Black Girl Magic

JANELLE MONÁE, 31, is more than just a hot musician, she’s also an amazing storyteller too, making waves on the red carpet.

- Lisa Thabethe

You’d lose all your style cred if you didn’t instantly think Janelle Monáe whenever ‘best monochrome look on the red carpet’ is mentioned. Since her trendsetting debut, the singer, model and (most recently) actress is slaying the fashion scene and her style is evolving with every star-studded event. At the 2017 SAG Awards, the petite singer rocked runway-staple bold brows, orchid lips and a double bun accessorised with butterfly clips.

The starlet made her 2017 Oscars debut in a dramatic Elie Saab Haute Couture gown, made from many layers of tulle, beading, diamonds and crystals. Her look has been hailed as the most perfect outfit of the night. It befit the occasion especially well as Moonlight, one of the fims she stars in, stole the limelight for winning Best Picture (after La La Land was incorrectly awarded the gong).

Janelle doesn’t set limits with her style, and is evolving into an icon in her own right. Her signature monochromatic colour palette is an ode to her parents. “I call it my uniform,” she explained to biography.com. “My mother was a janitor and my father collected trash, so I wear a uniform too.” Her father struggled with drug addiction throughout Janelle’s childhood. Her parents ended up separating, which led to Janelle, her mom and siblings living with friends and relatives.