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 Maki Oh outfit to the ruffled Roberto Cavalli dress to the Yeezy co-ords and Hood by Air fur coat, the visual album was brimming with lots of hot looks.
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.
Below is an excerpt from the interview
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.”