<p id=”par-1_73″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/teyana-taylor-just-revealed-erykah-badu-is-her-midwife.html/”>Erykah Badu understood the assignmen</a>t at the 2024 CFDA Awards. The Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded the Grammy winner its most coveted honor on Monday night. The Fashion Icon Award goes to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/celebrity-style/”>innovative style savants</a> who support the industry and its designers. In previous years, Zendaya, Lenny Kravitz, Serena Williams, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga have received this recognition. Now, it’s Badu’s turn to be a Fashion Icon — rightly deserved.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-erykah-badu-s-cfda-look”>Erykah Badu’s CFDA look</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Erykah-Badu.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a black coat, dress, and headpiece, Erykah Badu stands with her date, Alfredo Gray, outside of the CFDA Fashion Awards 2024″ class=”wp-image-3733530″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Erykah Badu and her date, Alfredo Gray, at the CFDA Fashion Awards | NDZ/Star Max/GC Images; James Devaney/GC Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_65″>In typical Erykah Badu avant-garde fashion, the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/erykah-badu-paid-tribute-mary-j-blige-debut-single-on-on.html/”>“On & On” singer</a> donned a sleek, all-black ensemble by Thom Browne. The outfit featured an hourglass-shaped Chesterfield, sportcoat, and embroidered cardigan. Taking a cue from autumn, she layered a pleated skirt and trousers crafted from black cashmere, three-ply mohair, wool flannel, and silk faille. Badu added an oversized jumpsuit in black three-ply mohair with black grosgrain trim.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Erykah-Badu-CFDA-Fashion-Awards-2024.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a black coat, dress, and headpiece, Erykah Badu poses for photos at the CFDA Fashion Awards 2024″ class=”wp-image-3733527″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Erykah Badu on October 28, 2024 in NYC | NDZ/Star Max/GC Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-3_58″>The 53-year-old accessorized with simple black patent leather wingtip pumps. She topped off the look with a custom beaded CHRISHABANA headpiece and septum jewelry. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/erykah-badu-celebrated-aaliyahs-birthday-by-sharing-when-the-princess-of-rb-showed-her-love-in-the-1990s.html/”>Badu’s</a> entire look, though elaborate, was rooted in Afrocentric elements via her signature face jewelry. Dozens of celebrities have worn CHRISHABANA, including Madonna, Doja Cat, and Fashion Icon winners Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Erykah-Badu-CFDA-2024.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a black coat, dress, and headpiece, Erykah Badu poses for photos at the CFDA Fashion Awards 2024″ class=”wp-image-3733531″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Erykah Badu at the CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-4_94″>Badu collaborated with the New York-based jewelry line’s creative director, Chris Habana, for her unique CFDA look. The pair <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/erykah-badu-inspired-bmf-creator-randy-huggins-to-get-into-tv.html/”>drew inspiration</a> from an AI-generated collage of cultural influences and global styles. The image was provided by the “Didn’t Cha Know” singer who often pays homage to African aesthetics, spirituality, and symbolism. The CHRISHABANA team meticulously hand-carved and cast sterling silver charms and trinkets, blending them with hardware and sterling silver and decorative steel chains. They carefully hand-stitched each element onto a base hood crafted from Thom Browne fabric, giving the piece a couture finish.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-erykah-badu-calls-fashion-her-husband”>Erykah Badu calls fashion her ‘husband’</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-4″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Erykah-Badu-CFDA-Fashion-Awards.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Wearing a black coat, dress, and headpiece, Erykah Badu poses with ex-husband Andre 3000 for photos at the CFDA Fashion Awards 2024″ class=”wp-image-3733528″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Fashion Icon Award honoree Erykah Badu with her ex-husband, André 3000, at the 2024 CFDA Awards | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-5_77″>During her speech, Badu demonstrated her sense of humor, saying that she’s been trying to win this award since she was 6. The songwriter elaborated that she approaches fashion as a sport, as therapy, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/erykah-badu-and-andre-3000s-kids-go-viral-on-tiktok-fans-in-awe-the-genes-are-strong.html/”>and as her husband</a>, according to <a href=”https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/10/29/cfda-awards-2024-winners-fashion-red-carpet/75890315007/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>USA Today</a>. Earlier in a statement, she explained, “I’ve always had a love for taking bits and pieces of the things I am attracted to and creating something far more grand than the sum of those parts.”</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-5″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CFDA-Awards-Cynthia-Erivo-Blake-Lively-Kylie-Jenner.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Three photos of Cynthia Erivo, Blake Lively, and Kylie Jenner standing on the white carpet at the CFDA Fashion Awards 2024″ class=”wp-image-3733532″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Cynthia Erivo, Blake Lively, and Kylie Jenner at the CFDA Awards on October 28, 2024 | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan</figcaption></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/erykah-badu-bathed-in-the-sink-at-the-studio-where-she-recorded-mamas-gun.html/”>
Erykah Badu Bathed in the Sink at the Studio Where She Recorded ‘Mama’s Gun’ </a>
</p>
</div>
<p id=”par-6_57″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/andre-3000-and-erykah-badu-mastered-co-parenting-their-son-seven.html/”>Badu wasn’t the only celebrity</a> going all out for such an innovative award ceremony. The star-studded gala saw an unprecedented number of stars walk the red carpet, including Cynthia Erivo, Blake Lively, Annie Leibovitz, Paris Hilton, Ciara, Katie Holmes, Kylie Jenner, Lucy Liu, Meghann Fahy, and Nicole Richie. We could go on, but you get the picture.</p>