Beyoncé's Lemonade was a lot of things—a killer album, a reflection on her marriage, a tribute to black women everywhere—but beyond those points, it was also a massive fashion statement. From the ruffled Roberto Cavalli dress (for which a baseball bat provides a surprising but fitting accessory) to the Yeezy co-ords and Hood by Air fur coat, the visual album was brimming with looks well on their way to reaching the same iconic status as that "Single Ladies" leotard.
The New York Times spoke to Marni Senofonte, the singer's trusted stylist, for insight on Lemonade's impressive wardrobe. Having worked with Beyoncé since 2007, some of Senofonte's most famous accomplishments include styling the "Formation," "7/11" and "Feelin' Myself" videos (you can thank her for Bey and Nicki's matching pink furs).
For Lemonade, Senofonte fused influences from their southern environment in Louisiana with Victorian and "regal African" motifs. There was a lot of Gucci, vintage Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier, but she made sure to mix in some high street fashion; Senofonte did this on "7/11" when she paired Forever 21 leggings under a Givenchy sweatshirt.
Below are some key takeaways from the stylist's talk with NYT:
On New Orleans' influence on the clothing: "If you look at the visual album, you will see an African influence that touches on her heritage, where she comes from...Beyoncé told me that in New Orleans—I don't know what the year was—black women were not allowed to show their hair. So that's where those head wraps came from."
On why they chose a Victorian aesthetic: "We were thinking about being on those plantations at the time of her ancestors and what they would have worn. At the time, there was slavery, so it wasn't about that. It was about looking at these beautiful women that came from Africa and accentuating this beautiful culture and beautiful people."
On Beyoncé's inspiration boards: "There was a lot of African print and gold. Royal, regal African images. There was a lot of white, antebellum vibes and hats and collars, vintage Gaultier and McQueen."
On the film's impact in the fashion world: "It was funny, because when we were down in New Orleans in November and even December and January, we were, like, this Victorian vibe just feels right. And then in February, when we were starting to see the collections, the Balmain … everything just started to look like what we were doing."
On Beyoncé's personality: "Don't let the country accent and the sweet smile fool you. She is all about her business."
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
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