Beyoncé’s Western Style Evolution: From Awards Shows to Fashion Week

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Since its release last Friday, Beyoncé’s eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter” has dominated cultural conversation. The music icon has been ushering in her country era with Western-inspired fashion moments in the lead-up to the album release, as seen at the Grammys earlier this year and during her surprise appearance at New York Fashion Week. Here, we take a closer look at her recent — and past — standout fashion moments.

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Beyoncé at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Beyoncé at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Following Zendaya’s recent lead into archival fashion, Queen Bey is opting for vintage for her key appearances, as seen with this Western-inspired fall 1992 Versace look. As it happens with iconic looks, this one is more relevant than ever — and fits her so well.

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Beyonce Knowles poses backstage during the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003.
Beyoncé Knowles poses backstage during the 60th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2003.

This floral-embroidered corset dress with tulle skirt is giving overdressed-at-the-prom vibes. The beauty is gorgeous and timeless, but the embroidered satin corset feels too precious for an icon like Beyoncé.

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Beyonce Knowles on MTV TRL to promote the film "Austin Powers in Goldmember"  at the MTV Times Square Studios in New York City,  July 26, 2002.
Beyoncé Knowles on MTV “TRL” to promote the film “Austin Powers in Goldmember” at the MTV Times Square Studios in New York City, July 26, 2002.

For her role in the Austin Powers movie, Beyoncé channeled late ’60s hippie fashion with this crochet halter dress and beaded chain belt. Being a celebrity since the ’90s has a downfall: Google Images never forgets, and this look has not aged well.

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Beyonce Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1.
Beyoncé Knowles performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Weekend 1.

A lot has been said about Coachella fashion, but Beyoncé’s interpretation of its uniform — cutoff sweatshirt and denim HotPants — is perfection. The fringed metallic boots add an ideal touch of glamour and give the look stage presence.

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Beyoncé Knowles performed a full Destiny's Child set with Kelly Rowland in Chicago, Illinois in December 1999.
Beyoncé Knowles performed a full Destiny’s Child set with Kelly Rowland in Chicago in December 1999.

This early-days cowboy moment feels fun and flirty. So much celebrity fashion today is contrived and calculated, and this feels refreshingly relatable. An all-white cowboy look? Yes, please.

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Beyoncé performs onstage during the "RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR" at SoFi Stadium on September 04, 2023.
Beyoncé performs onstage during the “Renaissance World Tour” at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 4.

The “Renaissance” tour was the show that kept on giving, fashion-wise. This body-of-armor corset look with galactic metallic boots and enormous hat was a precursor to her futuristic take on cowboy. This is the definition of a stage outfit.

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Beyoncé behind the scenes at The 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024.
Beyoncé behind the scenes at the 66th annual Grammy Awards in 2024.

She was there for Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton debut, so it makes perfect sense that she would pick out some of his Western pieces from the fall 2024 menswear collection for the Grammys. The Western tie and white cowboy hat on someone else would read costume-y, but on her, it’s part of her new persona.

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Tina Knowles and Beyoncé at Luar RTW Fall 2024 as part of New York Ready to Wear Fashion Week held on February 13, 2024.
Tina Knowles and Beyoncé at Luar RTW fall 2024 as part of New York Fashion Week held on Feb. 13.

In the top moment from NYFW, Beyoncé surprised the room at the Luar show by showing up in this silver bedazzled suit with matching headscarf and hat. This is total glam cowboy and it looked amazing in the front row.

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