We have absolutely no idea when Beyoncé’s next album is going to come out, and we probably never will until we’re all re-downloading TiDAL because it will — in all likelihood — be exclusively released there. But over the past two months, though, at least we’ve been getting some slight warnings that a new project will drops on our ear drums any minute now.
First, “Formation” — Beyoncé’s audacious, cinematic take on black pride and police brutality — released a day before her Super Bowl performance alongside Coldplay and Bruno Mars. Then, she announces a world tour starting in at the end of this month. Next? She debuts Ivy Park, a new clothing line set to drop in Topshop, among other stores, April 14. And why is all this activity relevant? Because whenever she’s not in the midst of promoting something, she’s typically mum toward the media, which is what makes this new interview with ELLE all the more exciting. It’s giving some people hope she’s surfacing because she’s got much more in store than the already-buzzing new clothing line.
Throughout the interview with ELLE, Beyoncé discusses Ivy Park, why she’s running with Topshop, feminism, “Formation,” lessons learned from her parents and much more. Check out snippets from the interview along with shots from the photoshoot below.
Why she chose Topshop:
I’ve been shopping at Topshop for probably 10 years now. It’s one of the only places where I can actually shop by myself. It makes me feel like a teenager. Whenever I was in London, it was like a ritual for me—I’d put my hat down low and have a good time getting lost in clothes.
On what she’s learned from working with fashion before:
I’ve learned that you have to be prepared. And when you visualize something, you have to commit and put in the work. We had countless meetings; we searched for and auditioned designers for months. I knew the engineering of the fabric and the fit had to be the first priority. We really took our time, developed custom technical fabrics, and tried to focus on pushing athleticwear further.
On being a woman running (what will be) a large company:
It’s exciting, but having the power to make every final decision and being accountable for them is definitely a burden and a blessing. To me, power is making things happen without asking for permission. It’s affecting the way people perceive themselves and the world around them. It’s making people stand up with pride.
On embracing being a lead in the feminist movement, and what it means to her:
If you are a man who believes your daughter should have the same opportunities and rights as your son, then you’re a feminist. We need men and women to understand the double standards that still exist in this world, and we need to have a real conversation so we can begin to make changes. Ask anyone, man or woman, “Do you want your daughter to have 75 cents when she deserves $1?” What do you think the answer would be? When we talk about equal rights, there are issues that face women disproportionately.
Check out the whole interview and photoshoot. on ELLE‘s website.
