The newly released “Cowboy Carter” may be Beyoncé’s first country album, but the music icon is making it clear on the cover of W magazine that this is not her first rodeo.
To celebrate the release of Act II of her three-part “Renaissance” project and her new era in music, Beyoncé takes W magazine to the ranch in serious Western style, stunting on the cover in a white cowboy hat and massive Alexander McQueen fur coat. In the cover story, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer is clearly down home, smiling among haystacks in black lace, demonstrating her lasso skills in brown chaps, and posing among cacti in all white — with a cowboy hat and statement belt buckle accessorizing each look.
Since the artist first announced “Cowboy Carter,” the demand for cowboy-core fashion, already edging up in popularity thanks to her Renaissance World Tour and fellow artist Pharrell Williams’ latest Western-inspired collection for Louis Vuitton, has exploded. Big brands synonymous with Western culture and style aren’t missing out on that Beyoncé effect, either; legacy denim brand Levi’s issued a now-viral response to the fact that Beyoncé released a track titled “Levii’s Jeans,” temporarily changing its name and logo on social media to include the second “i.”
“FKA [Formerly known as] Levi’s,” the brand wrote in its Instagram bio with a bee emoji.
From the diverse mix of artists featured on “Cowboy Carter” to the growing popularity of Western fashion, it’s clear Beyoncé is proving anyone can claim country. Yee-haw!
Rihanna co-signs cowboy-core on the cover of Vogue China
Looks like Beyoncé is not the only one feeling Southern style; this week, Rihanna saddled up and stepped into the growing cowboy core trend on the cover of Vogue China. Putting a spring twist on the classic “Wild Wild West” theme, the Fenty mogul posed in a floral embroidered cowboy hat and satin jacket, unzipped to give a peek at a lace floral Savage x Fenty bra. Opting for minimal accessories, Rihanna celebrated her relatively new role as a mother with a gold “mom” ring — and just as she brings her own Fenty twist to the cowboy trend, the mother of two looks forward to seeing and helping her kids form their own individuality.
“The most beautiful thing… is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity, which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group,” she said, per Vogue China. “It’s really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be… they should embrace it completely because it’s beautiful, and it’s unique.”
Law Roach, Wayman + Micah, Kollin Carter, and more Black stylists top The Hollywood Reporter’s Best Celebrity Stylist list
From Zendaya to Victoria Monét to Colman Domingo, Black Hollywood dominated on the red carpet this past awards season. Unsurprisingly, the stylists behind those headline-making looks are among The Hollywood Reporter’s 25 Best Celebrity Stylists list this year.
The list includes names like Jason Bolden, who works with Alicia Keys and Michael B. Jordan; Wayman + Micah, the duo behind Domingo and Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s recent looks; Kollin Carter, who styles Cardi B. and Victoria Monet; Shiona Turini, the force behind Beyoncé’s style on and off the stage; and the one and only Law Roach, who after retiring in 2023 now works exclusively with Zendaya and Celine Dion.
While celebrating some of the biggest names in celebrity styling, the magazine is also championing the next generation of Black and brown stylists, including Timothy Luke Garcia, who works with the likes of Chloe Bailey and Ice Spice, and Daniel Hawkins, who has been working with Fantasia Barrino since 2016.
The Fifteen Percent Pledge partners with the Dream Makers Foundation to fund Black women-owned businesses
This Women’s History Month, the Fifteen Percent Pledge is looking to make dreams come true for Black women in business.
The nonprofit, founded by Aurora James and dedicated to bolstering support for Black-owned businesses, is partnering with the Dream Makers Foundation to grant five Black women-owned businesses “no-strings-attached” funding opportunities. According to a release, the Dream Makers Foundation is a $1 million grant fund established by Briogeo haircare founder Nancy Twine to support women entrepreneurs; in particular, Black and BIPOC founders.
Together through the newly established Dream Makers Founder Grant, the Fifteen Percent Pledge and the Dream Makers Foundation will award $125,000 annually, distributing $25,000 grants to five business owners each year. Applications for this year are currently open and close on April 30.
“These grant funds will help businesses make investments in critical areas like manufacturing, marketing, and research and development,” James said in a video announcing the partnership.
She continued, “Believe it or not, so many businesses miss out on opportunities to secure free funding simply because they don’t apply.”
Jayson Tatum finds the “Courage to be Real” with Coach
NBA All-Star Jayson Tatum is stepping off the court and into his campaign star era. This week, the Boston Celtics player joined Coach as its newest global ambassador. Starring in the brand’s latest iteration of its “Courage to be Real” series, Tatum models the brand’s spring 2024 collection of watches and sunglasses.
“This partnership is a bit of a full-circle moment for me,” Tatum said in a press release. “I’m always trying to push my own limits, and I look forward to working with a brand like Coach, which celebrates this.”
According to Coach’s creative director, Stuart Vevers, the NBA player was selected to join the brand’s ongoing campaign because he “captures the spirit of confidence and authentic self-expression at the heart of Coach.” On a mission to inspire others to explore all sides of themselves with confidence, Coach’s Courage to Be Real has highlighted other stars like Lil Nas X.
Shop the watch and sunglasses Tatum models on Coach.com.
80 years of Diana Ross and her iconic style
In the midst of “Diva Week,” on March 26, Diana Ross celebrated 80 glamourous years on Earth. In honor of her birthday, her children — Tracee Ellis Ross, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Chudney Ross, Ross Naess and Evan Ross — each posted tributes to the queen of Motown, who they call “Mom,” on social media. Tracee specifically used her post as an opportunity to shine a light on some of her mother’s many accomplishments.
“By 1977, she’d launched herself into a wildly successful, independent life as an artist, a mother, and a Black woman. She had a huge iconic career on her shoulders, with no manager, no partner, by the end of that decade no mother, and three little girls to raise,” she wrote on Instagram. “Amidst shattering records, breaking glass ceilings, and setting a new bar for style and glamour, we, her children, were always her priority.”
The family continued to celebrate Ross’ birthday with a family portrait in which the matriarch is surrounded by her children, children-in-law and grandchildren, all dressed in white. Draped in an extravagant white beaded gown, Ross’ 80th birthday fits into her sartorial catalog, which is arguably just as impressive as her musical career. As theGrio honors the icon’s living legacy, check out some of Diana Ross’ iconic looks below.
Motown singing group The Supremes pose for a portrait with Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard, New York, circa 1962.(Photo by James Kriegsmann/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)