If it was Beyoncé's wish to grab the attention - and the headlines - on the opening night of her Mrs. Carter tour, she certainly succeeded. While her bootylicious body alone is enough to catch the eye - the singer took no chances as she graced the stage in her raciest costume yet. Beyoncé, 31, stunned concert goers in a gold sequin-encrusted bodysuit adorned with a pair of trompe l'oeil breasts - complete with protruding nipples - as she stormed the stage in Belgrade, Serbia on Monday evening.
Although the singer started her career in clothes designed by mother Tina Knowles, she enlisted the help of some famous friends while putting together the wardrobe for her latest extravaganza. British designer Julien Macdonald designed pieces for Beyoncé's wardrobe. Likewise, Emilio Pucci creative director Peter Dundas and Dsquared2 designers Dean and Dan Caten, and Ralph and Russo are also said to have collaborated with the pop idol. Footwear impresario Stuart Weitzman contributed the entirety of the dancing diva's shoes.
After shimmying and strutting in the racy fringe-lined, sequin-covered piece, Beyoncé slipped into a second bodysuit. He told People magazine:'I’ve been doing shoes for so long for her, we’ve learned what she needs,' that includes heels 'of a special width for her to dance on' rubberized soles 'so she’s not slippin’ and slidin’ around' and extra padding inside. He added: 'She really is interested in the way the shoe feels on her foot. 'She absolutely has the impression of not being willing to suffer, no matter how the shoe looks on her foot.'
The singer put Weitzman's shoes to work as she channeled Wonder Woman in a mesh-paneled bodysuit, which featured gold rope detailing and a PVC trimmed peplum skirt. The ensemble also included a leather collar and matching wrist cuffs.
Later, a harem of dancers in complementary skirted suits flanked the Single Ladies performer. A crimson gown fastened at the chest by a gold pendant provided a bold pop of colour to an otherwise monochrome collection.
Meanwhile, a structured white frock with intricate beading elevated the singer to the level of royalty, as she defended her fan-given title of Queen Bey. Pucci's influence was evident as Beyoncé stepped onstage wearing a pair of high-waisted silk shorts in a pastel print reminiscent of the Italian house's iconic Sixties designs. She paired the shorts with a cropped, beaded jacket in a cool lavender shade. The outfit was then topped with a wide cloth belt in a tiger stripe print.
Still, black-based bodysuits seem to be the Halo crooner's go-to ensemble, as she strutted in two more such pieces before ending the evening. One piece provided full-body coverage, allowing Beyoncé's voice to shine as she was illuminated by a single spotlight. Meanwhile, another star-studded suit featured a waist-cinching belt and accentuated the singer's shapely legs.
MRS CARTER TOUR SET LIST
Run the World (Girls)
End of Time
Flaws and All
Get Me Bodied
Baby Boy
Diva
Party
Dance for You
Freakum Dress
I Care
I Miss You
Schoolin Life
Why Don’t You Love Me
1+1
Irreplaceable
Love on Top
Survivor
Countdown
Crazy In Love
Single Ladies
I Was Here
I Will Always Love You
Halo
Beyoncé has 64 more shows on the tour which will see her travel across Europe, North America and South America. The Crazy In Love hitmaker had been due to play eight English shows starting April 29th and more May, but following popular demand she has now added three more gigs to her tour. Beyonce's UK itinerary now includes additional appearances at London's The O2 on 4 and 5 May, and the Manchester Arena on 9 May.
This brings the pop sensation's total number of shows in London to six and Manchester to three. She will also perform two gigs in Birmingham. The former Destiny's Child singer will then take a month's break before returning to the stage at Los Angeles' Staples Center on 28 June. Beyonce will perform on 3 August in her spouse's hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Australia, Asia and Latin America will be included on the second leg of the tour, which will run for over a year. Her last show is scheduled for September 13 in Brazil.
Run The World: Beyonce certainly put on an energetic show
BEYONCE'S MRS CARTER SHOW WORLD TOUR: FULL LIST OF DATES
EUROPE
April 15: Belgrade, Serbia / Kombank Arena
April 17: Zagreb, Croatia / Arena Zagreb
April 19: Bratislava, Slovakia / Slovnaft Arena
April 22: Amsterdam, Holland / Ziggo Dome
April 24: Paris, France / Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
April 25: Paris, France / Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
April 26: Birmingham, UK / LG Arena
April 29: London, UK / The O2
April 30: London, UK / The O2
May 1: London, UK / The O2
May 3: London, UK / The O2
May 7: Manchester, UK / Manchester Arena
May 11: Dublin, Ireland / The O2
May 12: Dublin, Ireland / The O2
May 14: Antwerp, Belgium / Sportpaleis
May 17: Zurich, Switzerland / Hallenstadion
May 18: Milan, Italy / Mediolanum Forum
May 20: Montpellier, France / Park & Suites Arena
May 22: Munich, Germany / Olympiahalle
May 24: Berlin, Germany / O2 World
May 25: Warsaw, Poland / National Stadium-Orange Warsaw Festival
May 27: Copenhagen, Denmark / Forum
May 28: Oslo, Norway / Telenor Arena
May 29: Stockholm, Sweden / Ericsson Globe Arena
NORTH AMERICA
June 28: Los Angeles, CA / BET Experience-Staples Center
June 29: Las Vegas, NV / MGM Grand Garden Arena
July 2: San Jose, CA / HP Pavilion at San Jose
July 5: Oklahoma City, OK / Chesapeake Energy Arena
July 6: Dallas, TX / American Airlines Center
July 9: Ft. Lauderdale, FL / BB&T Center
July 10: Miami, FL / American Airlines Arena
July 12: Atlanta, GA / Gwinnett Center
July 13: Nashville, TN / Bridgestone Arena
July 15: Houston, TX / Toyota Center
July 17: Chicago, IL / United Center
July 18: St. Paul, MN / Xcel Energy Center
July 20: Detroit, MI / The Palace of Auburn Hills
July 21: Toronto, ON / Air Canada Centre
July 22: Montreal, QC / Bell Centre
July 23: Boston, MA / TD Garden
July 25: Philadelphia, PA / Wells Fargo Center
July 26: Atlantic City, NJ / Boardwalk Hall
July 27: Charlotte, NC / Time Warner Cable Arena
July 29: Washington, DC / Verizon Center
August 2: Uncasville, CT / Mohegan Sun
August 3: Brooklyn, NY / Barclays Center