Erykah Badu honoured as fashion icon at 2024 CFDA Awards

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Erykah Badu, the Grammy Award-winning singer known for her eclectic and boundary-pushing style, took home a major fashion honour.

She received this year’s Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards.

ERYKAH BADU, THE FASHION ICON

On Monday night in Manhattan, Badu was crowned with the ‘fashion icon’ title. This is an award she revealed she had dreamed of winning since she was six, according to AP News.

“I’ve been trying to win the icon award since I was a child,” she joked on stage. She sported a glimmering headdress and a bold jacket from designer Thom Browne.

For Badu, dressing up has become more than style; she sees it as “sport, therapy and, sometimes, even my husband.”

ANDRÉ 3000 INTRODUCES ERYKAH BADU

Music star André 3000, father to Badu’s son, made a memorable entrance to introduce her. The rapper carried an orange caution cone to the stage as a playful tribute.

The world, she said, “is a private joke between me and my things.”

As André walked off with her, cone in hand, the room buzzed with applause.

ERYKAH BADU’S STYLE EVOLUTION

Over the years, Badu has become known for turning heads on the red carpet with her Afrocentric, avant-garde style.

From sky-high hats and headwraps to oversized jewellery.

Her unique style has broken through the stiff norms of black-tie fashion, inspiring fans worldwide, according to ABC News.

The CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted at the American Museum of Natural History, was a star-studded affair.

CELEBRITY GUESTS AT THE CFDA

Celebrities like Katie Holmes and Kylie Jenner and fashion heavyweights turned out to honour the best in the industry.

Cynthia Erivo, soon to be seen in the film adaptation of Wicked, dazzled as the evening’s host. She wore a dramatic hooded gown by Zac Posen for Gap.

This prestigious night gave special recognition to some of fashion’s most creative minds.

WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

In a touching moment, fashion designer Rachel Scott won the final award of the evening. Rachel took home the title of Womenswear Designer of the Year.

Known for her delicate crochet work, Scott dedicated her win to her mother and the women in Jamaica who create her designs by hand.

“I’m used to working on design teams, so this recognition feels overwhelming,” she said.

MENSWEAR DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Scott’s raw emotion showed just how meaningful the award was to her, especially after her emerging fashion designer win in 2023.

Troye Sivan, the pop star sensation, presented the Menswear Designer of the Year award to Willy Chavarria, who earned his second win in this category.

Chavarria acknowledged the current political climate in his acceptance speech, according to USA Today.

“It’s a strange time to be designing with an election so near, and I know many of us worry about our rights.”

For him, diversity remains a cornerstone of creativity, with Chavarria explaining, “It makes us stronger.”

POLITICAL CLIMATE

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand kicked off the ceremony with a strong message for the stars and designers in the room.

She urged them to use their influence to encourage people to vote.

“If we wake up and don’t recognise this country, we’ll only have ourselves to blame,” she stated, addressing a politically aware audience.

ACCESSORY DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Among the evening’s other honourees, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie joined forces to award Accessory Designer of the Year to Raul Lopez of Luar. Raul dedicated his win to the children of immigrants.

“I’m just a vessel for the next generation,” he said.

And with another win for international flair, Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli was named International Designer of the Year.