Beyonce Knowles-Carter (b. 1981) has become an iconic figure, not just in the entertainment industry, but within the history of American fashion. In this paper I analyze and discuss how Beyonce has used her costumes and fashions to emphasize the messages within her music.

Beyonce began her career as the lead singer in the groups Girl's Tyme (1991-1996) and Destiny's Child (1997-2003), and launched her solo career in 2003 with the album Dangerously in Love. From Destiny's Child and throughout her career as a solo artist, she has used her costumes and fashions in live performances, videos and films to communicate the themes of feminism and African-American empowerment. During her early career, her onstage style pointed toward her newfound independence as a young adult; her seductive outfits seemed to celebrate the diversity of African-American ideals of beauty, versus the narrow and restrictive ideals of fashion. Beyonce's costumes and fashions also demonstrated her awareness of the legacy of previous generations of African-American women performers, such as Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, Tina Turner and Diana Ross. Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, has remained a constant source of support for her onstage style, designing costumes for numerous performances. Mother and daughter launched the House of Dereon ready-to-wear label in 2004, which helped to solidify Beyonce's place as a fashion leader. As she matured as an artist, her perspective evolved to reflect an understanding that she had a platform to create social change. During the past fifteen years, as the singer's influence in the music industry expanded rapidly, fashion designers have collaborated with her to produce avant-garde, custom-made costumes. Beyonce's music and choreography created the persona of a warrior; by partnering strategically with designers such as Thierry Mugler, Jean-Paul Gaultier, and Peter Dundas, all of whom view women as superheroes, she has been able to express her message transparently through her costumes and fashions. Through her onstage style, Beyonce has consistently projected strength and hope amid a turbulent period in politics and culture.