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Ive always believed that fashion is more than just clothes, he tellsVogue, reflecting on his childhood influences.
Photo: Getty Images
Its about legacy, culture, and storytelling.
Together, the duo curated a masterclass in menswear, blending sartorial elegance, workwear, and conceptual fashion.
Hes very discerning and knows exactly what he wants.
Karwai Tang
That included standout looks from Bottega Veneta, Prada, and Gucci, alongside emerging brands likeSetchuandMAN-TLE.
Malcolm Washington:A lot!
Both of them were involved in such great creative communities, and that was reflected in what they wore.
Karwai Tang
Fashion is deeply intertwined with culture, art, and personal experience.
What other external influencesbe they cultural, artistic, or philosophicalinform your approach to styling yourself?
I understood that I exist within the context of a rich cultural legacy: the Black American experience.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
Whats so powerful about our culture is its self-referencing natureeverything is connected.
Movie quotes often serve as interludes, adding another layer to the experience.
Frank Ocean, for instance, incorporates Pam Grier references, creating a continuous loop of self-referencing connections.
TheStewartofNY
Ive observed your affinity for somewhat of a utilitarian aesthetic.
What aspects of this style resonate with you on both a personal and functional level?
How else did growing up in LA influence you stylistically?
Steve Granitz
Weather is a big factor.
There were all these different depictions of Black life.
It wasnt justThe Cosby Show,where everyone was a doctor and living an idealized life.
Lila Seeley
Instead, you had a more kaleidoscopic take on our culture, and I think that was really influential.
You started to see yourself in these characters and navigate between them.
I grew up watching ’80s and 90s directors.
Araya Doheny/Getty Images
I love that style.
Tell us more about working with Matthew Henson onThe Piano Lessonpress tour.
Ive never worked with a stylist before, so it was super new to me.
I knew that with the workload of a tour like this, you want to work with a stylist.
I guess the first stylist I ever had was my mom.
Shes so stylish and used to always dress in a way that was so unique.
She would wear my dads crew jackets and was really into that ’90s flow, wearing menswear early on.
We talked about the connection clothes havewearing your parents or family members clothes and embodying pieces of them.
What was one of your favorite red carpet looks for the press tour?
I really liked the Willy [Chavarria] suit for the LA premiere.
I feel like it kind of encapsulated everything together.
I feel like that suit kind of did all the things were trying to accomplish.
And theres enough ornamentation to make it mean something and feel special.
When working in film, how do you approach the delicate balance between costuming and wardrobe?
What role does fashion play in the storytelling process for you?
It’s so crucial.
We personify this in the idea of a hat that his dad has sweat through and broken down.
Ultimately, his son fills the hat.
We’re telling that story through the clothes the whole time, you know?
I really enjoy that process of watching it play out.
