Beyoncé Somehow Manages to Make a Business Casual Blazer Feel Decidedly NSFW

The CEO energy is palpable.

beyonce wears a gray plaid suit dress with glasses and a wide-brim hat at the California Crown horse race
(Image credit: Instagram/@sirdavis)

God bless Cowboy Carter, because it brought us Beyoncé's best fashion era ever. Since her album's release last March, the singer—who typically stays under the radar—has been squarely in the limelight and serving looks with every public appearance.

Yes, her 'fits have been stylish and appropriately honky-tonk, but the depth of her sartorial superpower goes far beyond that. Beyoncé's ability to make the Western aesthetic feel appropriate for any and every occasion is truly something to behold. It's an accomplishment even the most experienced stylists would struggle to pull off—and, yet, she does it time and again.

Beyoncé flexed this particular skill at the California Crown horse race on Sept. 30, when she showed up looking positively dapper. The "16 Carriages" singer stuck to the traditionally preppy, "old money" look these events are known for—but, of course, she made it feel 100 percent Bey. She was swathed in gray checks, by way of a structured blazer dress and a matching duster jacket. The co-ord featured black buttons and lapels, which she wore over matching micro shorts. It felt decidedly spicy, thanks to a low-low neckline and a super short hem.

beyonce wears a gray plaid suit dress with glasses and a wide-brim hat at the California Crown horse race

Beyoncé wore a gray plaid blazer dress with glasses and a wide-brim hat at the California Crown horse race.

(Image credit: Instagram/@sirdavis)

The business professional look was befitting of the occasion, given that Beyoncé was there promoting her newly-launched whiskey brand, Sir Davis. She used a glassful of the amber spirits as an accessory—like an absolute boss, I might add. From there, the pop star piled on even more high-contrast additions, including: black-frame glasses, sheer tights, pointed-toe pumps, and a truly massive, wide-brim hat.

Statement hats have become the focal point of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter era. Somehow, she's managed to make the one of the world's most flamboyant accessories (the 10 gallon hat) and increase the drama tenfold. Her power.

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Kelsey Stiegman
Contributor

Kelsey (she/her) is a freelance fashion editor and writer, specializing in e-commerce and celebrity style content. With more than nine years of experience in digital media, Kelsey has a knack for turning top-performing content into top-selling content. Before taking her talents to Marie Claire, Kelsey was the Senior Fashion Editor at Bustle, where she oversaw the site’s fashion coverage and launched a successful luxury handbag series called Secure The Bag. Prior to Bustle, she came from a six-year stint at Seventeen, during which she managed the team’s fashion and beauty verticals and led e-commerce strategy. In addition to writing and editing, Kelsey also offers freelance creative consulting services, as well as content creation. Follow @klstieg on Instagram for 'fit pics and travel recommendations.