It’s the last #WomanCrushWednesday in July, and Beyoncé—and her husband—kick off the American leg of her On The Run II (OTRII) tour tonight in Cleveland, Ohio. Since we know many of our American readers have been clutching their tickets in breathless anticipation since the tour kicked off last month in Europe, we figured we’d help the Hive celebrate the homecoming of their queen in high style.
From the looks of things, OTRII has been Bey’s most fashion-forward tour to date, building on the custom-made looks of the Formation tour and her all-Balmain-everything appearances at Beychella Coachella 2018 with an ever-changing array of custom designer looks—many of which were reinterpreted straight from the runway.
Besides, what better way to spend a slow afternoon on Humpday than checking out impossibly elaborate (and expensive) tour wear? With that in mind—and without further adieu—we present your comprehensive encyclopedic guide to every garment worn by Beyoncé on her run through Europe.
Balmain
Friend and frequent collaborator Olivier Rousteing of Balmain unsurprisingly got the lion’s share of looks for the European tour, with approximately eight different costumes provided by the label—several of which were riffs on Balmain’s 2019 Resort collection. And of course, the custom crest Rousteing created for Beychella was also reinterpreted for the tour; this time on a beaded jacket emblazoned with the acronym “OTR.”
Givenchy
Designer of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress Clare Waight Keller also had the distinct honor of designing Bey’s finale look for the opening of her tour. Keeping with her somewhat more modest aesthetic (as modest as one can be in a onesie, that is), Keller created an elegant and glittery bowed-neck black bodysuit with a matching removable asymmetrical layered ballskirt.
Gucci
Just ahead of the debut of Dapper Dan’s hotly anticipated new collaboration with Gucci, Beyoncé teased the release, pairing a custom hoodie by Dan featuring the label’s iconic logo print and webbing with matching over-the-knee boots and custom jewelry from the label. The look was layered over a white mesh tank and cutoffs from Coal & Terry Vintage (which have lately become a Bey wardrobe staple on and off-stage).
LaQuan Smith
To open the European tour, Bey commissioned a glittery white mesh bodysuit and blazer from designer LaQuan Smith. Playing on the balaclava Bey popularized in the first OTR tour, the bodysuit featured a turtleneck that partially obscured the singer’s face during her dramatic entrance with Jay-Z.
LaRoxx
Speaking of balaclavas, LaRoxx customized one in fishnet for Beyoncé to pair with her Gucci headpiece. For another performance, LaRoxx created a ruby-colored, beaded and belted motorcycle jacket and matching leather hot pants inspired by an early-90's look by Dolce & Gabbana.
Michael Schmidt Studios
For a simple yet super sparkly moment, Michael Schmidt Studios created a Swarovski crystal mesh tank to bling Beyoncé out. To switch up the look, she paired the tank with both a pair of embellished cutoffs and a matching crystal mesh skirt.
Mugler
For some of her most striking performance looks, Bey’s team commissioned custom ensembles from iconic label Mugler (of George Michael’s “Too Sexy” video fame). Staying true to their cinched and ultra-sexy aesthetic, the label designed looks in both leopard and black latex, each featuring gartered-boots and matching disc hats created by Parisian milliner Maison Michel (inspired by the Mugler archives).
Ottolinger
When Bey decided to go more casual with a dazzling distressed denim look, her team turned to Ottolinger. The label created an allover crystal-studded custom jacket and cutoffs featuring drawstring details and raw edges.
Peter Dundas
Frequent favorite Peter Dundas once again came through for his superstar client with perhaps the most regal look of the tour. Designing a look made for the queen, Dundas topped a silver and gold heavily beaded and embroidered minidress with a billowing royal purple bishop’s cape featuring a dramatic train.
Rami Kadi
The classic hoodie got a couture makeover in the hands of designer Rami Kadi. Reimagining the sportswear staple as a minidress, Kadi added a cutout and an classical allover design of Swarovski crystals.
Roberto Cavalli
Cavalli designer Paul Surridge told Vogue UK he “jumped at the opportunity” to design tour wear for Beyoncé when her team reached out after seeing the label’s pre-collection; so much so that his team created three custom-beaded outfits in less than three weeks (with some pieces taking 120-150 hours).
The results were a pavé sequined white bolero and romper, a sequin and crystal double-breasted pantsuit and fedora, and a caviar beaded and fringed zebra-patterned top and black micro-mini.
“She wanted color, she wanted graphic, she wanted something very visual. But ultimately it had to be practical – it had to stretch, it had to be easy to move in.” Surridge told Vogue.
Sergio Rossi
To pay homage to Les Blues winning the World Cup, for her Paris performance Beyoncé wore a tailored version of their team jersey—personalized with a “4” and “Carter,” of course—with distressed and crystallized cutoffs. But true to form, she glammed-up the otherwise casual look with custom over-the-knee python-embossed silver boots by Sergio Rossi.
Shahar Avnet
Avnet is a London-based designer and artist far less known than many of the others Beyoncé wore for OTRII’s European leg. But the layered-blush tulle confection the designer created was a romantic show-stopper as Bey performed “Resentment.”
Tom Ford
Tom Ford is well-known for creating super-sexy looks—and being name-checked by Jay-Z. So it’s not surprising that Ford created one of the sexiest looks of the European tour, pairing a puffer jacket from his Fall-Winter 2018 collection with a coordinating custom jaguar-print bodysuit with garter detail.
Valentino
Model Adut Akech stunned earlier this month when she closed the Valentino Haute Couture show wearing a tangerine-colored wrap ballgown with incredibly voluminous balloon sleeves. The effect was clearly not lost on Beyoncé’s team, who procured the gown for Bey’s Parisian performance, giving us slight “Hold Up” vibes as she sang “Resentment.”
Vex Clothing
Bey gave us a little hood dominatrix vibe in a plunging latex bodysuit and bandana by Vex Clothing—which, at a retail price of $750, was one of the lower-budget items worn on the tour. The ruffled neckline sexily framed Bey’s décolletage, showcasing a sewn-in bra beneath.
So, there you have it: every garment that graced the body of the great and powerful Beyoncé as she twerked and twirled her way through Europe. And as we now wait for the Carters to take the stage in Cleveland, we’re of course wondering if any of these garments will make their way stateside. (Honestly? We have our doubts—and can’t wait to see what new fashion awaits.)
Obviously we’ll be staying tuned, but if you happen to be one of the happy ticket-holders eager to see Bey back in formation, consider this your warmup.