It’s safe to say that the performer Janelle Monáe, EBONY's March 2023 cover star, has crossed over to fashion icon waters. When she first hit the scene in 2003, she was known for her stylish black and white tuxedo ensembles. The monochromatic uniform was her way of paying homage to her parents—a janitor and truck driver—and other working-class folks; in other words, the humble citizens that keep the world spinning but don't necessarily get recognized. Lately, though, she's been exploring her softer side by showing up in sensual robes that have cut-outs in all of the right places as a means of self-expression and showing the world that she is confident in who she is.

Agency has always been a throughline. Whether I'm in a suit or whether I'm in a dress or whether I'm naked, it's always about my decision. So I'm giving myself permission to be a little more soft and to explore different sides of my energy.”

Janelle Monáe

“I like to deal with energy in terms of softness and hardness. I think that perhaps, prior, there was a need to protect myself through fashion,” shared the star with EBONY's March 2023 cover writer Tre'vell Anderson, as she considers her suit to be more of a superhero armor that made her feel invincible and strong.

Since her tux years, we gradually saw Monáe’s style evolve. At first, sometimes she substituted a structured cape or a relaxed fit jacket for her regular custom-fit penguin suit. But in 2011, at the Producers Guild Awards, Monáe shook Black Twitter by venturing out in something that was a far departure from her sleek, buttoned-up shield—an arresting gown. Soon enough, dresses were routinely rotated in her red carpet mix.

Monáe also began to punctuate her looks with dashes of primary colors—scarlet reds, cobalt blues and sometimes canary yellows—with the occasional mix of brilliants metallics, as well as exploring uncomplicated prints such as as bold stripes or polka dots. She even replaced her signature pompadour hairstyle with striking hats, including wide brims, tops hats and toques—sometimes doubling them up for a singular effect.

Indeed, showing skin has become a new accessory for Monáe as she explores what it means to be truly free; it has been a way for her to signify that she is living in her own truth. “Agency has always been a throughline. Whether I'm in a suit or whether I'm in a dress or whether I'm naked, it's always about my decision. So I'm giving myself permission to be a little more soft and to explore different sides of my energy,” shares the LGBTQ+ activist and star.

Check out our curated photo timeline of Monáe’s fashion evolution. 

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