Stylist, artistic director, and all-around creative force, Bea Akerland, has made a name for herself in the fashion industry through her work with stars like Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Fergie, and Rihanna. She was the artistic director on Fergie’s M.I.L.F.$ music video, covered Lady Gaga in clear plastic bubbles for her iconic 2009 Rolling Stone cover, and dressed Beyoncé like a queen for The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. All of which is to say that even if you don’t know her name, you definitely know her work.
Beyonce’s “The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour” poster, styled by Bea Akerlund.
A still from Fergie’s M.I.L.F.$ music video, art directed by Bea Akerlund.
Lady Gaga’s 2009 Rolling Stone cover, styled by Bea Akerlund.
Now, she’s collaborating with IKEA on a capsule collection of home decor items, set to hit the US later this month. The collection — Bea Akerlund: Omedelbar — features lip-shaped pillows, 3-D-printed hands, an armchair, an ottoman with storage and other home items, retailing from $2 to $249.
IKEA
“I guess you could call it a little bit of an ego trip,” Akerlund told WWD. “Being a stylist, we always need racks, hangers and hat boxes to organize your stuff. I also wanted to have a little fun with the collection. There are different parts of me — the Goth Bea, the punk Bea and the fun crazy Bea.”
“The message of my collection is the mantra I live by — ‘Be who you are.’ Ten years ago when I was a struggling stylist, people told me that I was too loud and I needed to tone it down,” Akerlund said. “I just followed my heart and stayed true to myself. I try to inspire other people to not forget who they are, and to not get caught up with what other people want them to be.”
1 comment
More consumerism. I am so tired of it! It’s the Trump’s era of decadent consumerism. Can we go back to nature? Be free from shopping and looking so stylish. This is insanity. I just need to look at the mountains, the ocean or bike 🚲 the little roads. Why do I need more of that crap?