Victoria Monét is currently on a roll. The acclaimed singer-songwriter extraordinaire is gearing up for the release of her next project, “Jaguar II,” the follow-up to 2020’s “Jaguar,” on Aug. 25. As part of the rollout, she premiered the highly anticipated music video for her third single from the upcoming project, “On My Mama.” And it is a crash course in peak Black Y2K fashion.
The high-impact visual, styled by renowned stylist Kollin Carter and choreographed by Sean Bankhead, serves as an ode to Black early-aughts and 2010s culture, with the styling and choreography aiding in showcasing the said homage. From the references to Southern hip-hop and R&B, like Usher’s “You Don’t Have to Call,” to Ciara’s dance style to the sampling of Texas rapper Charlie Boy’s 2009 hit, “I Look Good,” the video is a beautiful snapshot of an influential era in pop culture. There’s a great appreciation of Black hip-hop fashion as well, like the tall tees celebrating the almost 20th anniversary of the song “White Tee” and jersey dresses made popular by beloved R&B singer Mya. In fact, Monét took to Twitter to shout-out Mya and Ciara, whose influences are hugely felt in the video, writing, “I love you Mya!! I love you Cici!!”
Fitted baseball caps, Girbaud jeans, tall white tees, airbrushed T-shirts, long white socks paired with white Air Forces, untied du-rags worn under hats, jorts, laced-up jersey dresses: the nostalgia is ever present. In fact, the “Party Girls” singer has referenced sartorial eras of yesterday throughout her career. Her previous aesthetic delved into the ’70s, with tributes to disco fashion, sequins, browns, taupes, and gold, as she channeled titans like Donna Summer and Diana Ross. In contrast, her earlier work was deeply inspired by Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, with ’90s-inspired looks like double denim, crocheted tops, and bandana headscarves taking center stage.
As with any press run, Monét has been unveiling a new style that fits perfectly with her latest project. From LaQuan Smith and Blumarine to Priscavera and Loewe, her Instagram, as of late, is full of nothing but stellar looks. Between her personal style, her red carpet appearances, and the strong aesthetic language in her recent video, we can’t wait to see what she delivers next.
Ahead, see snapshots of Monét’s many Y2K-inspired looks from her “On My Mama” music video.