Iman Cosmetics

Estelle’s sound is a unique blend of hip-hop, pop, reggae and soul–throw in her special voice and swagger, and it kills. “Freak,” the single from her new CD “All of Me,” is a sign of even more hotness to come.  Just check out the song’s chorus:

“Every single girl should embrace their inner freaky freak/Don’t be scared, don’t be shy/Yes you gotta let it breathe.”

Honestly, I was blown away the first time I heard it…and not only by the song! The images from the video are so impressive, I asked my dear friend Alvaro, the genius illustrator, to create a sketch drawn from the look of the video. Meanwhile, I recently caught up with Estelle, herself, to chat about everything from her move to New York City to the inspiration behind her hot new look and sound:

IMAN: When you moved to New York in 2007, did it inspire the sound of your new music?

ESTELLE: A little bit. I’m really more of a world music artist…I pick up a little bit of everything because I travel everywhere. My sound is always inspired by the music I listen to at whatever stage I’m at.

IMAN: Everybody sees New York in their own way. How would you describe Estelle’s New York?

ESTELLE: Just like London, except twenty-four hours!  Also, it really is like Jay Z and Alicia’s song “Empire State of Mind.” You can do exactly what you want to do here. CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM

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.

CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM

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