Photographer: Jacques Morel
Stylist: Ikponmwosa Edorisiagbon
Makeup: Zhané Flowers
Hair: Yanni Mitto
Model: Karyl M.
Stylist Assistant: Florence Rhoades
When I joined the fashion industry as a stylist, I was fortunate to work with several photographers and magazines early in my career. As a Black stylist, I felt my skills and talent were always questioned and I was only trusted with “t-shirt and jeans” style urban editorials. There’s nothing wrong with being a stylist that wants to create looks using t-shirts and jeans, but I wasn’t one. I loved using clothing to invoke emotion and saw alternative possibilities of wearing things outside of how they “should be” worn, but I was placed in this narrow-minded urban box. To showcase my talent and develop creatively, I created my own online magazine. It serves as a place for me to execute all the ideas in my head. I even throw in some t-shirt and jeans editorials for razzle dazzle.
Diversity in editorial styling has matured compared to when I started this journey 13 years ago, but there is still more to be done. Beyond Color is for every Black model and stylist who wants to show that they too have range in an industry that ignorantly or intentionally limited us. We too can be avant-garde, creative, and edgy. If you’re looking for a sign to step out of the box others have placed you in, here it is.– Ikponmwosa
Necklace: Erickson Beamon; Bag: Save My Bag
