Beyonce Turns To Alexandre Vauthier For '4' Album Cover (PHOTOS)

The New York Times dissected Beyonce's latest sartorial choices for her album "4," which, as Jessica Michault writes, "features a fold-out cover that looks more like a glossy fashion magazine spread than a record sleeve," displaying the wares of mainly unknown talents from upstart Maxime Simoens to F.I.T. student Leah Rae.

On the front? Miss B. in a vibrant fur stole by under-the-radar, French designer Alexandre Vauthier, whose label is all of two years old. According to his website, Vauthier used to be part of Thierry Mugler's crew, before moving on to serve as an assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier. Vaulthier told the Times, "I dress women who have something to say."

And this isn't a one-off job. Michault notes that Beyonce picked a gold Vauthier mini-dress to headline Glastonbury last month:

Worn with a wide belt and a pair of black hot pants, that outfit helped generate a lot of interest in Mr. Vauthier -- a fact that was apparent at his fall-winter haute couture show this month, where leading fashion critics and buyers braved four flights of stairs and an overheated room to view his latest collection.

However, "4" isn't the first time that Beyonce has combined the medium, message and la mode. The songstress recently sat down with W magazine's "Music Issue" to name the seven looks that shaped her career. Among them, her "Crazy In Love" white tank top and jean shorts ("I wanted to be a female version of James Dean"), her "Deja Vu" bustier meant to reference Brigitte Bardot and Josephine Baker and her "Single Lady" bodysuit, put together by her mom.

Take a look at Vauthier's creations below. And read more about Beyonce's new go-to couturiers at NYTimes.com.

Comments

[eric14]

01:59 PM on 07/20/2011

So let's hear a few of the things they have to say.

[dmm1047]

01:31 PM on 07/20/2011

I know his name. It's Wagner Powerpainter.

[bobbytox]

07:41 AM on 07/20/2011

She looks like her stylist is Shakira.....she couldnt try any harder to look like Shakira, immitation is the sincerest form of flattery but your no Shakira beyonce.

[TresJolie7]

01:39 AM on 07/20/2011

Queen Bey!

[Exotic Particle]

07:39 PM on 07/19/2011

People who believe popular music is about talent and not image are grossly mistaken.

It's about marketing...not music.

Beyonce is exhibit A. This very story is a plant by her publicist.

99.9% of all media "reports" about celebrities are contrived pablum generated by publicists to delude the public. How many times do we have scoll past planted articles about Gwyneth Paltrow's new sweater or Katy Perry's new diet?

"Acting" and "singing" aren't the point anymore. These days a celebrity's "job" is to stay relevant (i.e. public relations). Hence, this article.


PBS Frontline: THE MERCHANTS OF COOL

Read - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/
Watch - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/

First aired in February 2001.

[loveblues234 loveblues]

07:11 PM on 07/19/2011

She's a beautiful and talented woman. But you can see that after her popularity started to catch on she stopped rocking her long braids, etc, etc. It's sad really, I've been a fan of hers from the very begining whether she was rocking braids or not. There are some people who defy the laws of physics and gravity ~ that truly transcend gender and race. She is an example of someone who is larger than either of the two things that stop people within there own physical confines.

[Mary Ellen Armstrong]

05:33 PM on 07/19/2011

If I looked like Beyonce' I would flaunt it too!!! Good for her...

[johnny g locker]

02:37 PM on 07/19/2011

Stevie Wonder.

[the commoner]

02:34 PM on 07/19/2011

Apparently, he contract with Reynolds wrap has ended.

[KIVPossum]

02:01 PM on 07/19/2011

Whoever is dressing her sure don't spend much money on fabric

[olitenup]

07:15 PM on 07/19/2011

But animals gave their lives for the fur she wearing, that is quite a cost for them.

[KIVPossum]

11:18 PM on 07/19/2011

Animals gave up their lives for your hamburger, which was the same cost to them.

[alahnar]

01:55 PM on 07/19/2011

Photoshopped pale skin, blonde hair, and a dead look in her eye. And she's a role model for women of color? PLEASE.

[msoverall]

01:39 PM on 07/19/2011

Frankly, anything is better than Tina Knowles, ghastly, garrish designs.

[SDLee]

01:25 PM on 07/19/2011

Tina Turner was black, beautiful and could sing. A real goddess. Beyonce is just sumpin, sumpin, nuttin special.

[SDLee]

09:59 PM on 07/19/2011

Isn't that look just Tina Turner recycled?

[redmaple]

01:23 PM on 07/19/2011

My question has always been "Who's her choreographer?" Elaine Benes? She's the worst dancer ever.

[dhlov]

04:53 PM on 07/19/2011

You couldn't dance or look like her if you tried. HATERS! Apparently a whole lot of people think differently because she got a whole lot of fans and made much money from her albums and concerts.

[redmaple]

04:08 PM on 07/21/2011

I'm a guy. Of course I couldn't look like her. But she's a bad dancer.

[emperance]

09:16 PM on 07/19/2011

Put down the smokey-smokey!!!

Or, at least, get a better dealer; they're "cutting" your stuff ~ ~ ~ BIG TIME.

Bey's not the best singer, but she dances rings around everyone, THESE DAYS.

[Trizah7]

01:20 PM on 07/19/2011

Is she selling sex or music?

[Canuknotusa]

01:44 PM on 07/19/2011

Well, it isn't music.