When Thom Browne calls, you answer — as evidenced by Erykah Badu’s look at the 2021 Met Gala.
While in the middle of her North American tour, Badu collaborated with Browne to create a one of a kind look to reflect the Met Gala’s American fashion theme. “Erykah is an American icon, she is a true definition of the creativity in America,” Browne explained of dressing the Grammy Award-winner.
And Badu echoed the sentiment. “He’s such a smart designer, a leader of the pack. Not only do the garments tell stories, but Thom takes it a step further with his runway shows; they are really thematic and atmospheric,” she told Vanity Fair before attending Monday night’s Met Gala.
Fresh off showing his spring/summer collection during New York Fashion Week, Browne outfitted Badu in a black silk duchess satin down stole with white satin buttons, sportcoat and suspender skirt in black cavalry twill, satin lapels and drawstring details, and black patent lace-up boots.
“My favorite things are what I wear. Things that fit my body well, silhouettes that accent who I am. Shapes that contour me emotionally. When I’m on stage, it’s so important to layer things, to have things to do to pull back,” Badu explained.
This isn’t the first time Badu and Browne have joined forces. Back in 2017, Badu hosted the Soul Train Awards in Thom Browne, which she describes as “a bad number.” This being her second time at the Met Gala — having first attended in 2014 with Givenchy — Badu told us she is “super honored and definitely don’t take for granted that I am recognized and Thom saw something in me that he liked because he prides himself as an individual.”
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