Earlier this month, when the CFDA announced that Erykah Badu would be receiving the 2024 Fashion Icon Award at this year’s ceremony, one word instantly came to mind: Duh.
Tomorrow evening in New York City, the legendary singer will be recognized for her inimitable personal style throughout the years, and it’s an honor that is extremely well deserved—and, well, long overdue. Since bursting onto the scene in the 1990s, Badu has been bringing one-of-a-kind looks to the red carpet that are unlike anyone’s around her—often complete with voluminous silhouettes and, of course, her signature sky-high chapeaus. “I’ve always had a love for taking bits and pieces of the things I am attracted to and creating something far more grand than the sum of those parts,” Badu said in a statement of receiving her forthcoming CFDA Award. “From the music I make, to the looks I put on, to the technology I’m developing; I’m always looking for more innovative, exciting ways to be more expressive and connect with people—to be closer to nature.”
Exciting and expressive are certainly two words that describe Badu’s approach to dressing. From the very start, Badu has brought individuality to Hollywood spaces. One of her earliest and most unforgettable looks was at the 2000 Ossars, when she arrived in a green gown with yellow raffia accents and a matching head wrap. Badu designed the look with her friend Charlene Sheppard, at a time when the singer was taking a specific, intentional approach to fashion. “From the 90s to the mid-2000s, I only wore Black designers from New York, Dallas, or Atlanta,” Badu told Vogue in her Life in Looks video. “I wanted to make sure that I used my platform to be an advocate for young designers.”
Video: Getty Images
Though Badu has since worn pieces from just about every major fashion label on the red carpet, the focus of her wardrobe has remained consistent. Many of her theatrical toppers have been made by the Tokyo-based label Bona Capello. “Erykah is the real deal,” founder Thom O’Brien told Vogue in 2017. “She supports independent artists and has an understanding of the creative process.” She has also remained a constant fixture in the front rows of Fashion Month—notably, at shows such as Marni or Thom Browne. (She has worn many of the latter’s tailored suits).
More recently, Badu has been delivering her statement looks at the annual Met Gala, too. Her first time attending was back in 2014, when she wore a sleek white coat by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. At the 2022 Met Gala, she wore a patchwork Marni look with dangling beaded strands, designed by Francesco Risso. “He put so much thought into this—he knew that I liked wearing things that make noise and music,” Badu told Vogue of the look in her Life in Looks video.
Below, explore more of Badu’s best fashion moments over the years.
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