We’re already big fans of Janelle Monáe, so when we heard she was taking centre stage at Ralph Lauren’s NYFW show at the weekend, we were rather excited, to say the least.

Showcasing the fall 2019 women’s collection, Ralph Lauren did away with the traditional runway and transformed the show into a traditional jazz club, accompanied by the stunning performance by Monáe.

The singer’s highly-entertaining renditions of jazz classics such as Let’s Face the Music and Dance and Fly Me to the Moon have now gone viral, thanks to her truly iconic tuxedo dress, high-energy performance and interesting stage antics. 

During a performance of her own song Come Alive (War of the Roses), Monáe even took the performance out into the crowd, climbing on top of tables, splashing champagne in the air and generally just having the best time.

The show saw the likes of Gigi and Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls and Adut Akech bring Hollywood glitz to life, adorned in draping satin, exciting sequins and, of course, incredible tuxedo-inspired styles. 

And this style was no better exemplified than by Monáe, who took to the stage in a tuxedo dress and tailored jacket, complete with a neat bowtie and satin cummerbund – a style which suitably transgressed the duality of traditionally masculine and feminine looks.

This isn’t the first time Monáe has used her fashion choices to push boundaries, however. In the video for her 2018 single Pynk, which features fellow female artist Grimes, Monáe is pictured wearing “pussy pants” – a.k.a. trousers which look exactly like a vagina.

You just keep doing your incredible self, Monáe. 

Image: Getty