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Style Icon: Janelle Monae

06/04/20 | celebrity, Fashion and Style, Style Icons

Janelle Monae in Tadashi Shoj at the 2015 CFDA Awards Red Carpet

In Tadashi Shoj at the 2015 CFDA Awards Red Carpet

Janelle Monae is the queen of black and white and today’s post features some of her best looks and likely it will only take a few shots for you to see why she is my latest Style Icon!  You’ve got to love someone who’s job description includes six words, all of which she actually is; singer, song writer, rapper, producer, actor, and model.  

Over the years she has worn many different designers but favors Japanese fashion designer Tadashi Shoji.  You can see some of his gorgeous pieces below and I love all of the different up-dos and ways Janelle styles her hair. While she was a popular recording artist first (she has eight Grammy Award nominations) I was first introduced to her in the 2016 film Hidden Figures where she played NASA engineer Mary Jackson and she was terrific in it.  As I mentioned, she favors black and white designs, and here are some of my top picks over the past decade: 

Janelle Monae wearing Jenny Packham at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

Wearing Jenny Packham at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala

Janelle Monae at the 48th NAACP Image Awards in a beaded Ashi Studio Couture gown 

At the 48th NAACP Image Awards in a beaded Ashi Studio Couture gown 

Janelle Monae at the Chanel Cruise 2015 Collection in Dubai 

In Chanel at the Chanel Cruise 2015 Collection in Dubai 

Janelle Monae at the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards wearing a Nicci Hou harlequin-print ball gown

At the 22nd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards wearing a Nicci Hou harlequin-print ball gown 

Janelle Monae arrives at the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in a Salvatore Ferragamo coat and skirt

At the 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards in a Salvatore Ferragamo

Essence's 2017 Black Women in Hollywood Awards - Beverly Hills

In Barbara Bui at the 10th Annual Black Women in Hollywood Event

Janelle Monae arrived at the 89th Annual Academy Awards in  an Ellie Saab Couture beaded gown

At the 89th Annual Academy Awards in  an Ellie Saab Couture Beaded Gown

And then every once in a while she bucks the black and white trend and turns to red – whether that is just a pop or head to toe look. She has done this on the red carpet, at after parties, and for red carpets – here are a few of my favorites! 

Janelle Monae at GQ and Giorgio Armani Grammys After Party 

In a red pantsuit at GQ and Giorgio Armani Grammys After Party

Janelle Monae in an ensemble by Tadashi Shoji at the 2014 Met Gala

In an ensemble by Tadashi Shoji at the 2014 Met Gala

 Janelle Monae attends the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party wearing a red Christian Siriano pantsuit 

 At the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party wearing a red Christian Siriano pantsuit 

Overall, she looks great in black and white. And red. And I am sure anything else she chooses to wear.  In my book she has had a few misses (like the 2019 MEt GAla) but overall, so chic, and I can not wait to see what she wears on the next red carpet post-COVID

 

What do you think of her style? 

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Comments

  1. Hilary says

    June 4, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    She has such gorgeous skin and she radiates her beauty from every pore.

    This dress At the 89th Annual Academy Awards in an Ellie Saab Couture Beaded Gown is so whimsical and fun. I would have felt like a princess in this dress. By far my favorite look on her.

  2. Terrie says

    June 4, 2020 at 3:46 pm

    I like her style and feel like she really knows who she is as a person and what she wants to portray to the world. I would kill for a few of those outfits. So glamorous some of them are.

  3. Sabrina says

    June 4, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    Her stylist is spot on.

    She makes her look fierce and confident in those powerful outfits.

  4. pauline says

    June 4, 2020 at 10:31 am

    She does have such a powerful look and attitude. She is a great role model An inspiration to so many young actresses. She is really true to herself.

Hi, I am Kelly and welcome to Sparkles and Shoes, a fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog founded in 2012.  After six years of living in London I am back in New York with my husband and two littles! 

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