Erykah Badu Stars In Givenchy's Spring 2014 Campaign
Erykah Badu is the face of Givenchy's spring 2014 campaign.
Photo: Getty Images
Givenchy is continuing its streak of casting famous faces in its campaigns, and for spring 2014, the label has tapped legendary singer-songwriter Erykah Badu! Style.com got an exclusive look at the images and chatted with Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci about his decision to cast the singer, who, he says, "is one of the most stylish women [he's] met in [his] life."
Tisci said that he had Erykah on his mind when designing the 2014 spring collection, which will feature a combination of African and Japanese influences. The black-and-white campaign image, shot by Mert & Marcus, features a short-haired Badu in what is essentially a poncho with the shoulders cut out. The beguiling top has no sleeves and no obvious collar, but instead hangs from two thick straps around her neck. On the runway, the bright graphic on the front looks like it's made of sequins, but in the ad, it's completely muted, giving the piece an entirely different feel.
Recently, the fashion industry has been facing serious criticism for the lack of diversity on runways and in campaigns. Tisci has been a forerunner when it comes to casting models of color, like Joan Smalls, and this campaign is no different. In fact, judging from the reported roster, which includes models Maria Borges, newcomer Riley, and Asia Chow, these spring 2014 Givenchy ads will exclusively feature women of color.
With Tisci's talent for casting, this campaign is one we can't wait to see in its entirety.
