Tina Knowles’ 10 Wildest Costumes for Destiny’s Child

Illustration INVA COTA
January 31, 2013



At the Super Bowl halftime show this Sunday, Beyoncé and her 'sisters' Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams will take the field for the first Destiny's Child performance in seven years. Picturing the girls together has us nostalgic for their heyday, when they wore coordinated outfits all made by Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles. Since going solo, Beyonce has mostly moved on from her mom's handmade costumes to higher-end designer looks, but we're hoping Tina will be back on the job for the reunion, stitching up some extravagant, pigskin-inspired costumes. We've pulled together a highlight reel of some of their greatest looks under the sartorial direction of mama Tina.


Press photo, circa 1997

Baby faces, squiggly patterned halters, snap-on barrettes and loads of brown lip liner.

Press photo, circa 1998

The original Destiny's Child lineup rocks varying halters and tube tops of the same print, proving that one yard of fabric goes a long way. The extra scraps become belt charms.

Press photo, circa 1998

Floral medallion Chinoiserie prints and contrite clasped hands. The gold sandals make a repeat appearance in the next look.

Maxwell Album Release Party, 1998

In London, the ladies wear distinct ensembles in the same pink and gold brocade. Bey gets a bindi and Kelly has a Lisa Stansfield-eqsue baby curl.

"Bug A Boo" video, 1999

Wildly embellished denim with coordinating halters. Kelly is clearly the winner in white jeans and feathers.

"Bug A Boo" video, 1999

As they go incognito to hide from a hounding gang of dudes, the ladies wear gilded majorette crop tops, skirts and gold cowboy hats.

Press appearance, circa 2000

In a Dapper Dan-eqsue look, the girls, including the short-lived member Farrah Franklin, wear head-to-toe Dior logo and scarf-prints.

Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards, 2001

On the red carpet, they wear chopped-and-screwed girl scout uniforms. Bey gets the privilege of wearing a bucket hat.

Teen Choice Awards, 2001

Michelle and Beyoncé wear lemon-yellow crotchet halter and lace ponchos. Kelly wears two one-shoulder dresses, layered on top of one another.

TRL, 2001

Electric-blue, fringed cowgirl getups. Michelle gets a silver cowboy hat.

Honorable Mention: Maya Rudolph and Ana Gasteyer as Gemini's Twin on SNL

Spot-on skits, from the dance moves to the coordinated costumes to the ever-rotating third member, played over time by Gwyneth Paltrow, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.


Tina Knowles’ 10 Wildest Costumes for Destiny’s Child