Beyonce’s stylist reveals it took more than 1,000 hours to create Valentino leopard catsuit for 'Black is King'

Beyoncé‘s stylist has revealed the extent of the work that went into dressing the star for her acclaimed visual album Black Is King, detailing the hours that were spent creating one of the most recognisable looks from the Disney+ film.

Black Is King, described as being “a story for the ages that informs and rebuilds the present”, features songs from The Lion King soundtrack, as well as Beyoncé’s accompanying album The Gift.

In the music video for the song “Mood 4 Eva”, Beyoncé is filmed lounging on the hood of a leopard-print Rolls Royce, wearing a matching leopard-print catsuit and surrounded by a group of men wearing leopard-print suits.

Stylist Zerina Akers, who has worked with Beyoncé for the past six years, explained the creative process behind devising Beyoncé’s many looks for the film, including the dazzling leopard-print ensemble.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar, Akers said it took “five people on the catsuit and five people on the jacket 300 hours each to make that look”, stating that she believes the time spent was “damn worth it”.

This look, which shows Beyoncé with her hair styled into braided horns, was designed by Burberry’s Riccardo Tisci.

“When we worked on the all-leopard and animal-print pieces, many people hadn’t successfully mixed animal prints in that way, and on so many people,” she said.

“It feels like an old lady gang in Harlem, but still speaks to a very modern woman, a very strong woman – it’s really beautiful and Valentino!”

Akers added that she believes this marked the first time that a Valentino Couture garment has been featured in a music video.

“That’s typically reserved for red carpet,” she said.

Another outfit that stood out in Black Is King was the Jérôme blue lace ensemble that Beyoncé wore for the song “Already”, which featured an extravagant headpiece and matching corseted trench dress.

Akers explained that the look drew inspiration from “women at Nigerian weddings and the power, the strength, and the essence of these matriarchal Nigerian women”.

The stylist stated that for her, the “epitome” of the visual album was “highlighting and celebrating Africa and the African diaspora”.

“That’s important for me, for every project we’re on to just consistently amplify the voices and the visibility of Black designers,” she said.

The Independent