By JM Stephens
12:48am PST, Feb 14, 2017
Janelle Monae has quietly been making a name for herself in the entertainment industry for awhile now, but 2017 has become HER year. With two movies nominated for Academy Awards ("Hidden Figures" and "Moonlight") — the former being the top-grossing Oscar-nominated flick of the year — expect to see a lot more of this singer-actress goddess! She loves to stun on the red carpet and has for years deliberately stuck to a color palette of only black, white and the occasional shade of gray. "I'm a minimalist by heart, but a lot of it had to do with me wanting to have a uniform like the working class, like my mom and my grandmother," she once explained to the Huffington Post. Let's take a look at some of her stand-out looks of late, starting with this strapless striped Carolina Herrera dress she donned for the Producers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills on Jan. 28, 2017.
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Janelle Monae attended the InStyle and Warner Bros. Golden Globes afterparty in Beverly Hills on Jan. 8, 2017, in an Edition by Georges Chakra strapless jumpsuit.
Janelle Monae was gorgeous in Nicci Hou's V-neck harlequin-print gown at the Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica on Dec. 11, 2016.
Janelle Monae shut it down in a dot-embellished high-low gown by Armani Prive at the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on Jan. 8, 2017.
Janelle Monae looked cute and casual in a Tome ensemble featuring bell sleeves and striped wide-legged pants as she posed with Pharrell Williams at a screening of "Hidden Figures" in Los Angeles on Jan. 4, 2017.
Janelle Monae slayed at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' Eighth Annual Governors Awards in Hollywood on Nov. 12, 2016, in a voluminous belted Toni Maticevski gown.
Janelle Monae was the definition of cool at the Warner Music Group's Grammy afterparty in Los Angeles on Feb. 12, 2017. From her funky white fringe jacket to those patterned tights and her signature googly-eyed clutch, this was the perfect ensemble for a Grammys bash!
Janelle Monae looked chic as could be at Variety's Creative Impact Awards and 10 Directors to Watch Brunch in Palm Springs, California, on Jan. 3, 2017. The talented singer-actress donned a matching Lela Rose top and skirt and Christian Louboutin pumps with a Giuseppe Zanotti clutch for the daytime event. We love that pop of pink her lip color gives her otherwise monochromatic ensemble!
Janelle Monae hit the BET Awards in Los Angeles on June 26, 2016, in this adorable striped and sequined suit from sass & bide.
When Octavia Spencer, Taraji P. Henson and Janelle Monae attended the "Hidden Figures" film premiere in New York City on Dec. 10, 2016, Janelle opted for a shimmery patterned Prabal Gurung suit.
Janelle Monae crushed it in this Zuhair Murad two-piece look while attending the AltaMed Presents: POWER UP! We are the Future Gala in Los Angeles on May 12, 2016.
Janelle Monae hit the Essence Black Women in Music pre-Grammys party in Los Angeles on Feb. 9, 2017, in a harlequin-print ensemble accessorized with her adorable Anya Hindmarch googly-eyed clutch.
Talk about stunning! Janelle Monae donned this all-black Ashi Studios high-low gown at the NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 11, 2017. The reason for her departure from black and white? She explained it on Instagram: "All black. Very appropriate for #BLACKHISTORYMONTH!"
In a further departure from her signature look, Janelle Monae was a vision in silver at the "Virtuosos Tribute" during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Feb. 4, 2017. The "Hidden Figures" star donned this Thom Browne Spring 2017 gown, which is half a metallic number, half a jacket-and-tie tribute. She completed her eclectic look with a bright lip and a silver hairpiece. Tres chic!
Janelle Monae arrived at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2016, wearing this quirky look by Jean Paul Gaultier.
Janelle Monae took her place in the front row at the Emanuel Ungaro Spring/Summer 2016 show during Paris Fashion Week on Oct. 4, 2015, in a polka-dot look.
