Beyoncé’s seventh album Renaissance dropped final week, sparking a million-and-one thinkpieces and analyses. We’re no music critics, however we do suppose the album rollout provides an fascinating view into what’s in and what the tradition cares about. While the document has been known as a celebration of membership music and its origins, vogue nonetheless manages to worm its manner into the lyrics.
In “Heated” she sings “Got quite a lot of bands/ Got quite a lot of Chanel on me,” later including, “Got quite a lot of type/ Got quite a lot of Tiffany on me.” Name-dropping luxurious labels as a shorthand signifier of wealth and standing isn’t something new, in fact — on the album’s nearer “Summer Renaissance” she calls out “Versace, Bottega, Prada, Balenciaga, Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy” in fast succession, manufacturers that at the moment are a part of our popular culture canon. No matter the place on this planet you reside, you’re doubtless acquainted with these names. If you don’t know who the inventive designer is, you perceive what they characterize: luxurious, style, superstar, Fashion (sure, italicized and with a capital F).
There’s a visible element to the album, too, and since that is Beyoncé we’re speaking about, it’s nearly as vital because the music itself, however the imagery tells a barely completely different story than the songs. The images provide perception into her personal style, and maybe extra considerably, into what the tradition understands as conveying forward-looking type as we speak. The putting ornate chrome bodysuit Beyoncé wears on the quilt of the album shouldn’t be from a luxurious label, however is made by the Florida-born and Los Angeles-based artist Nusi Quero. She additionally enlisted Giannina Azar and Natalia Fedner, a few new names for us right here at Vogue, to craft the physique chains which have change into emblematic of this new visible persona.
Red carpet mainstays Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana are within the combine, however so are the rising star Christopher John Rogers, and the Paris homes of Schiaparelli and Alaïa, which have just lately been revived by the inventive administrators Daniel Roseberry and Pieter Mulier. CJR, Schiap, and Alaia have change into shorthand for an “if you recognize, you recognize” buzzy new power; their visible lexicon synonymous with as we speak’s most fashion-forward It-girls and celebrities. Beyoncé has repeatedly worn Schiaparelli since Roseberry’s 2019 debut and has additionally been seen sporting Christopher John Rogers.
