Beyoncé's Subtle Art Of Storytelling Through Fashion

Beyoncé's talent as a performer is only amplified by her fashion choices. Known for drawing upon imagery of goddesses and queens for her sartorial style, Mrs. Carter understands the significance of the spotlight and using it to tell a story. She empowers herself and her fans through bold looks that reference African-American culture, black deities and art history. Whether her references are obvious or just a slight nod, they always pack a punch. In honour of her birthday, we look back on 10 instances in which Beyoncé's style told a story, uncovering the most meaningful moments.

Back in the day, Beyoncé and her Destiny's Child bandmates wore coordinating outfits for performances, red carpet appearances, and in music videos. They often picked a theme, like the camouflage ensembles they wore for the "Survivor" music video and subsequent album signings. These camouflage print outfits sent the obvious message that these ladies were prepared to take on anything.

The now-iconic Roberto Cavalli off-the-shoulder yellow dress Beyoncé wore while smashing car windows in the "Hold Up" music video may be interpreted as a reference to the African goddess Oshun, the mother of fresh water who is historically depicted in yellow. Quite fittingly, the opening visual of the music video shows Beyoncé submerged in water. Later in the video, she emerges from a building in a flood of water, still wearing the layered yellow dress.

While Coldplay headlined the Pepsi Superbowl 50 halftime show, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars helped close the show with a tribute to past halftime performances. Beyoncé's military-inspired look was fitting for her performance of "Formation," leading a crew of backup dancers onto the field. Her support crew was outfitted in black leather jackets and berets reminiscent of Malcolm X and the uniforms worn by The Black Panthers, which was Beyoncé's way of standing in solidarity with the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. The star's jacket also referenced Michael Jackson's Superbowl XXVII halftime show, when he wore a similar style that was also dripping with gold chains.

Beyoncé mastered the art of the naked dress, with some help from Givenchy, when she slipped into a custom gown for the Met Gala. This marked the fifth time Queen Bey wore Givenchy to the annual event - and it wasn't even the most revealing one (that would be her bejewelled gown from 2015). This skin-tone number, designed by Riccardo Tisci, fit like a latex glove, because it was indeed made from the slick material and embellished with delicate beadwork.

Beyoncé's solo attendance to the gala was notable because at the time she had released Lemonade, which confirmed rumours about Jay-Z's infidelity. "I'm so reckless when I rock my Givenchy dress," she sings in "Formation," a single from the aforementioned album. Indeed Bey, you are.

Beyoncé announced the news of her second pregnancy to her fans via Instagram, along with a caption about being blessed with twins. The full photoshoot was posted on her website and offered even more images of Beyoncé looking like a nearly-nude goddess in a lush garden. The abundance of flowers and greenery brings to mind Mother Nature and fertility.

Beyoncé once again channeled female deities during her performance at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, during which she exclusively wore custom Peter Dundas. One look was essentially a gold chain bikini with a billowing yellow train and thick, gold jewellery, which, like the "Hold Up" video, pays homage to the Yoruba goddess, Oshun. The West African water deity, Mami Wata also influenced her look, indicated by her long flowing locks. Beyoncé's golden halo also references the portrayal of the Virgin Mary, who represents piety, virtue, and devotion in Christianity.

During the second weekend of Coachella, Beyoncé rocked the same looks as the first week - but in all new colours. The yellow hoodie she wore for the first weekend performance was replaced by this hot pink version. The sequinned letters–her initials and the Greek delta symbol–are in a collegiate style, which fit with her big band accompaniment. The sweatshirt draws on the Greek lettering of American sororities, where black women have historically had to fight for their place. Beyoncé took a recognisable style ingrained in American culture, made it her own, and performed "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which is considered to be the black national anthem.

The revival of her and Jay-Z's On The Run Tour featured a handful of over-the-top looks that furthered the Bonnie and Clyde inspired narrative of the show. The mesh face mask and Gucci ensemble that she opened the tour with was part of the Italian fashion houses' collaboration with legendary artist Dapper Dan. The Harlem designer, notorious for dressing NYC's gangsters and producing designer counterfeits in the '80s, brought his street influence to the collection with pieces like the oversized logo hoodie and over-the-knee boots that Beyoncé wore. With this look, Beyoncé was not only conveying that she's On The Run, but that she's also running the streets.

With the Louvre as their backdrop, Beyoncé and Jay-Z created tableaus that mixed high art, fashion, and performance throughout their Apes**t music video. In this scene, Beyoncé is standing under the Venus de Milo, her body mimicking the s-curve of the sculpture in reverse with her chest and hip outwards rather than concave. As a model for Western, Euro-centric beauty, the Venus (also known as the Greek goddess Aphrodite) juxtaposes Beyoncé's stance on black female empowerment. The goddess also represents love, fertility, and desire, which Beyoncé channels through her barely-there bodysuit and her proud stance next to her husband.