Janelle Monae's Black and White Fashion Evolution

2017-02-21T13:47:00.000Z

Janelle Monae is an artistic powerhouse with a killer fashion aesthetic on the red carpet. But her style has one common thread — she only wears black and white (with the occasional red accessory).

In 2012, Monae revealed the reason why her outfits were so monochrome.

"When I started my musical career I was a maid. I used to clean houses," Monae said at the BET "Black Girls Rock!" awards. "My mother was a proud janitor, my stepfather […] worked at the post office, and my father was a trash man. They all wore uniforms, and that's why I stand here today in my black and white. I wear my uniform to honor them. This is a reminder that I have work to do, I have people to uplift, I have people to inspire."

The musician-turned-actress had roles in Oscar-nominated movies "Moonlight" and "Hidden Figures," which means 2017 has been a treat when it comes to seeing Monae's iconic monochrome style on the red carpet.

Keep scrolling to see how Janelle Monae's approach to black and white styling has evolved over the years.

Janelle Monae entered the mainstream music scene in 2008.

For most appearances and performances, Monae wore a signature tuxedo-inspired outfit.

Here she is at the 2009 Grammy Awards, rocking a ruffled collar along with her tailored black suit.

Janelle Monae 2009 51st Grammy Awards Red Carpet

She went incognito all in white for the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival.

Janelle Monae incognito 2009 Lollapalooza

And though the suit was still Monae's go-to for the 2011 Grammy's red carpet, she mixed it up with a glittered jacket and tall black heels.

Janelle Monae 2011 Grammy Awards Red Carpet

Monae attended the 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala in 2011, rocking a top hat and more ruffles.

Janelle Monae 2011 Met Museuem Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Gala

At another Met Gala that same year, Monae wore a sleek black jumpsuit with jeweled accessories.

Janelle Monae 2012 Met Gala on Schiaparelli and Prada

Monae repeated her reasoning behind the monochrome palette in a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post.

Janelle Monae MTV Movie Awards 2012 red carpet

"It's a dedication to uniformity and I'm a minimalist by heart," Monae told the Huffington Post. "But a lot of it had to do with me wanting to have a uniform like the working class."

Source: The Huffington Post

At the 2013 Billboard music awards, Monae added a textured red sash to her black and white outfit.

Janelle Monae presenting 2013 Billboard Music Awards

Though Monae had always rocked a signature red lipstick, her outfits began featuring more and more red accents, too.

Janelle Monae 2014 Variety Breakthrough Awards

She wowed at the 2014 Met Gala with an embroidered red cape worn over black pants.

Janelle Monae Met Gala 2014 Charles James: Beyond Fashion

Round hats became another Monae staple. Here she is at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards rocking a gorgeous minimal shirt dress.

Janelle Monae 2014 Hollywood Film Awards

We love this polka dot pantsuit she wore at a pre-Grammy brunch in 2015. Here the hat and clutch matched her red lipstick.

Janelle Monae and Jaden Smith at pre Grammy brunch 2015

Monae was spotted in another killer black and white patterned suit during London Fashion Week in 2015.

She reprised the cape look for the 2015 Met Gala, but this time the only red was in her signature lipstick.

Janelle Monae 2015 Met Gala China: Through the Looking Glass

Monae loves jackets with a lot of pattern and embroidery — here's another killer red and black outfit.

She went full futuristic for the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" red carpet in December 2015.

Janelle Monae December 2015 The Force Awakens Premiere

But early 2016 meant a brief return to red. Soon Monae would revert back to primarily black and white only outfits.

Janelle Monae February 2016 Billboard Celebration

She wore a textured dress to the 2016 Grammy Awards, complete with a monochrome hat and clutch.

Janelle Monae 2016 Grammy Awards Red Carpet

And the signature suit was back when Monae attended the 2016 State Dinner at White House (though red was present in her accessories).

Janelle Monae May 2016 State Dinner at White House

Monae's love for patterns was prevalent in this stripped suit ensemble.

And we adore this textured pattern, complete with her favorite round hat and a bright pink lipstick.

Monae stepped onto the 2016 Hollywood Film Awards red carpet in this flowing white suit jacket with a wide leg pant.

Janelle Monae November 2016 HFA Red Carpet

She stunned in this two-piece gown, proving that the black and white palette is anything but simplistic.

Monae made more red carpet appearances as she began promoting "Hidden Figures." This silver and black pattern encompasses her love for textures and killer pantsuits.

Janelle Monae November 2016 Hidden Figures soundtrack party

Monae began rocking pigtail buns in late 2016. We love the look paired with her checkered gown for the Critics' Choice Awards.

Janelle Monae December 2016 Critics Choice Awards

And her monochrome gowns continued. This dress with cutouts was an early 2017 favorite.

Janelle Monae January 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival

Monae's love for a good collar was still present in this dress choice.

She glowed on the red carpet at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards in this high-low polka dot gown.

And she went back to stripes for this dress with a long train.

Janelle Monae 2017 Producers Guild Awards

Her 2017 SAG Awards dress was a bit of a departure, with mixed textures that made the black and white look more grey. Her love for ruffles remained, though.

Monae rocked her favorite black heels with pigtail buns and a black high-low gown for the 2017 NAACP awards.

Last but not least, she wowed in yet another textured gown when she arrived at the red carpet for the 2017 Academy Awards.

34 photos that show how Janelle Monae's style has evolved through the years

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

34 photos that show how Janelle Monae's style has evolved through the years

Janelle Monae entered the mainstream music scene in 2008.

For most appearances and performances, Monae wore a signature tuxedo-inspired outfit.

Here she is at the 2009 Grammy Awards, rocking a ruffled collar along with her tailored black suit.

She went incognito all in white for the 2009 Lollapalooza music festival.

And though the suit was still Monae's go-to for the 2011 Grammy's red carpet, she mixed it up with a glittered jacket and tall black heels.

Monae attended the 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Met Gala in 2011, rocking a top hat and more ruffles.

At another Met Gala that same year, Monae wore a sleek black jumpsuit with jeweled accessories.

Monae repeated her reasoning behind the monochrome palette in a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post.

"It's a dedication to uniformity and I'm a minimalist by heart," Monae told the Huffington Post. "But a lot of it had to do with me wanting to have a uniform like the working class."

At the 2013 Billboard music awards, Monae added a textured red sash to her black and white outfit.

Though Monae had always rocked a signature red lipstick, her outfits began featuring more and more red accents, too.

She wowed at the 2014 Met Gala with an embroidered red cape worn over black pants.

Round hats became another Monae staple. Here she is at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards rocking a gorgeous minimal shirt dress.

We love this polka dot pantsuit she wore at a pre-Grammy brunch in 2015. Here the hat and clutch matched her red lipstick.

Monae was spotted in another killer black and white patterned suit during London Fashion Week in 2015.

She reprised the cape look for the 2015 Met Gala, but this time the only red was in her signature lipstick.

Monae loves jackets with a lot of pattern and embroidery — here's another killer red and black outfit.

She went full futuristic for the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" red carpet in December 2015.

But early 2016 meant a brief return to red. Soon Monae would revert back to primarily black and white only outfits.

She wore a textured dress to the 2016 Grammy Awards, complete with a monochrome hat and clutch.

And the signature suit was back when Monae attended the 2016 State Dinner at White House (though red was present in her accessories).

Monae's love for patterns was prevalent in this stripped suit ensemble.

And we adore this textured pattern, complete with her favorite round hat and a bright pink lipstick.

Monae stepped onto the 2016 Hollywood Film Awards red carpet in this flowing white suit jacket with a wide leg pant.

She stunned in this two-piece gown, proving that the black and white palette is anything but simplistic.

Monae made more red carpet appearances as she began promoting "Hidden Figures." This silver and black pattern encompasses her love for textures and killer pantsuits.

Monae began rocking pigtail buns in late 2016. We love the look paired with her checkered gown for the Critics' Choice Awards.

And her monochrome gowns continued. This dress with cutouts was an early 2017 favorite.

Monae's love for a good collar was still present in this dress choice.

She glowed on the red carpet at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards in this high-low polka dot gown.

And she went back to stripes for this dress with a long train.

Her 2017 SAG Awards dress was a bit of a departure, with mixed textures that made the black and white look more grey. Her love for ruffles remained, though.

Monae rocked her favorite black heels with pigtail buns and a black high-low gown for the 2017 NAACP awards.

Last but not least, she wowed in yet another textured gown when she arrived at the red carpet for the 2017 Academy Awards.

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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