Incense, Inner Peace, and Individuality: The Best of Erykah Badu’s Style

Undeniably eclectic enigma Erykah Badu brings her neo-soul siren ways of spiritualism and earthy tones to mainstream culture. She has inspired some of fashion’s most notable designers, including Tom Ford, Riccardo Tisci, and Kerby Jean-Raymond. 

The actress and stylistic queen is an icon who utterly commands her audience. Following her debut in 1997, our whimsical legend and lifestyle guru has expanded into a soulful genre, going on ever to evolve and metamorphosis. Her vocals are often compared to the tone and charisma of the original jazz legends themselves, namely Billie Holiday. She has 59 nominations and 16 awards under her belt, of course including Grammys and Soul Train Awards.

Her fashion has intersected with art. Badu herself has articulated the way in which she establishes this blend and how it adds to her persona and style: “When it comes to fashion or any high art, you have to have a combination of delicacy, along with taste.” This ethos is evident within the visual literacy of Badu’s self-fashioning. This very intention behind the composition of her garments and accessories, or ‘amulets’ as she calls them, provides insight into the meaning of the way in which she moves through fashion weeks, performances, and the day-to-day. Additionally, she has stated that “In music, it makes for a good platform to take time and really mold a piece the way [one]  need[s] to mold it. When it comes to fashion, I create a functional art that moves.” Her use of bold color, eye-catching composition, and poignant accessorization is why we love her. Badu’s purposeful weaponization of fashion acts as a statement, one which comments on and questions society.

Human nature is such that “each piece of clothing, each amulet or talisman or trinket we wear is our own statement. It can be a political statement. It can be a creative statement. It might be an emotional statement. But all those things usually go together” – Erykah Badu. 

A captivating and sensory experience was created when Badu and Pierpaolo Picciolli collaborated for Valentino SS23, which featured a runway demonstrating a true sense of identity, individuality, enchantment, and striking sleek color. This, in turn, established a series of looks that commanded the attention of the audience, rather cyclically, this effect is something Badu herself holds as a known trademark. She was selected to perform the audio for the runway, with Picciolli having chosen Badu due to the fact that she matches the message of the collection. “I am trying to build a community of people that share the same values Erykah symbolizes. With our jobs, we have a responsibility to stand for something and deliver social messages to the world. I was sure that, with Erykah, we could deliver a strong message,” Piccioli remarked on the collaboration. Naturally, one must therefore take a look at a few of the looks which captured the eye on the runway:

It is known that Piccioli likes to enlist an eclectic soundtrack for his shows, and has stated that he has “always loved the art that Erykah makes.” Badu’s look for the event may as well have been a catwalk debut, with her striking, bold, and playful look catching the eye and relaying her unique sense of style, one which displays an energy favoring discourse — rightfully so. 

Everyone fell in love with Badu when she was a young hippie trailblazer, and seeing her continue to grow and shine, supplementing visual culture with her individuality, unapologetic expression, and divine detail is something that truly inspires. Her music acts as a way for her to articulate activism and reach the masses. Through her tracks, she has commented on police brutality, racism, inequality, and the curse of a regressive societal mindset. Her attitude towards feminine energy has always rung true, with what she calls the “wombiverse” exploring views on fertility and feminism. If anything, it seems to touch upon Freud’s “penis envy,” rightfully challenging the concept with one of “womb envy.”

“The pattern I see is the return of balance through femininity, through the mother, through the womb. The universe comes out of a wombiverse. What I see is woman’s return to her throne, beside her king. I think it’s a return to self-sufficiency. It’s a return to ourselves, and that’s how we lead.” - Erykah Badu