See What Celebrities Wore to the 2022 Essence Festival
Lori Harvey Wears a Cropped Denim Jacket as a Top at Essence Festival
With "It's the Black Joy For Me" as the theme and headliners like Janet Jackson and Nicki Minaj, the 2022 Essence Festival delivered Black-girl magic, energizing music, and head-turning celebrity style. Minaj nailed her inaugural debut on the Essence stage on Friday, July 1, in a formfitting black velvet catsuit with a plunging bra top designed with two midsection cutouts. Meanwhile, Jackson made a sparkly return to the stage at the Louisiana Superdome in a black jumpsuit covered in sequins. The speakers were just as stylish, with Lori Harvey making an appearance on stage in a denim-on-denim look complete with a cropped jacket and blue jeans. She styled it with a silky purple headscarf and burgundy heels.
Other performers included Ashanti, who wowed the crowd in a hot-pink, off-the-shoulder catsuit with prominent sheer inserts, then a blazer-style bodysuit, left open to reveal the black lace bra she wore underneath. She also added a gold belt to her second look, as well as black gloves, large sunglasses, and thigh-high boots — taking Matrix-inspired fashion to cool heights. Lil' Kim also lit up the stage in a black shredded bodysuit, complete with a designer belt. The iconic rapper teamed it with a stunning lilac cropped jacket, featuring beads and embroideries throughout. She stuck to the embellished theme with black knee-high boots that were covered in colorful beads.
The four-day festival highlighted Black excellence with a busy schedule filled with career-advancement panels and musical and comedy performances, all while featuring Black-owned businesses. More notable attendees, speakers, and performers included Vice President Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, Lauryn Hill, Marsai Martin, and Janelle Monáe.
Read ahead to see everyone who attended the popular cultural event and what they wore.
Lori Harvey at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Janet Jackson in The Blonds at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Vice President Kamala Harris at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Issa Rae at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Janelle Monáe at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Ashanti at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Yung Miami and JT of the City Girls at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Jazmine Sullivan at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Lil' Kim at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Lauryn Hill at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Ashanti at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Patti LaBelle at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Marsai Martin at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Janet Jackson at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Stacey Abrams at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Ashanti at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture
Coco Jones at the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture