Destiny’s Child Pioneered Music Group Looks
Destiny’s Child dominated the music industry at its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but notably revolutionized the way music groups (especially girl groups) present themselves on an aesthetic and visual basis. Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams – along with earlier members LaTavia Roberson and LeToya Luckett – seamlessly executed what it meant to be cohesively sound while showcasing each member’s personality and style. The group’s coordinated looks were just as synonymous with their identity as their idiosyncratic musicality.
Matthew Knowles, Beyonce’s father and the manager, was stringent about visual presentation from the group’s inception and wanted to meticulously craft an image which was unified. The coordination in the group’s looks are akin to those of Motown groups in the 1960s such as The Supremes, who also dressed in matching outfits to symbolize unity. Destiny’s Child grabbed the torch from their predecessors upon continuing this concept by making it more contemporary. But the true mastermind behind their iconic looks was Beyonce’s mother, Tina Knowles.
Beyonce was honored with the Fashion Icon Award at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards, but what she underscored in her acceptance speech caught attention. The Grammy-winner spoke to the start of Destiny’s Child, but most notably how high-end brands didn’t want to dress them and they couldn’t afford couture pieces at the time. Not only this, but Tina Knowles was rejected from a number of showrooms in New York City, but this didn’t deter her. Tina Knowles, along with Beyonce’s Uncle Johnny, designed all of the group’s first costumes – acting as both their stylist and seamstress. Beyonce poignantly referred to wearing these pieces as a “suit of armor,” which effectively created a distinctive visual identity for the group.
Destiny’s Child will go down in history as one of the greatest music groups of all time and be heralded for their accolades. But it’s imperative that their longstanding influence on music and fashion not be forgotten nor lost in translation, as it is still very much relevant today. American rock and indie group Boygenius is consistent in how they present themselves to the general public, whether it be during a live performance or on a red carpet. The group’s look at this year’s Grammy’s in particular was quite clean and put together but done so with the utmost intent.
British girl group Flo have been compared to Destiny’s Child on a plethora of instances by way of their musicality, but especially for their sense of style. Group members Stella Quaresma, Jorja Douglas, and Renee Downer very much emulate Destiny’s Child for their innate ability to look cohesive but with variety. The group’s stylist, Kristy Stewart, has said in prior interviews that she leans heavily on the 1990s and 2000s for inspiration, which is evident in Flo’s united front. Destiny’s Child continues to be integral in setting the tone for not only how a girl group should be put together, but all music groups.
Featured Image Courtesy of @destinyschild on Instagram