First…

Jamaica-born designer Francesca Lake, a graduate of Central Saint Martins, was behind three avant-garde looks worn by American soul singer-songwriter Erykah Badu during the Met weekend.

Badu debuted the first of three looks at a Jean’s NYC late-night dinner party on the eve of the Met Gala. On Monday evening, she ascended the hallowed steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in an extravagant custom look by Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons styled with pieces from Francesca Lake’s Pre-Fall 2024 collection.

Badu continued her interpretation of the ‘The Garden of Time’ dress code, based upon the 2024 Costume Institute’s exhibit Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion, in Lake’s Big Batty Skirt as she depicted what she describes as ‘The Humiliation Ritual’: The Story of Sarah Baartman.

From Lake:

BADU WORLD, what an absolute dream.

Words are not enough to describe how grateful I am to Ms @erykahbadu for believing in and involving me in this journey to the MET 2024.

It is not an easy road, but I wouldn’t rather trod any other path.

Lake, who was still on cloud nine on Thursday afternoon when we spoke, shared with SO that it was hardly a wait-and-see. “I actually dressed her at the Mark Hotel!” she said.

LOOK 1 – Document Journal Dinner x Michele Lamy x Erykah Badu

Church Dress

Balaclava

Bodysuit

Barrel Come Headpiece

Bravado Bible

LOOK 2 – MET GALA

Balaclava

Bodysuit

Barrel Come Headpiece

LOOK 3 – MET GALA

Church Hat

Balaclava

Bodysuit

Choir Stole Top

Big Batty Skirt