Erykah Badu is a force to be reckoned with, not only in music but fashion, too. Alongside her 59 Grammy nominations, the music mogul is regularly cited as one of the best dressed in the industry, thanks to a truly unique and carefree approach to her looks. 

Badu has never hired a stylist in all her time in the public eye, which is no small feat given she burst onto the scene in 1997 with her then debut album Baduizm. When you have a style as unique as Badu’s, each look exists outside of the trend cycle, bringing some excitement to the table with each appearance. 

Badu knows how to accessorise, regularly sporting sizeable hats and statement jewellery, with each piece bringing a signature dose of cool. Nothing is off limits, from chunky bracelets to grills and crazy rings. 

The star has had several style eras in her time, with each one giving fashion and music fans something to talk about for years afterwards. From the 90s to the mid-2000s, Badu exclusively wore Black emerging designers, steering clear of big-name brands. Epperson Studio was the Neo Soul legend’s secret styling weapon during this time. 

Later in her career, Badu introduced big names into her wardrobe. In 2014, she was dressed in Givenchy for the Met Gala, in a look that was typically her, featuring an off-centre enlarged top hat. 

The star continues to champion emerging designers, with Myah Hasbany, a current Central Saint Martins student, being a regular choice. Badu wore her designs to Paris Fashion Week, giving Hasbany the ultimate career co-sign. A quick scroll through Hasbany’s Instagram reveals a blossoming relationship between the two creatives and shows some of the pair’s most iconic looks. 

Badu’s enduring style is something she has channelled into her own merch label, Badu World Market, where knitted headwear features among the tour-focused offerings. In her recent All Points East Festival performance, the First Lady of Neo-Soul proved her style-icon status once again, taking to the stage in her iconic stuffed toy boots by Suga Ting.

Erykah Badu has captivated the world with her contemporary soul R&B fusions whilst holding her own in the fashion sphere, too, and with a string of performances lined up over the coming months, be sure to keep an eye out for some solid fits.

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