Beyoncé broke her new ‘visual album’ on HBO this past Saturday, and though there wasn’t a latex outfit to be seen, it was a musical treat as well as a fashion bonanza. The hour-long 12 video program “Lemonade” featured designers like Air and Yeezy, Phelan, Saint Laurent as well as virtually unknowns like Yousef al-Jasmi, all dressing Miss Bey swimmingly indeed.
Let’s face it, more so recently then ever before, performers align themselves with one designer, or a thematic range of costume designs for a show, or even their Instagram posts. Award shows become more a “who are you wearing” red carpet event (so much so that the #AskHerMore campaign was a backlash against that question) and one corporate sponsor comes to back a tour more often than not. Beyoncé and her stylist Marni Senofonte managed to capture a wide range of looks in “Lemonade” by not sticking to just one designer and the result was very refreshing. From a canary yellow gown with its open top, to chain to the knee-length Hood by Air, a hand-beaded Swarovski crystal bodysuit, all-too-briefly seen Victorian lace gown (with equally stunning lace sleeves) and the perfectly alternate wardrobe accessory, a metallic Zana Bayne leather cone bra, lots was represented here.
In the mix here as well was an all African American cast. The celebs included Amandla Stenberg, Zendaya, Serena Williams (twerking in fact), Quvenzhané Wallis, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, and Winnie Harlow. Jay Z and Blue Ivy also made appearances, as you’d expect.
The themes of, “female solidarity,” and “Southern gothic empowerment,” have all been overly considered since the broadcast…and there is sure to be much made of “Lemonade” in the days to come. But beyond whatever Beyoncé might have been saying with her videos here, the definite fashion statement about variety she made wearing such a bunch of stunning looks surely can’t be denied.
