All Hail Janelle Monáe, the Queen of Black-and-White Fashion
Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
It’s one thing to wear a turtleneck every day, but strictly wearing black and white while keeping it interesting, takes skill. When none other than the equally stylish Big Boi of Outkast discovered singer Janelle Monáe in 2001, he was drawn to the old-school vibe she brought to her music, and clothes. Whether she’s draping a cape over a romantic collar, throwing in a jaunty hat, or wearing the perfectly tailored tuxedo, Monáe’s wardrobe has yet to disappoint, giving updates to classic outfits reminiscent of those worn by rockabilly stars of the past. It’s only a matter of time before Karl Lagerfeld makes her a face of Chanel, right? See all her best carpet and stage looks throughout the years, in our slideshow ahead.
March 1, 2018 Where: At Essence Black Women in Hollywood Oscars Luncheon in Beverly Hills, CA. What: Clutch by Kate Spade. Photo: Leon Bennett/G...
March 1, 2018 Where: At Essence Black Women in Hollywood Oscars Luncheon in Beverly Hills, CA. What: Clutch by Kate Spade. Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images
January 10, 2017 Where: At Marie Claire's Image Maker Awards in West Hollywood. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
December 20, 2016 Where: Discussing the film 'Hidden Figures' at AOL HQ in New York City. Photo: 2016 Slaven Vlasic
November 16, 2016 Where: At 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack Listening Party hosted by DJ Drama with Janelle Monae & Pharrell Williams in Atlanta....
November 16, 2016 Where: At 'Hidden Figures' Soundtrack Listening Party hosted by DJ Drama with Janelle Monae & Pharrell Williams in Atlanta. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 20th Century Fo
November 6, 2016 Where: At the Hollywood Film Awards in Beverly Hills. Photo: This content is subject to copyright.
October 6, 2016 Where: At the "Moonlight" Official Competition screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival in London Photo: Dav...
October 6, 2016 Where: At the "Moonlight" Official Competition screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival in London Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/WireImage
October 2, 2016 Where: At the premiere of "Moonlight" during the 54th New York Film Festival In New York City Photo: Mark Sagliocco/Fi...
October 2, 2016 Where: At the premiere of "Moonlight" during the 54th New York Film Festival In New York City Photo: Mark Sagliocco/FilmMagic
September 24, 2016 Where: At the opening of The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Photo: Monica Morgan/...
September 24, 2016 Where: At the opening of The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. Photo: Monica Morgan/WireImage
September 10, 2016 Where: At the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle's annual celebtration of the Toronto International Film Festival...
September 10, 2016 Where: At the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle's annual celebtration of the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto Photo: Todd Williamson/Getty Images for InStyle
September 10, 2016 Where: At the premiere of "Hidden Figures" during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto Photo: Er...
September 10, 2016 Where: At the premiere of "Hidden Figures" during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto Photo: Ernesto Di Stefano Photography/Getty Images
September 3, 2016 Where: At the Telluride Film Festival in Telluride Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
September 2, 2016 Where: At a screening of "Moonlight" during Telluride Film Festival 2016 in Telluride Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty I...
September 2, 2016 Where: At a screening of "Moonlight" during Telluride Film Festival 2016 in Telluride Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
August 28, 2016 Where: Backstage after her performance at the 12th Annual Afropunk Brooklyn Festival in New York City Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty I...
August 28, 2016 Where: Backstage after her performance at the 12th Annual Afropunk Brooklyn Festival in New York City Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images
August 27, 2016 Where: At Fem the Future Brunch hosted by Janelle Monáe in New York City Photo: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
June 26, 2016 Where: At the 2016 BET Awards Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
June 12, 2016 Where: Performing on stage at Hollywood Bowl Presents the 38th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival in Hollywood Photo: Mathew Imaging/Wir...
June 12, 2016 Where: Performing on stage at Hollywood Bowl Presents the 38th Annual Playboy Jazz Festival in Hollywood Photo: Mathew Imaging/WireImage
May 24, 2016 Where: At the 2016 Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner in New York City Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage
May 12, 2016 Where: At AltaMed Health Services' Power Up, We Are the Future Gala in Beverly Hills Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
March 5, 2016 Where: At BET Honors 2016 in Washington D.C. Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET
February 15, 2016 Where: At the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
February 14, 2016 Where: At the 2016 Pre-GRAMMY Gala Salute to Industry Icons honoring Irving Azoff in Beverly Hills Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
February 12, 2016 Where: At the 2016 Billboard Power 100 Celebration in Beverly Hills Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
February 3, 2016 Where: Filming a special welcome to millions of fans watching the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show in Santa Clara Photo: Kevin Ma...
February 3, 2016 Where: Filming a special welcome to millions of fans watching the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show in Santa Clara Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Pepsi
December 14, 2015 Where: At the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Los Angles premiere Photo: Barcroft Media/Barcroft Media via Getty Imag...
December 14, 2015 Where: At the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Los Angles premiere Photo: Barcroft Media/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
December 6, 2015 Where: At the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala in Washington D.C. Photo: Paul Morigi/WireImage
November 24, 2015 Where: At "Legacy Atalanta" at Tesla Atlanta in Atlanta Photo: Prince Williams/WireImage
November 21, 2015 Where: At Sean "Diddy" Comb's Exclusive Birthday Celebration in Beverly Hills Photo: Gabriel Olsen/FilmMagic
November 19, 2015 Where: At the premier of "Creed" in Westwood Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
November 7, 2015 Where: At the Women's Event 18 Honoring Janelle Monáe in New York City Photo: Andrew Toth/Getty Images
November 6, 2015 Where: At the 2015 Soul Train Music Awards in Las Vegas Photo: Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Images for BET
October 29, 2015 Where: Backstage at "Hamilton" at the Richard Roger's Theater in New York City Photo: Jenny Anderson/Getty Images
October 6, 2015 Where: In Paris during Paris Fasion Week Spring/Summer 2016/17 Photo: Kirstin Sinclair/Getty Images
Ocotber 6, 2015 Where: At the Elle U.S. and Elle France Anniversary Celebration in Paris Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Elle
October 6, 2015 Where: At the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barr...
October 6, 2015 Where: At the Chanel show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage
October 6, 2015 Where: At Giambattista Villa show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Antonio de Mor...
October 6, 2015 Where: At Giambattista Villa show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage
October 5, 2015 Where: Leaving the Stella McCartney show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Marc Pi...
October 5, 2015 Where: Leaving the Stella McCartney show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring Summer 2016 in Paris Photo: Marc Piasecki/WireImage
October 2, 2015 Where: At the Alexander McQueen and AnOther Magazine After-Party in Paris Photo: Darren Gerrish/WireImage
October 4, 2015 Where: At the John Galliano show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear S/S 2016 in Paris Photo: Foc Kan/WireImage
October 4, 2015 Where: Arriving at Akris Fashion Show during the Paris Fashion Week - Ready to Wear S/S 2016 in Paris Photo: Jacopo Raule/GC Images
October 1, 2015 Where: Backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York City Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
June 28, 2015 Where: At the 2015 BET Awards in Los Angeles Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
June 28, 2015 Where: At Tidal Presents The Atlantic Records 2015 BET Awards After-Party in West Hollywood Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage
May 30, 2015 Where: At the MOCA Gala 2015 Presented by Luis Vuitton in Los Angeles Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
May 5, 2015 Where: At the "China: Through the Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala in New York city Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
May 3, 2015 Where: In New York City Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto via Getty Images
April 29, 2015 Where: Performing at Friends of Hudson River Park's 2015 Spring Fling in New York City Photo: J. Countess/Getty Images
April 29, 2015 Where: At the Friends of Hudson River Park's Spring Fling 2015 in New York city Photo: Chance Yeh/FilmMagic
March 26, 2015 Where: At the 2015 Black Girls Rock! in Newark Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
March 26, 2015 Where: In New York City Photo: Raymond Hall/GC Images
February 25, 2015 Where: At the Warner Music Brit Party 2015 in London Photo: David M. Benett/Getty Images for Warner Music Gr
February 23, 2015 Where: At the Antonia Beradi show during London Fasion Week Fall/Winter 2015/16 in London Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
February 7, 2015 Where: At the Roc Nation Gammy Brunch 2015 in Berverly Hills Photo: Amanda Edwards/WireImage
November 14, 2014 Where: At the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood Photo: C Flanigan/Getty Images
November 14, 2013 Where: Performing onstage at the 18th Annual Hollywood Film Awards in Hollywood Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
June 19, 2013 Where: Before perfroming at the St. Regis in New York City Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Starwood Prefer
June 11, 2014 Where: Leaving a taping of "The Late Show with David Letterman" in New York City Photo: Ray Tamarra/WireImage
May 5, 2014 Where: At the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala in New York City Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
April 9, 2014 Where: Performing on NBC's "Today" in New York City Photo: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic
March 25, 2014 Where: At Clear Channel's iHeart Radio Live Series after performing in Burbank Photo: Allen Berezovsky/WireImage
February 15, 2014 Where: At the GQ & LeBron James NBA All Star Party Sponsored by Samsung Galaxy and Beats in New Orleans Photo: Michael Loc...
February 15, 2014 Where: At the GQ & LeBron James NBA All Star Party Sponsored by Samsung Galaxy and Beats in New Orleans Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for GQ
Janurary 9, 2014 Where: Posing with the Breakthrough Award for Music at the Variety Breakthrough of the Year Awards in Laas Vegas Photo: Bryan S...
Janurary 9, 2014 Where: Posing with the Breakthrough Award for Music at the Variety Breakthrough of the Year Awards in Laas Vegas Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for Variety
December 10, 2013 Where: At the 2013 Billboard Annual Women in Music Event in New York City Photo: Monica Schipper/FilmMagic
November 8, 2013 Where: At the Soul Train Awards 2013 in Las Vegas Photo: Mindy Small/FilmMagic
June 30, 2013 Where: At the 2013 BET Awards in Los Angeles Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
May 1, 2013 Where: Visiting BET's "106 & Park" in New York City Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
March 21, 2013 Where: At the BlackBerry Z10 Launch Event in New York City Photo: Steve Mack/FilmMagic
February 8, 2013 Where: At Clive Davis and the Recodring Academy's GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Gala in Beverly Hills Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Fil...
February 8, 2013 Where: At Clive Davis and the Recodring Academy's GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Gala in Beverly Hills Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
February 7, 2013 Where: At Delta Airlines GRAMMY Week LA Music Industry Reception in Los Angeles Photo: JB Lacroix/WireImage
October 13, 2012 Where: At Black Girls Rock! 2012 in New York City Photo: Rob Kim/FilmMagic
May 7, 2012 Where: At the "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Costume Institute Gala Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photog...
May 7, 2012 Where: At the "Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations" Costume Institute Gala Photo: Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images
January 15, 2012 Where: At the NBC Golden Globes After-Party in Beverly Hills Photo: Joe Scarnici/FilmMagic
November 18, 2011 Where: At ASCAP Rhythm & Soul 3rd Annual Women Behind the Music Series Photo: Ben Rose/WireImage
July 2, 2011 Where: Performing at the Wirless Festival in London Photo: Matt Kent/WireImage
May 2, 2011 Where: At the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala in New York City Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
February 23, 2011 Where: At the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards in Lons Angeles Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
February 12, 2011 Where: At Cive Davis and the Recording Academy's Annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala in Beverly Hills Photo: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
November 8, 2010 Where: At Glamour Magazine 2010 Woman of the Year Gala in New York City Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/2010 WireImage
September 10, 2010 Where: At the Ralph Laruen Celebration of Fashion's Night Out in New York City Photo: John Parra/Getty Images for Ralph Laure...
September 10, 2010 Where: At the Ralph Laruen Celebration of Fashion's Night Out in New York City Photo: John Parra/Getty Images for Ralph Lauren
June 27, 2010 Where: Performing onstage at the 2010 BET Awards in Los Angeles Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
June 25, 2010 Where: At the 23rd Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Beverly Hills Photo: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
February 27, 2010 Where: At BET's Rip the Runway 2010 in New York City Photo: George Napolitano/FilmMagic
April 23, 2009 Where: At Chloe Los Angeles Boutique Opening Celebration in Los Angeles Photo: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
June 16, 2008 Where: AT Boost Mobile RockCorps ATL Reward Concert in Atlanta Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
April 10, 2008 Where: At The Atlanta Ballet Presents "big" in Atlanta Photo: Ben Rose/WireImage
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