As you know, February is Black History Month–but in New York City, it’s also Fashion Week month. God knows we’ve made sufficient noise about the lack of black models on the runway, so instead, I’d like to celebrate Black designers!
Stephen Burrows, Tracy Reese and B. Michael have defined our times and weathered the storm that is the fashion industry (these days, everyone is a critic, aren’t they?) Here, I chatted with all three of these fashion visionaries.
STEPHEN BURROWS
When I arrived in New York in 1975, there were few African American designers and certainly none who had achieved any kind of stature–with, of course, the exception being Stephen Burrows!
TRACY REESE
Tracy Reese ranks as one of the fashion industry’s most successful African-American women whose realm is not only relegated to the runway. In a business where few designer labels seem to make it past their fifth anniversary, Reese has two clothing lines, Tracy Reese and Plenty.
B. MICHAEL
This fantastic designer launched his first couture collection in 1999 and, similar to his approach to millinery, his design exudes a glamourous, clean aesthetic. He heightens his couture vision by infusing emotions such as joy, adding a discern-able feeling and festive mood to his creations.
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Keri Hilson has set herself apart from the pack of other R&B singers with her ever-changing hairstyles and sexy, retro/glam fashion sense (that girl’s got legs and she knows how to use ‘em…damn, I am so jealous, haha!). So, I wanted to know how this pretty young thing gets her look together for the Grammys. One thing Ms. Keri knows is that great hairstyles are powerful envelope pushers, so I reached out to her hairstylist, Maisha Oliver, first.
IMAN: Do clothes determine the hair, or vice versa?
MAISHA OLIVER: Clothes always determine what the overall look is going to be. Hair and make-up have to compliment the clothes. If the look is futuristic then you have to be able to carry out a futuristic look.
IMAN: What’s was your inspiration for Keri’s Grammy’s hairstyle?
MAISHA OLIVER: I wanted to create a style that was elegant but still had that Keri flare. I also wanted to make sure that she was recognizable on the red carpet. Plus, she’s wearing her hair short these days, so I wanted to add some glamour to her cut.
Keri Hilson with Maisha Oliver
Next, I caught up with her makeup artist, Ashunta Sheriff. She told me that, for her, the Grammys represent the creme de la creme of musicians, so being quirky, funky, edgy, or just straight glam are all acceptable. CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM
What do red carpet veterans Salma Hayek, Debra Messing, Marion Cotillard, Renee Zellweger, Katy Perry and yours truly have in common? We are all lovers of MoroccanOil! I discovered it while hosting Project Runway Canada for 2 seasons–my hair dresser in Toronto, the fabulous Janet Jackson (not THE JJ) introduced me to the benefits of this extraordinary line that works brilliantly on both straight and curly hair. MoroccanOil Intense Curl Cream leaves hair bouncy, shiny and frizz free (which I really needed, because all of my ever-changing hairstyles on Project Runway left my strands frazzled and damaged).
If you didn’t know, let me confide in you that I love wearing wigs. Five years ago, I decided I’d had enough of hair extensions, and wanted to start taking care of my “real” hair. I know that many of us who’ve been wearing extensions for a long time can start to think that it is our hair… but, girl, let’s face it is not! I should know–I almost feel that I was part of the “invention” of hair extensions. Let me clarify it … some twenty years ago I was traveling to Paris for the couture shows, and my hair stylist Ellin Lavar decided to experiment this fascinating technique on my hair. Voila: in a mere ten hours I was transformed. CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM
