11 Black Stylists Behind Your Favorite Celebrity Looks
I can’t be the only one who still gets chills thinking about Demi Lovato’s emotional return to the Grammy’s earlier this year — or, for that matter, the ethereal Christian Siriano white gown she wore. The stylist behind Lovato’s white long-sleeved gown with structured shoulders and a studded bodice was Law Roach, a self-proclaimed “Image Architect” and judge on HBO Max’s Legendary. This wasn't his only memorable look this year: Roach was also behind Kerry Washington’s plaid Khaite dress for the Television Academy’s 2020 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Zendaya’s hot pink Tom Ford breast-plate at the Critics Choice Awards.
Fellow stylist Jason Bolden, the co-founder of JSN Studio, dresses the likes of Alicia Keys, Gabrielle Union, Yara Shahidi, and Cynthia Erivo — the latter of whom he outfitted all throughout award season in stunning looks from Thom Browne, Fendi, Versace, and Schiaparelli. And you can thank stylist and owner of Black Owned EverythingZerina Akers for every Chloe x Halle and Beyoncé look you’ve ever bookmarked.
Then there’s June Ambrose who styles Jay Z, Jason Rembert who dresses Issa Rae, and Kollin Carter who’s behind Cardi B’s best looks. In other words, all the celebrities that make the best dressed-list cut get their looks from Black stylists. And yet, many stylists still have trouble pulling samples for their Black clients or for Black-focused publications. “I would do a shoot for the same talent in the same week for a black magazine as I did for a magazine that is not a black magazine and I would get totally different brands,” Rembert told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year.
Now more than ever, it’s important to change that narrative, and, in doing so, recognize, consult, and hire the Black stylists responsible for some of Hollywood’s most revered red carpet looks. Ahead, find a list of Black stylists to follow.
Stylist Jason Bolden not only dresses some of Hollywood's biggest names like Alicia Keys (who he recently styled for her InStylecover), but he also stars on Netflix's celebrity styling show Styling Hollywood alongside his life and business partner Adair Curtis; co-runs the multi-disciplinary studio JSN Studio; and was previously the owner of The Garment Room, a vintage store in Manhattan.
In the last decade alone, Jason Rembert has dressed Solange Knowles on tour, Lizzo for the cover of TIME, Ezra Miller for the 2019 Met Gala, and Michael B. Jordan throughout the entirety of the Black Panther press tour. That, and he launched his own fashion line Aliétte, which premiered at NYFW during the fall '19 season.
In addition to being behind all of Beyoncé's sartorial moments in the "Ape Shit" video, Zerina Akers can also be credited for styling the many looks of sister duo Chloe x Halle and creating the company Black-Owned Everything.
What about Jay-Z's looks in the "Ape Shit" video? His teal double-breasted suit sans shirt was put together by costume designer, author, and stylist June Ambrose. Ambrose's client list also includes Mary J. Blige and Missy Elliott, for whom she designed the vinyl suit worn in the rapper's “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” music video.
When it comes to the Grammy's, the fashion theme is always "go big or go home." But no one's gone farther than Bronx-born stylist Kollin Carter for his client Cardi B, who, after being nominated for five awards at the 2019 awards ceremony, showed up on the red carpet dressed as an oyster's pearl in archival Thierry Mugler. Naturally, the internet went wild.
Brooklyn-based stylist and editor Mecca James-Williams doesn't just excel in styling others, she's also known for her personal style — just scroll through her personal Instagram for proof. James-Williams' resume includes dressing Justine Skye for the cover of ESSENSE, styling the spring '20 Chromat show during NYFW, and founding a home design inspiration platform Apartment 4.
Patti Wilson has been styling iconic editorial spreads for decades. As Vogue Italia's Editor-at-Large, Wilson has dressed them all, from Prince for L'Uomo Vogue to Lady Gaga for V Magazine. Other clients include Naomi Campbell, Kim Kardashian West, and Nicki Minaj.
Shiona Turini got her start in fashion by showing up to the Yves Saint Laurent New York office day after day until someone gave her a job. Now, Turini is a renowned celebrity stylist, editor, influencer, and the costume designer behind Queen & Slim and Insecure. She also crafted all of Beyoncé's looks for the "Formation" video.
Zazie Beetz, Solange Knowles, Serena Williams, and Paloma Elsesser are just a few of the names on NY-based stylist Solange Franklin Reed's client list. Recently, Franklin Reed also worked alongside Michelle Pfeiffer, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Janelle Monae for the covers of The Sunday Times Style, Porter Magazine, and Them, respectively, and participated in London Fashion Week.
Styling duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald cannot be stopped. For the second year in a row, the twosome behind Tessa Thompson's BDSM-inspired Chanel couture look at the 2019 Met Gala has made the Hollywood Reporter's Top 10 Power Stylists of the Decade list. Kiki Layne, Regina King, and Logan Browning are also clients of the pair.
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