Erykah Badu’s Best Style Moments Over The Years
After all, the four-time Grammy Award winner is not only revered for her musical impact, but also for idiosyncratic sense of style.
There's no denying the finesse in Erykah Badu's musical artistry and its global impact. She's also known as quite the style maverick, often blending avant-garde fashions with Afrocentric flairs. Her looks across the decades offer endless inspiration, from red carpet moments to more casual appearances.
The "Queen of Neo Soul" is also the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2024 Fashion Icon. Per its announcement in mid-October, Badu will receive it at this year's CFDA Fashion Awards ceremony. A testament to her impact on fashion and pop culture, the prestigious accolade recognizes her as a trailblazer who has not only pushed the boundaries of style, but also inspired a generation of designers, artists, and fans.
"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 the CFDA announcement. "From the music I make, to the looks I put on, to the technology I’m developing, I’m always looking for innovative, exciting ways to be more expressive and connect with people—to be closer to nature."
Like her music, Badu is revered for her bold and eclectic sense of style. The four-time Grammy Award winner's fashion choices are as unapologetically unique as her sound, often merging bohemian, Afrocentric, and avant-garde influences. She is known for this fearless approach to fashion, characterized by constant experimenting with oversized silhouettes, dramatic headwraps, vintage pieces, and layered jewelry. No wonder Marni and Comme des Garçons are some of the artist's favorites. Badu's fashion is a reflection of her spiritual and philosophical outlook, as she frequently challenges conventional beauty standards and uses her clothing as a form of self-expression and empowerment.
“Erykah Badu and fashion are synonymous in many ways… Erykah effortlessly exudes herself, her unique point of view, through the clothing she chooses to wear," CFDA Chairman and designer Thom Browne said in the announcement. Past recipients of the award include cultural heroes like Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, and Zendaya. "Each look she dreams up is so individual and true to herself."
Badu (born Erica Abi Wright) rose to prominence in the late 1990s (following the 1997 release of Baduizm) for her pioneering contributions to the neo-soul movement. With a career spanning three decades, her music continually blends elements of R&B, jazz, hip-hop, and soul. Her songs are marked by distinctive, mesmerizing vocals and thought-provoking lyricism. (Just listen to the wordplay and wisdom on songs like "Apple Tree," "Didn't Cha Know," and "On & On.") Badu has not only solidified herself as an icon in the music industry but as a symbol of utmost individuality, authenticity, and creativity.
L’OFFICIEL took a look at some of her best style moments over the years and the designers that made them. Scroll through the gallery below to see Badu's reigning looks.
