The Story Behind Beyoncé's Dress In Her Twins' First Photo

Earlier this week, Beyoncé introduced the world to her one-month-old twins, Sir Carter and Rumi. In the spectacular photo - with vivid florals and echoes of Renaissance paintings of the Madonna and child - she wears a dramatic, tiered robe-cum-dress. But the piece is actually menswear.

The singer put in an personal order for the piece from designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo's Palomo Spain menswear line, before she was even pregnant.

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Beyoncé was sent a sample, Palomo explained in an interview, and decided she wanted the piece. Her measurements were taken, the sample was tailored, and it was sent back. Then Palomo and his team found out she was pregnant.

"We thought, okay, she won't wear it," Palomo said. So it was a huge surprise when he saw the photo, months later. "I love the picture. It's just really beautiful. It's special."

The piece is made from vintage silk organza from an old couture textile shop in Córdoba, Spain. "It is circa either the 1950s or the 1960s," Palomo said. "It had a midcentury quality—but we changed that [...] it's a gown, now, that almost has the shape of a big fur coat—sleeved and open."

Paloma Spain is a label known for playing with traditional gender norms with his menswear line. His pieces are decadent and feminine; at New York Fashion Week he showcased ruffled dresses, cold-shoulder tailoring and lingerie-inspired looks for men.