Any MGM musical between 1930 and 1960 gets me excited, style-wise. Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire – I’d love to steal their wardrobes. They’re dancers as well, so there’s a lot of that free-flowing tailoring and high-waisted trousers.
I admire the fashion from back in the day more than today. James Baldwin had that laid-back, elegant thing going on. Grace Jones just got it right every time.
Malik Sadibé is my surprise style icon. He was a Malian photographer whose work I really admire. All the people he’d photographed during those decades had this amazing Western African style. There were these high-waisted trousers that flared and shirts with big collars and defined silhouettes.
I do think A$AP rocky dresses well. He rocks everything he’s wearing and doesn’t seem to care what anybody thinks. His hair is major too. Lil Nas X is great too and he’s really pushing it. I love that there’s an element of futurism with his style, even those cowboy-themed looks.
I love thrift shops. Before I did this job I was doing a lot of touring, working with theatre companies which took me to a different city every week. I’d spend a lot of time collecting things from vintage stores. One of the best charity shops is in Hull, would you believe? I got this amazing Missoni knitted jumper in there. Edinburgh and Brighton are great too.
I just don’t have enough coats. Sometimes I will make sacrifices regardless of the weather. I’m trying to get better at wearing appropriate coats. I’m not very good with wet weather.
My style has organically led me to be more sustainable. I don’t buy a lot of clothes and the vintage stuff I’ve got I’ve had for well over five years. I love to just reinvent the stuff I have. One of my favourite things I have is a vest from Cos which is made out of paper. I’m bowled over by what we can make things from these days. I think I will always be buying second-hand and going to charity shops. You can find anything and create looks that no one else can.
I’d love to do a 1970s film, a remake maybe. I love the Blaxploitation films from the 1970s. Shaft would be great. I’d love to be cloaked in those big leather trench coats, skin-tight rollnecks and flares.
You’ll never see me in a pair of shorts. I never wear shorts in the summer. I’m just not that person. I’ll wear long trousers instead, which gets a lot of odd looks and remarks when it’s super hot. I just don’t like them. I don’t feel comfortable in them. That said, during lockdown I’ve been wearing them in the house, which hasn’t been too bad. But I don’t think I’ll ever wear them outside.
My go-to chunky trainers are from Bershka. Someone gave them to me and said they thought I’d like them and they’ve become my staple. I also love Camper. Some of the things the brand puts out shock me and then I put them on and I want them. When I’m feeling a little boujee I’ll go to Dover Street Market and treat myself to some new trainers. I got a pair of Camper shoes which were a collaborative design with Kiko Kostadinov. They’re a heavy-duty hiking shoe-trainer hybrid in black with orange panelling and toggles. I love wearing those with heavy and baggy cords.
During lockdown I started to do more research on skincare. I only recently discovered the importance of wearing SPF, which I feel really guilty about. It’s especially key for darker skin tones, so I have started using SPF lotion every day, without fail.
