by Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” is finally here.
The music icon released her seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” on Friday, marking her first solo album in six years since her award-winning “Lemonade.”
“This three-act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic,” Beyoncé wrote on her website. “A time to be quiet, but also a time I thought was the most creative. Making this album gave me a place to dream and find escape in a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous at a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgement. A place to be free from perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, let loose, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.”
Like her previous albums, Beyoncé delivers “Renaissance” with the help of some high-fashion looks. On her website, the artist shared many photos of herself wearing one-of-a-kind looks from brands like Schiaparelli, Mugler, Alaïa and others. Beyoncé worked with stylists Zerina Akers, Marni Senofonte and KJ Moody.
Beyoncé first kicked off anticipation for “Renaissance” by releasing the album’s first single, “Break My Soul,” on June 20 alongside album art that showed the singer wearing a sheer, corset-like jumpsuit with matching opera gloves from Alaïa’s fall 2022-to-wear collection. She paired the look with a custom hat from Destree.
On June 30, Beyoncé continued the excitement by releasing the album art for “Renaissance,” which showed her seated on a glass horse wearing a silver necklace by Los Angeles-based designer Nusi Quero.
Over the past month, Beyoncé has dropped other album art for “Renaissance,” which resembles the original album art. On July 21, the singer released another photo of herself sitting on a glass horse, this time wearing a similar silver body chain embellished with white feathers by Giannina Azar.
Beyoncé has tapped many design houses for “Renaissance,” looking to Schiaparelli’s Spring 2022 couture collection to wear a black tapered leather bustier top with black cut-out thigh-high socks paired with oversized gold earrings.
She also sought out Mugler for “Renaissance,” wearing a custom sculptural silver bustier top with a cut-out black dress, and Dolce & Gabbana, wearing a puff-shoulder latex red jacket.
Beyoncé looked at Gucci’s Love Parade collection for “Renaissance,” wearing a long-sleeved silver pleated dress.
American designer Christopher John Rogers was also commissioned for “Renaissance”, with the designer lending a green crushed tulle and veil headpiece from his Collection 009 created in collaboration with Piers Atkinson.
Beyoncé also looked to up-and-coming designers for “Renaissance.” She is seen in the photos wearing a Swarovski crystal and garter set from sustainable designer Natalia Fedner and a black and white retro-inspired bodysuit from Australian designer Bethany Cordwell.
