At the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday (May 1), Madonna continued the kickoff of a new chapter in her career with her first live performance (alongside Colombian singer Maluma) of “Medellin,” from her forthcoming Madame X album, set to release on June 14.
No surprise that there were plenty of bells and whistles, including computer-generated images of herself in the chameleon-like range of styles from her new fashion-forward video of the first track from her 14th studio album, which dropped last Wednesday at a world premiere hosted by MTV.
The Queen of Pop’s commanding new aesthetic is one part dominatrix and another part sultry pirate, complete with a riding crop, fishnet stocking and a signature eye patch.
Stylist and i-D fashion editor Ib Kamara, with Eyob Yohannes on board as styling consultant, created the look that taps into Madonna’s alter-ego “Madame X,” a name given to her at age 19 by Martha Graham of the famed contemporary dance studio in New York.
Graham was known for wearing gloves, and Madonna repeated them throughout her video, as she did at the BBMAs, donning black fishnet gloves with bold “M” and “X” rings worn over the top, paired with a flouncy black-and-white polka-dot and glittery black lace dress with a tie neck.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for dcp
Madonna performs onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas.
Front and center was her new trademark Madame X fashion accessory — a style-wise black leather pirate eye patch with a red X made of Swarovski crystals by Gregory Kara, who made a series of eye patches for the video and pre-drop interview (also in solid black, solid red, and white embellished with custom safety pins by Gareth Wrighton). There is also a branded version sold with her tour merchandise that lets fans tap imitate the trend.
Madonna’s singing-and-dancing partner Maluma, styled by Julian Rios, coordinated in a sleek all-black button-front shirt with matching trousers paired with red suspenders and tasseled red arm bands.
This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.
