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TELLING STORIES THROUGH STYLE IN 2016

By Dominique Hobdy

No other artists managed to capture the Black woman’s experience quite like sisters Beyoncé and Solange did in 2016.

We can say this with full confidence, and anyone who listened to or watched their respective visual albums,Lemonade and A Seat At The Table, would agree. Show us a Black woman that wasn’t touched by one or both of these women in 2016, and we’ll show you someone that might need to take a seat, reevaluate, and honestly, truly get in formation.

Maybe Bey and Solo’s masterful works were sparked by a deep conversation about life with their ever-insightful mother, whom we affectionately refer to as “Mama Knowles.” Or perhaps it was the Black community having an astute awareness of the position we continue to be in this country. But most likely, it was a divine concoction of it all.

On top of painting such visually arresting images to go along with the critical messages in their music, Beyoncé and Solange used fashion to tell their stories in a profound way. Clothes are amazing storytellers and these ladies certainly put their wardrobes to work. Here, we take a look at their attire choices this year, and what they really meant.

Undeniably Black

The impact of Beyoncé’s nod to the Black Panther Party during the Super Bowl halftime show was just as forceful, bold and in-your-face as the movement itself. With the same audacity as Angela Davis, tenacity of Assata Shakur and forthright approach as KathleenNeal Cleaver, Beyoncé recognized an organization whose values and causes are as relevant now as they've ever been. Clad in militant gear (with a sexy edge of course) Beyoncé’s crew and their glorious fros, did one of the meanest struts we’ve seen and delivered a message before they even hit the stage.

Although mainstream society has seemingly managed to push Beyoncé’s blackness to the back of their heads in lieu of her catchy tunes and undeniable greatness – pearls were clutched, unsuccessful protests were organized and everyone was forced to not only remember, but respect her as a proud (and woke) Black woman. While Bey came to give the world a show on one of the biggest stages there is, on our behalf, she also let them know that Black women are ready and willing — by any means necessary.

In the same spirit of undeniablyBlack images, Solange gave us an anthem that we’ve needed in our arsenal for quite some time now. “Don’t touch my hair” and the opening image we see of Solange in a head full of bead adorned braids in the video immediately brings to mind the scores of Black women who’ve decorated their manes for countless years. Most of us can still visualize that box of hair supplies our mothers kept in the bathroom where stray beads settled at the bottom. Buying a new set to match your outfit for school was a major key, and holding them in your hand so your auntie or mom could easily access them as she added them to your intricate braids was necessary. To see Solange in flowing, beaded braids felt familiar. It felt like Alfre Woodard in Crooklyn, like musician Patricia Rushen, like Serena and Venus Williams — it felt like us.

Being that 2016 was a unique year to say the least— one that opened up our eyes, yet caused an awareness that helped the synastry among Black women reach a crescendo, it only made sense to respond to that through art.

Black Women in Sync

Solange is known for her prowess when it comes to style, but “A Seat at the Table” helped to further drive home the message of her album through arresting fashion choices. Ripe with lyrics and imagery that celebrated and united Black women, her connected dress showed us all that despite our many trials, Black women continue to be connected and to uplift one another. The dress, drawing inspiration from a 90s creation by Issey Miyake, was created in two days by her mother, Tina Knowles. Being that2016 was a unique year to say the least— one that opened up our eyes, yet caused an awareness that helped the synastry among Black women reach a crescendo, it only made sense to respond to that through art.

Beyoncé’s answer to the synastry of Black women was seen in the visuals for ‘Love Drought’ where she and a line of women dressed in the same sheer black and white collared dress descend into water. Their hands are linked as she wistfully belts out “you and me could move a mountain.” While the lyrics stemmed from the writer’s frustrations unrelated to love or even solidarity for that matter, the imagery clearly delivered the message that we are all parts of a whole.

As feminist-centric as our society is at the moment, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge and include women who have dealt with the very real themes touched on in “Lemonade”.

The Duality of Womanhood

Beyoncé’s Lemonade took a hard look at what it meant to be a woman for better or worse. Her obvious mixture of ultra-feminine silhouettes juxtaposed with more traditionally masculine looks helped to show us all of the layers of womanhood. As feminist-centric as our society is at the moment, we’d be remiss not to acknowledge and include women who have dealt with the very real themes touched on in Lemonade. Often times the strength of a woman is so celebrated that the weaknesses that make her whole are overlooked. Beyoncé displayed this sentiment by showing complete vulnerability and profound strength in the same body of work through her clothing.

Ultra-glam, “I’m fabulous, don’t need you and don’t give a fuck anymore” looks like the yellow ruffle dress in “Hold Up” were a stark difference from her super pared-down hoodie – which has now become synonymous with the unfortunate killing of Trayvon Martin -- in a more heart-wrenching song we’re she’s pretty much begging for some semblance of honesty like ”Pray You Catch Me.”

Beyoncé did in each song what we do every day —dress based on what story we’re telling ourselves about ourselves in that particular moment. Are you a indestructible woman who can do bad all by yourself, or are you using every ounce of energy you have to keep it all together and simply asking for some reciprocity? Beyoncé covered it all in one rollercoaster ride of emotions and style.

Black Girl Magic

Solange’s imagery for A Seat at the Table is visually pleasing to say the least. At every turn we were met with interesting, conversation-worthy style that was obviously intentional. One look that especially resonated was her naked, glitter-covered moment in ‘Cranes in the Sky’. With the intentions of displaying images of Black royalty throughout the project, Solange teamed up with her husband to create what we saw for A Seat at the Table. Royalty, and maybe more importantly pride was indeed what we felt. Reminding us of a phrase we joyfully shouted out amongst ourselves and to anyone who would listen in 2016, Black Girl Magic, a common feeling among Black Women now had yet another fabulous visual component.

The Strong Act of Being Vulnerable

A theme that both women touched on was a sense of vulnerability that not many Black women get to confront regularly. Both used images of naked and/or barely clothed women to drive home a point. Although nudity can seem like anti-fashion to the naked eye (see what we did there?) the truth is that it’s a fashion statement all it’s own.

There is a scene in “Cranes in the Sky” where Solange is in a yarn dress, naked underneath. There’s a delicate hand unraveling her as she sings a song we all know the lyrics to,recounting all of the ways she tried to get rid of that feeling. She is literally being unraveled. If she isn’t telling the truth, if that isn’t an accurate depiction of what it’s like sometimes, what is?

What makes this imagery and the feelings that they bring up so important is that Black women so often feel like we don’t even have to time to deal with anything that isn’t helping us move forward.

Although nudity is something that continues to relate to vulnerability, both Beyoncé and Solange used it to show the strength in acknowledging something we so often try to avoid.

While 2016 was something like an emotional landmine, the Knowles sisters managed to uplift, inspire and tell a magnificent, heart-wrenching, hopeful story of Black womanhood through fashion.