How Beyonce cemented her fashion icon status at the MTV VMAs
Beyonce has become one of the best visual artists of our time. Using fashion and imagery to further her artistic vision and social messages, she showed why she's the reigning master again at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night.
She commanded the white carpet -- making a rare early appearance which threw off die hards who know she's more likely to shut down a red carpet than show an hour before -- inspiring the most compelling photos of the night. She posed alongside a band of only women, furthering many of the messages she wove into the visual album for Lemonade. Most notably, the focus on black women as multidimensional, a portrayal often missed in mainstream pop culture. From Blue Ivy, to the mothers of four black men killed in racially charged incidents, she hit all stages as she did in the video with black women as daughters, mothers, teenagers.
And with the stylings of Zerina Akers, they carried on the antebellum nods and African touches that captivated Lemonade viewers. Quvenzhane Wallis wore a white, ruffled Cinq à Sept dress in her most interesting red carpet look to date, which also happened to be her thirteenth birthday. The black velvet collar was reminiscent of many of the Victorian looks in the visual album, complete with black velvet neck tie, broach and body piece from jewelry designer Erikson Beamon.
Chloe and Halle Bailey, the sisters she's signed to her label who've become breakout stars, were similarly dressed with the same Victorian cues in ruffles, lace and prints by Rodarte. The singers also had some of the best jewelry of the night in the form of extravagant nose rings.
Model Winnie Harlow wore a goddess-like dress by Nicholas Jebran with a crown of hair and beaded veil by jewelry designer Erikson Beamon.
When standing next to Bey, the band looked like the regal court out of a fairy tale, conjuring other nods to ancient royalty she's made this year.
Queen B's 16-minute performance, an undeniable highlight of the evening, was also packed with its own incredible symbolism. She ditched the mint Francesco Scognamiglio dress and wings for an equally angelic white coat to start Pray You Catch Me.
She alluded to violence and police brutality as her dancers, also clad in white and pastels, fell to the ground in red spotlights after the sound of gun fire.
She brought back the fur for Don't Hurt Yourself, which stylist Marni Senofonte said was used in Lemonade to convey that Bey is a sweet girl, but really a boss.
“I’m this strong feminine woman, but I’m a pimp!” Like, “Who you think you are?! I’m the pimp! I’m the one who runs this!” and that was the energy that I felt. And she embodied that, because she kind of is that," Senofonte told Vogue in April.
Message well received.