Why You Should Embrace Color in Your Wardrobe, According to Beyoncé’s Stylist

Are you wanting to change up your wardrobe? Look no further than Zerina Akers (aka Beyoncé’s personal stylist).

The fashion guru (who is the mastermind behind Beyoncé’s Black Is King outfits) recently sat down for an interview with Net-a-Porter’s PORTER magazine, where she addressed the importance of incorporating color into your closet.

“One of the things that is most prominent in my work—and my closet—is color; it’s a celebration of life,” she said.

Akers went on to explain how monochrome ensembles have drastically influenced her personal style. “I’ll often wear monochromatic looks, whether they’re all yellow, all red or all pink,” she continued. “I love the opulence that comes with matching from head to toe. It’s something that’s really specific to my aesthetic.”

The stylist also described where the idea originated, adding, “What inspires me most often is real people, and particularly the Black experience; and that’s exactly where this idea of monochromatic dressing comes from. It reminds me of women attending southern Baptist churches wearing their Sunday best; which often means matching your dress to your hat, gloves and shoes. This cross-cultural experience, and the symbolism behind it, is really important to me.”

While discussing Black Is King, Akers admitted that she wasn’t expecting it to receive critical acclaim. “The reaction to Black Is King has been crazy; I wasn’t prepared for it,” she said. “Now it’s been released, I understand that it will serve as a reference point, not only for art and creatives, but also for Black people and Black beauty. It’s a part of history now, and that leaves me lost for words.”

If you see us strutting down the grocery aisle in a monochrome ensemble, don’t be alarmed—we’re just channeling our inner Queen Bey.