IMAN

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to start going to the gym as often as I used to (at least three to four times a week) before I was diagnosed with “frozen shoulder.” You see, I look much younger than my actual age, so when my doctor informed me that this was “very common among middle-aged women,” I barked: “You don’t know me, and I don’t appreciate being spoken to that way!” The injury to both my ego and my shoulder stayed with me for almost two years.

I’m happy to report that I’ve recovered completely, hence my decision to go back to my fitness regimen–ie, a personal trainer. One morning as I was watching The Today Show, coffee in hand and WWD on my lap, I saw an interview with an Equinox trainer, Patricia Moreno, that stopped me in my tracks. She claimed that, with her IntenSati workout, you could burn 500 calories in one hour!

I’m a member of New York City’s Equinox gym and, in my opinion, they have the best group classes in the city. So, I reasoned that, to save time and money, I could take a month of Moreno’s IntenSati classes to get myself physically prepared for the trainer (Honey, I don’t like to throw money away…even with my Bowie budget!). CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM

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