Joy Crookes Attends BRIT Awards 2022 in Bespoke South Asian-Inspired Look

Singer-songwriter Joy Crookes attended the BRIT Awards 2022 by embracing her South Asian roots.

Joy Crookes graced the BRITs Red Carpet on Tuesday (8 February) by paying homage to her South Asian roots — in an outfit inspired by Bollywood icons.

The gold-coloured, beaded bra-top hybrid and asymmetric skirt, culminating in a bejewelled hooded cape draws inspiration from legendary Bollywood actresses, according to Crookes’s stylist Natalie Roar, in an interview with Vogue.

“Vyjayanthimala and Rekha were a few integral actors Joy loves and wanted to pay homage to,” explains Roar.

Roar said the singer had consulted with her over Christmas with design inspiration and revealed they decided against a traditional lehenga per the BRITs 2020, because some news outlets controversially regarded the two-piece Asian wear as a “costume”.

Not only was the outfit – which took six weeks to create – brought to life at the helping hand of Alexander McQueen but contains material from West London’s Southall retailers, grounding the outfit further into Crookes’s British Asian roots.

“We created a foundation through an Anarkali, repurposing beadwork from [my assistant] Nayaab’s old dress,” Roar said. “I went to Alperton, Walthamstow Central and Southall for jewellery and material,” she added.

Taking to social media at the time of the BRITs, Crookes posted multiple snaps of her outfit alongside the caption, “came dressed like an award in case I don’t take any home tonight.”

Crookes also stated to Vogue, “I wanted to share a part of my background at the Brits […] Knowing that I’ll be entering a space where there are hardly any people that look like me, representing so many women, is a priceless feeling.”

Showcasing her design work a day later on Instagram to celebrate the cultural influences woven into Crookes’s look, Roar said: “this outfit was a labour of love made by women […] for women of colour […] for people who, in 2022, are still unable to see themselves represented in spaces like these […] to let you know that we see you […] and we will never stop honouring you,” alongside pictures of Crookes on the Red Carpet.

The Brit Awards 2022 were hosted by Mo Gilligan at the O2 in London on 8 February. 

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