a room full of industry titans, that’s also a kind of costume—one I get to design myself. It reminds me that I belong there."
This is the "cocoon stage" of her style evolution. Designers like Staud, Ganni, and Sergio Hudson began appearing in her rotation. At the 2019 premiere of The Lie at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hayes arrived in a tailored, burnt-orange blazer dress with exaggerated shoulders and matching stiletto boots. The look was a statement: I am no longer a child actor. Her hair, worn in a dramatic side-part with sleek, defined curls, framed a face that had traded baby softness for high cheekbones and a knowing gaze.