Among other things, Riccardo Tisci is known for having one of the keenest eyes in casting. So when he makes the decision to put an unexpected face in his Spring 2014 ad campaigns for Givenchy, the world obviously takes notice. Presenting the new star of the label’s Mert & Marcus-shot campaigns: neo-soul singer Erykah Badu.
I've been a fan of Miss Badu for as long as I can remember, and anything she is involved in gets me excited. You don't really think of Erykah Badu when you hear Givenchy, but when you really sit and think about it, it makes perfect sense. She is iconic and its really great to see her as the face of on iconic brand. She is more than an artist, she IS art in every sense of the word and deserves to be seen as such. What might attract as much attention as the surprise Badu cameo is the fact that all of the campaign’s female models are women of color. Which is a beautiful thing. Models of color are getting their shine and recognition more and more as the industry progresses and its a beautiful thing to witness.