Erykah Badu Reveals What Her Fashion Sense Is Based On

Erykah Badu has opened up about her influence in many industries over the years.

The 51-year-old singer’s music has long been a blend of hip-hop, soul, jazz, and funk.

Now she says her fashion sense has grown and developed despite not knowing much about the industry.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I didn’t know all the houses and names of designers until I was in my 30s or 40s,” Erykah told Vogue. “What I had was a good understanding of look and shape, the way I did with paper dolls when I was a child. For me, it’s about seeing things coming together, like making a cake from beginning to end.”

Erykah also shared a metaphor for her enduring influence spanning decades. “I feel I’ve poked this hole in the dam,” she said. “It’s this little hole and all this water is seeping through. Now all the people who have the same energy are able to experience what I experience. It’s a rebirthing process, and I feel like I’m a midwife.”

In 1996, the Soul Train Awards was a pivotal turning point for many in the music industry, including her. “I remember being among an elite group of young people who were really embracing what it meant to be an African here, generationally. We embraced locs and ’fros and our natural state, our fabrics and jewelry. It was a beautiful time,” Erykah said.

At the Thom Browne Womenswear Spring/Summer 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week Erykah wore gold finger tips and block-heeled shoes.