It seems that one of the trends of the 2022 awards season is to pay homage of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and her show-stopping style. First, Cynthia Erivo recreated one of the late singer’s looks at the 2022 SAG Awards. Now, Grammy-winning artist H.E.R. is the latest to channel the legendary “Chain of Fools” songstress on the red carpet at the 2022 Grammy Awards.
Speaking with E! live on the carpet, H.E.R. told Laverne Cox that her custom Dundas creation was “actually inspired by Aretha Franklin.” Adding, “It was one of her iconic looks to me, and I just loved it so much, and she’s an icon.”
H.E.R. was referring to Franklin’s 1976 American Music Awards yellow and orange beaded caftan, where the late great Franklin took home the Favorite Female Soul Artist award. H.E.R. opted for a similar custom Dundas yellow and orange ombré chiffon caftan jumpsuit, that was embellished with a sequin, beaded phoenix pattern.
Channeling musical icons is kind of H.E.R.‘s thing. At the 2021 Oscars she paid homage to Prince in another Dundas creation wearing an embellished purple jumpsuit.
H.E.R. wasn’t the first to pay her respects (pun intended) to the musical genius. Erivo, who portrayed Franklin in the series Genius: Aretha, attended the 2022 SAG Awards wearing a Louis Vuitton look inspired by Franklin’s red feathered ensemble worn on The Andy Williams Show in 1969.
“We were trying to find a modern throwback to some of the things Aretha would do,” Erivo said at the time. “You know, she was super daring with her fashion and her style. And it just felt like we wanted to have a call back to the things that she would wear.”
Just like Franklin’s music, her sartorial influence is certainly leaving a lasting impact on stars.
