Kelly Rowland’s earliest fashion memory isn't of a dress-up box, or a teen idol that she tried to emulate, but rather an already intricate appreciation of the industry, even as a youngster. ‘I was nine years old and over at a friend’s house. I'd watched Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier and Alaïa fashion shows on VH1, and Naomi Campbell and Helena Christensen were on the catwalks. Watching those women in those shows had a huge impact on my sense of style,’ Rowland tells ELLE UK.
Therefore, for her headlining performance at pop musical festival Mighty Hoopla this past weekend, it was a no-brainer for the global superstar to pay homage to one of the brands that shaped her early appreciation of fashion. On stage, clad in a feline-inspired Mugler bodysuit which clung to the lines of her body like a glove, Rowland performed chart-topping hits such as 'When Love Takes Over' and 'Motivation', sending the crowd into a frenzy during her highly-anticipated 45-minute set.
‘I like to feel as feminine and strong as possible when I’m on stage,’ Rowland says of her eye-catching, all-in-one outfit - a look which was put together by stylist and ELLE UK contributor Georgia Medley, with whom she struck up a rapport some weeks back in Los Angeles. ‘I either wanted a catsuit or a leotard, as they emphasise the waistline and evoke that feminine feeling. We started with skin-tight latex bodysuits, and as much as I adore latex, you would’ve probably seen me end up in an ambulance, because the body isn’t able to breathe!’ She says grinning. ‘I was holding out for this catsuit as it was the last item to arrive, and as soon as I slipped into it, my choice was solidified. It's timeless - it’ll still be fly in 20 years and another 20 years. The supermodels I was introduced to as a child set the tone for how I wanted my style to be in future.’ Complemented by accents of silver jewellery, with a waist-cinching corset integrated into the suit and a pair of lofty Gaia Eytys boots, the Atlanta-born musician took the crowd by storm.
Part of what makes it so brilliant to watch Rowland in action, is that her career has had such longevity, including several reincarnations. Something that hasn't gone unnoticed by others around her. Fellow singer Natasha Bedingfield, on social media, thanked Rowland for reassuring her that being both a mother and performer is a possibility. Addressing her support of other female artists, Rowland says: ‘So many women give me such great advice, and I try to reciprocate that. That's why I think it's important for women in the music industry – and generally – to talk, share our stories, be vulnerable, honest and authentic because we don't know how we're affecting each other. Natasha [Bedingfield] inspires me, and then I watched Kelis take to the stage and she was incredible. To perform at Mighty Hoopla meant so much to me because it includes women from different musical backgrounds coming together all in the vein of soul, which I love.’
Having cultivated a refined fashion palette from such a tender age, as an adult she really knows what she likes. Being a part of Destiny’s Child – one of the world’s most acclaimed and best-selling girl groups to this day – meant navigating all kinds of clothing conundrums. How, for example, to be cohesive and convey their musical approach through their outfits. Or, how not to be sexualised in a male gaze kind of a way, while still allowing themselves a sense of feminine sensuality. ‘When the ladies and I first launched Destiny’s Child, a lot of designers didn't want to touch us,’ she explains earnestly. ‘They thought that we were too southern and we were wearing camouflage – not common back then – and some people were kind of like, "what are they doing?"’ Stylists were trying to put us in designer pieces and it didn't feel authentic.’
It was when Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, began fashioning custom pieces for the group that things began to fall into place, she says. ‘Tina started pulling stuff and we would go to the army surplus store and we'd be on the aeroplane putting on rhinestones and glueing pieces on which matched the camo hours before a show.’ It was those camouflage outfits that became emblematic for Rowland, of her whole Destiny's Child era: ‘We wore these little cute little army fatigue tops and bottoms – and it just clicked.’
A quick scroll through TikTok will dredge up all the ‘core’ trends dictating Gen Z style: cargo trousers, low-rise jeans, Juicy Couture sets, butterfly tops and a slew of Y2K throwbacks. The styles that dominated Rowland's girlband heyday are back in full force, and those closest to her are already taking advantage of her one-of-one wardrobe. ‘My nieces will go through my wardrobe and say “can I borrow this?” It’s so strange as I know fashion is cyclical, but they love my early 2000s pieces. I have a cropped top with pins on the side from 2003 that I let one of my nieces borrow and she returned it perfectly. I’m reluctant to let it go!’
Years pursuing a chart-topping career in the spotlight and being an avid fashion month attendee have solidified Celine, The Row, Fear of God and Azeeza as firm favourites, and she’ll be looking to one of her style muses, Bianca Jagger, for further inspiration as we enter the sunshine months. ‘I love wearing linen, denim and oversized menswear in summer. I’ve reached a point where my opinion is the only one that counts, because style is such an individual thing, and it has nothing to do with anybody else,’ she says, as she readies herself for an evening of dancing in head-turning AW23 Sportmax leather dungarees, as she supports ‘sister’ Beyoncé at her other-worldly ‘Renaissance’ tour, as it comes to a close in the capital. If Rowland’s Mighty Hoopla outfit is any indication of her new, boundless style era, then we’re in for an exciting ride. ‘Fashion is about the story that you're trying to tell,’ she concludes. Tonight? Letting loose is on the agenda, as she heads off to party the night away.
