7 Black Stylists That You Should Know

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Wardrobe stylists come a dime a dozen. What differentiates a good stylist from a great one is their ability to position the client as a fashion influencer or icon. The reign and relevancy for some celebrities lie in the hands of the people who dress them. A lot of the most talked about fashion moments happened because a team of people believed in taking risks and creating trends. Meet 7 stylists who are dominating the game.

Zerina Akers

It is a privilege to hold the name as Beyoncé‘s personal stylist. Many want the title, very few have had the honor. Stylist Zerina Akers holds the merited position and she has yet to disappoint. Did you love Beyonce’s maternity shoot? She did that. What about Chloe and Halle at the 2017 NAACP Image Awards? Yup, that’s her work too. I can name a list of prominent fashion moments that she’s responsible for. Her eye for putting pieces together is uncanny. Akers began her career in the fashion closet of W Magazine as an intern. From there, she climbed her way up the ladder by freelancing for WWD and Haper’s Baazar. Her styling spoke for itself. Before long, she had note-worthy clientele and her work was found in every top publication you could think of. Besides Beyonce and Chloe x Halle, Akers has worked with Winnie Harlow, Ava DuVernay, Yara Shahidi and many more.

June Ambrose

June Ambrose is the legendary stylist behind some of our most talked about fashion moments. From Bad Boy’s ‘Mo’ Money, Mo Problems’ to Hype William’s Belly, she has birthed many of Hip Hop’s most monumental looks. Currently, the couture-connoisseur is creating a grown and sexy vibe for Jay-Z as he tours with his wife, Beyoncé during the On the Run II tour. Ambrose’s quirky personality has earned her the title of “Auntie June,” Hip Hop’s favorite wardrobe stylist. Known for her large hat and sunglasses collection, Ambrose is the inspiration behind a lot of today’s wardrobe stylists. The self-proclaimed #RockMom is a creative director, costume designer, shoe designer and more. Her clients include Missy Elliot, Sean Combs, Mase, Zoe Saldana, Kerry Washington, Kim Cattrall, Ciara, Gabrielle Union, Luther Vandross and Mary J Blige.

Ade Samuel

Ade Samuel has a long resume that shows her love and dedication to wardrobe styling and designing. The FIT graduate and former intern of both W Magazine and Teen Vogue was part of the team that developed the first issue of CR Fashion Book. Since then, she’s gone on to style Yara Shahidi, Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Kelly Rowland, Letitia Wright and assisted with Beyonce’s “Formation” video. The list goes on. Samuel launched a collection of shoes in 2016 that she plans to expand. The stylish heels retail from $300 to $400 and can be found on her website, www.adesamuel.com.

Shana Charles

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Up and coming stylist Shana Charles is boldly making a name for herself. She has assisted on shoots and performances with heavy hitters like Cardi B., Teyana Taylor, Queen Latifah and Salt N Peppa. Currently, Charles is styling Cyn Santana with effortless, chic looks. You can find her work on the pages of Vogue Italia, Spirit and Fresh Magazine. She is definitely someone to watch for!

Bryon Javar

Bryon Javar began his styling career as an intern for Laurie Phillips. His passion to learn the fashion industry landed him on the set of the Black Eye Peas ‘Boom, Boom, Boom,’ video.  From there, he began to intern for Rebecca Gross, wife of Lance Gross. He credits these women, and many more, for paving the way for him in the large industry of stylists. His first major client was his high school friend, Karrueche Tran. He created the ultimate fashion moment for her during the 2015 BET Awards. Dressed in a Stello suit, La Perla bra and a Storm-inspired wig by Tokyo Stylez, Tran was the talk of the red carpet. Since then, Javar’s work has graced the pages of Vogue, Essence Magazine, In Style and many more. His clients include Kelly Rowland, Tiffany Haddish, Letoya Luckett, Mel B., Tank, Jasmine Sullivan, En Vogue and more.

Law Roach

Law Roach’s infatuation with clothing has been long and strong. He developed an interest for vintage clothing which eventually led him to open his on vintage store in Chicago. A few years later, Roach decided it was time to step out on faith and move to Los Angles to try his luck at becoming a stylist. Since his move, he as redefined what it means to be a stylist. The self-proclaimed “image architect,” prides himself in being able to build a look, from the bottom up. He has created amazing looks for his elite clientele. Perhaps one of his most talked about clients is Zendaya Coleman. She has worked with him for the past 8 years and has never strayed to another stylist. Roach and Coleman play with eras, textures, hairstyles, patterns and so much more. This kind of fashion exploration has landed her on numerous best-dressed lists. Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Tiffany Haddish, Demi Lovato, Naomie Harris and Mary J Blige are among the celebrities that have Roach on speed dial for his services.

Jason Bolden

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Jason Bolden started off as a pre-med student and ended up as a top stylist to Yara Shahidi, Taraji P. Henson, Ava Duvernay, Tika Sumpter, Amandla Stenberg and many more. After a short stint in high-end retail, Bolden moved to New York City where he opened a vintage store. His love for the fashion and entertainment industry led him to a friendship with Gabrielle Union. She eventually asked him to style her for a trip to Art Basel. He dressed her in a vintage Lavin dress from his store and the rest was history. Bolden has a fierce eye for creating memorable moments. He manages to learn every aspect of his clients in order to dress them according to their personal style. Because of this, he has built a list of starlets who are loyal to his styling touch.