() — Beyoncé kicked off her much-anticipated “Renaissance” world tour in Sweden on Wednesday night, and naturally enough, it was a night of numerous outfit changes. It was also a night of (almost as many) custom bodysuits.
There was a silver one from Courrèges with an iridescent circular cut in the center; a sparkly Alexander McQueen one that flared elegantly at her hips; and one from Balmain embroidered with an intricate network of pearls.
However, the bodysuit that has caused the most talk on the Internet has been that of the firm Loewe.
Two of the “hands” ran up the star’s legs, two more covered more intimate parts of her body, and two rested on her rear (as seen when the singer turned her back to the audience during a performance of “Drunk in Sees it”). She completed her look with a pair of black rubber latex gloves to match her own red nail sets.
“That Loewe bodysuit that Beyoncé is wearing will go down in the history books,” wrote a Twitter user. “I need that bodysuit with hands as soon as possible”, wrote other.
Beyoncé performing at the Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. (Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood)
Embellished with gold crystal appliqués, the shimmering garment featured a series of strategically placed hand motifs, each decorated with long red fingernails.
A model wears a Loewe hand motif dress during last year’s Fall-Winter 2022 Paris Fashion Week. (Credit: Pietro D`Aprano/Getty Images)
The look was conceived by Loewe’s creative director, Jonathan Anderson, who was in charge of Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime outfit and is one of the most in-demand fashion designers in the world. Her sultry hand designs have already appeared on a sleeveless dress from the brand’s Fall-Winter 2022 collection, which debuted at Paris Fashion Week last year.
In collaboration with stylist Shiona Turini, Loewe also created a second bodysuit for the tour. It was covered in silver Swarovski crystals and was teamed with matching cargo pants. In a press release, Loewe stated that the two outfits played with “sculptural forms, trompe l’oeil effects and illusion”, adding that Anderson had been inspired by the “escapist joy” of Beyoncé’s latest album.
This iridescent Courrèges suit was one of many bodysuits featured in the three-hour show. (Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Parkwood)
Wednesday was the first of two nights Beyoncé spent in Stockholm, the Swedish capital. Between now and the end of September, her tour will cover 40 cities in Europe and North America.
The costumes for the show appear to be a true who’s who of haute couture, with designs by Coperni and David Koma also on display during the three-hour debut concert.
In one of the most striking moments of the night, a white dress by the innovative Japanese brand Anrealage was transformed into technicolor when two mechanical arms held it. “sprayed” with ultraviolet light. Elsewhere, Queen Bey continued her long tradition of sporting bee-inspired outfits with a yellow and black dress from Muglerof course with a headdress of antennae.
