Entertainer Erykah, one of the most prolific voices in hip-hop and R&B, has expanded her portfolio outside of music. Now the neo-soul songstress is dabbling in fashion, announcing a new couture shoe line reflecting her eclectic signature style.
Director Sayna Fardaraghi tweeted, “a rule about cool shoes is that they must be a little ugly.”
As if philosophically walking lock and fashionable step with the filmmaker, on Sunday, Oct. 9, she took to Instagram to announce her new venture that will allow her fans to cop some of her kooky but high-fashion swag for themselves.
Badu’s Shoe Game
She captioned the post that celebrated her “ugly” shoe game: “Under Water Boogie Baby . Anemones by badu. A colab with my Hitta @myahhasbany – for e.Badu’s 1st collection in upcoming couture line (still un named ).”
In the video-pictorial post of a W Magazine article about the footwear, paired with Parliament’s “Aquaboogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop),” she shows images of herself wearing the artistic creations during Paris Fashion Week. While she is pictured wearing them as shoes, they are actually leg warmers, which she calls “the sea anemone leg warmers.” One red pair and the other dark gray, the floppy shoe-like warmers look like dreadlocks for feet.
The 51-year-old also wore the red pair on designer Rick Owens’ runway during his show, where she topped the look off with a leather hat, an oversized, full-padded, black shoulder jacket, chunky bangles, and a lounging dress accented with jewel colors.
According to W Magazine, she also wore the red pair to the after party celebrating Riccardo Tisci’s final Burberry show in London.
The singer rocked a light blue ombré pair during a performance in Switzerland.
The fashion world was set ablaze by the leg warmers, with the fashion outlet dubbing her after the PFW was over, the “Spring 2023 season’s street style winner.”
Badu’s Money Game
Badu knows how to take her winning style and transfer it into business, helping her create a net worth of an estimated $10 million to $12 million.
Her wealth from music performance, music publishing, acting, djing, product endorsements, and some real estate. She also had an interesting venture called “Badu P*ssy Premium Incense,” which she released in 2020 for $50, and sold out in less than 20 minutes on her Badu World Market website. Also on the website are hoodies, T-shirts, and shoes. These shoes are technically wooden Japanese sandals with ribbons with her name on them.
All About The Sea Anemone Pieces
The sea anemone pieces were designed by Myah Hasbany, a fashion student at the Central Saint Martins school in London.
The “On and On” singer has a few things in common with Hasbany. They are both Dallas natives and attended Booker T. Washington High School, a performing and visual arts high school, according to the Dallas Observer.
The two also have a flair for outrageous fashion.
Hasbany shared her approach to fashion in 2021, saying, “It is not traditional in any sense, as most of what we are doing is drawing, collages and sculpture.”
No date has been set for when the shoes/warmers are going to be made available for purchase to the public.
