Cardi B is known for her outlandish and adventurous approach to dressing, and her look for the 2019 Grammy Awards did not disappoint.
In fact, the 26-year-old rapper shut down the red carpet on Sunday when she arrived at the ceremony wearing a vintage Thierry Mugler couture.
The look was an archival piece from the French designer’s autumn 1995 couture show, originally shown at the Cirque d’Hiver, an iconic venue in Paris, as part of the label’s then-20th anniversary party.
The gown, a black velvet fishtail sheath which fans out at the waist to reveal a blush pink satin interior, resembled an open clam, with Cardi B as the pearl nestled inside.
The dress was designed as an homage to The Birth of Venus, the 1480s painting by Botticelli, which depicts the goddess Venus rising from the sea on a scallop shell.
Cardi B, who became the first solo woman to win the Best Rap Album Grammy, styled the look exactly as model Simonetta Gianfella wore the work of art down Mugler's 1995 runway, with pearls strung about her waist and neck and wrapped about her cone-like bun - you can see the original look around the 48-minute mark here.
The dress causes a sensation when it was first shown and the reactions to its second major outing were no less divisive.
Cardi B was styled by her long-time collaborator Kollin Carter, who is responsible for many of the singer's most daring looks, including her recent Harper's Bazaar cover.
The OTT look was actually the first of four Thierry Mugler archive ensembles the singer rocked on the night. For her performance she changed into a long purple duchess satin coat lined with black velvet, worn over a black matching bodysuit embellished with rhinestones from the fall winter 1995/96 collection.
Later the dancers added the black organza "Peacock“ velvet panther pattern crinoline with embroidered velvet roses.
For her award acceptance look, Cardi wore a long white crepe shawl dress with white fringes and fringe gloves from the spring summer 1997 couture show “Les Insectes”.
After the ceremony Cardi B wore a long black chiffon coat with a feathered collar and sleeves over an optic striped black body suit from the spring summer 1997 « Les Insectes » collection.
Women dominated the winning category at this year’s Grammys, with everyone from Lady Gaga to Dua Lipa and Country singer Kacey Musgrave taking home major awards.
In wearing the clam-like Mugler gown to the Grammys Cardi B’s message was clear: this is the year of Venus Rising.
