Beyonce wearing a dress by FIT student Leah Rae.
The Times investigates the outfits worn by Beyoncé in the fold-out cover for her new album, 4, which eschews bold-name fashion houses (the Guccis and the Chanels of the world) in favor of smaller, more avant-garde designers. One dress, a fitted yellow mini with ruffles bursting from the bustline and hem, was designed by fashion student Leah Rae, who currently attends FIT and doesn't even have her own label (yet).
All of the pieces were chosen by Beyoncé's creative director, Jenke-Ahmed Tailly, along with her stylist Ty Hunter, but Beyoncé always gets the final word. Sometimes Jay-Z even pitches in, according to designer Alexandre Vauthier, who made the crystal-embellished fox fur stole featured on the album cover. Apparently Beyoncé made a last-minute decision to wear Vauthier's gold dress at Glastonbury last month because Jay-Z liked it more than her originally-planned outfit.
Other designers showcased in the fold-out album cover include 27-year-old Maxime Simoens, who made the beaded purple dress worn on the "deluxe" edition cover, as well as 36-year-old Dutch designer Jan Taminiau, who made a pair of high heels that Beyoncé wears with a vintage Alaia jacket inside the fold-out spread. Tailly explains, “It was important to Beyoncé that the choice of clothing not be about the brand but about the quality of the work." It's also important (not to mention refreshing) that she takes chances with gorgeous, interesting clothes by designers who might remain entirely under the radar otherwise.
For Her New Look, Beyoncé Goes Under the Radar [NYT]
Read more posts by Charlotte Cowles
Filed Under: divas, alexandre vauthier, beyonce, beyonce knowles, designers, jenke-ahmed tailly, ty hunter
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