Happy Friday!
Last night, I headed downtown to the Mondrian in Soho for an Essence Magazine dinner celebrating their May 2013 covergirl, Janelle Monae.
Several industry fixtures were in attendance, including Bethann Hardison, Iman, June Ambrose, Emil Wilbekin, Lola Ogunnaike, Julee Wilson, Jessica Andrews, DJ Kiss, and many more:
Though most of our time was spent dining on (delicious) Halibut, broccoli rabe, and pizza, I did get a chance to chat with Janelle very briefly about the pressure she constantly feels to change up her look:
She said, “By nature we’re control freaks, and some of us have vision as well. But it’s up to you to stand firm and make sure that noone else’s vision comes before yours. You have the right to your imagination and the things that you want people to know about you. Everything is about timing, and when it’s time to [change things up], you’ll know that it’s time, and nobody else will be able to tell you that. It’s just really [about] not taking offense and just understanding that by nature we’re all oppressed. It’s in our mentality to control others when our own lives may not be going as such. I just don’t get upset.”
When I asked her if she plans to ever change her signature style, she walked away…though a little birdy told me that we may be seeing some slicked back ‘dos and color (!) with her new album. Stay tuned!
At any rate, for the evening, I took a page from the Janelle Monae stylebook of modesty, and wore a ladylike knee length dress by Preen Line, along with my Miu Miu gingham heels (I last wore them here).
As for my coif, I asked my hairstylist Sammy of Noel New York to dream up a look inspired by Janelle’s Essence cover (just for fun–why not, right?):
How did she do?
At any rate it was a great night, and humbling to break bread with industry icons:
What do you think?
Images: Marta McAdams /Instagram/@JuneAmbrose/@EmilWilbekin/@ChicBusyMom/@MissJulee
claire! you look so beautiful and I love your hair.
Everyone looks great, but goodness, Iman! Does she drink baby tears to stay so youthful looking? She’s gorgeous.
I have to admit, I never listened to a song by Janelle Monae, but I love her style and appreciate her stance on not needing to change up for anyone. Good for her!
Claire, your hair is gorgeous!!!
DEAD! at janelle walking away. she looks amazing tho. You too Claire, love that colour on you
I love you frock and your locks, Claire!
Love your whole look! Awesome!
You look gorgeous & demure! Great outfit for the evening. Your hair stylist nailed the hairdo!!!
I really appreciate Janelle’s stance on not needing to show skin to be sexy…. however, I am so over all her monochromatic, menswear-inspired tuxes and suits. There are FAR more ways to be conservative in this industry than those dern suits. I truly hope that, for 2013, she and her stylist put their heads together to bring us a different silhouette and that splash of color your little birdie told you about….
Honestly, I dont know any of her music and Im not inspired to hear it based on how boring her style has come to me. Though i know it’s an unfair correlation, I can’t help but feel her music might be similarly boring/uninspired.
Claire you are so stunning!
Gorgeous!
I think this is the only outfit I have liked you in!Love the dress.It compliments your body!Not loving the shoe you paired with it, but you look gorgeous.
You know what, I actually love the shoes with the outfit!
I LOVE your dress Claire!!! give me, give me, give me.
Janelle looks gorgeous. Not really a fan of her music.
@J.Nicole
LOL at baby tears. I agree!
@ J. Nicole no it’s called surgery and possibly botox and/or fillers.
Everyone looks beautiful!
Claire you look gorgeous (as per usual). But damn @ Janelle Monae walked away when asked if she would ever change up her signature style. Ouch.
Claire looks great! Actually, everyone does and even if Iman has had surgery, botox, fillers, vampire treatments, etc. she looks AMAZING to say she’s knocking on 60.
ummmm SIDE EYE to those summery picnic lookin miu mius….. kinda takes away from the dress… no?
oh, and even though i died laughing @ Janelle monae walking away, she’s doing too much. It’s condescending, I can be tired of her alternating her look between matador and cater waiter and not be oppressed!
I’m sorry….She walked away?? *floored*
Beautiful dress Claire!! Love Janelle’s hair and make-up!!
I looove your blog… You look beautiful!
Yes. Claire. You flawless being you
I can’t believe she walked away…so rude. But you looked great Claire.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your dress Claire!
Sorry to say this but I av never seen Claire in anything outstanding!
Janelle looked stunning. Claire you looked stunning as well and I loved your hair!
Claire you look stunning! Janelle looks pretty here too but it was rude of her to just walk away after your question.
Janelle looked very fresh, even though she stuck to her ‘uniform’, this was a different approach and she looks great. Boo to her for walking away though…maybe she felt as though she had already answered that question in her previous statement.
Looks like a fab event. Janelle looked great! I’m not a fan of the monochromatic look she always gives but i have to say that even still she looks fresh and new. Most of the other recording artists are so sexualized that they are the ones that begin to look the same to me. **Claire’s dress and hair are a 10. Period. Her light shines.
claire you better WERK !! you looked fantastic and as for janelle.. I took that as rude ..why would she walk away?! tuh..
Claire you look beautiful, hair is just fabulous. . I agree with another poster. I find Janelle’s style rather boring. We’ve seen it before, back in the twenties and thirties women were rocking this style.
I think she pretty much answered the question. She’ll switch up her look when SHE gets tired of it, not when everyone else is tired of it.
When I first read that she walked away I took it as her doing it more playfully than out of annoyance but y’all have me thinking different! Anyway, she looks great. I’d love to see her change it up too though. She’s made her point over the past few years.
P.S. @Yakini – her music isn’t boring in the slightest. It’s very different.
Lol @ her walking away. I think the question was pretty redundant since she answered that in the previous response. I probably would have walked away too lol. Of course it’s natural for us to add our input but at the end of the day, it’s her life. Everyone looked great. Iman…chile. Claire your hair was too cute.
It’s clear she wants us to focus on the music. That’s what it’s all about. I love fashion don’t get me wrong, but sometimes we put too much stock into a person’s wardrobe and not the person. #mytwocents
I really love the dress and the shoes Claire! They were unexpected but they look pretty to me.
Janelle is gorgeous, I love her makeup here too. LOVE seeing many fly black women in the building at one time. Love your hair claire!
Claire you look gorgeous. Thought that was very arrogant and tasteless of Janelle to walk away when you asked the question.
Everyone looked gr8….N ur sideshot wuz da bizness!
This look is very becoming on you. You look like a classy, beautiful lady!
Wow Claire! You look amazing! Girl, do you realized you are standing next to Iman? I’ve been on this blog since day one, you have come very far. Just take a moment to let that sink in….yea God is good!
I already didn’t like janelle monae, but this just sealed the deal.
Wow, there were so many Icons at that dinner. I was doing double takes.
CLAIRE,
Do they normally do a dinner for every Essence Cover girl or was this a special thing for Janelle?
ps the hair is FAB on you!
You look gorge claire <3
BRAVO Claire, beautiful!
Janelle looks stunning! Love her music and so proud Essence put her on the cover. It’s great to see a fresh face. I love her style, the simplicity in her styling and the message behind it all. Claire, you’ve read why she commits to black and white, no? It’s tribute to her parents who were in the service industry etc. Why ask that question and not something more inventive? Can’t say I blame her for walking away from a redundant question. Such an intimate moment.
You did look fantastic Claire, glad you had fun!
there are a select few outfits that i like from u Claire, and this is one of em. I must say in 2013 your style has evolved, more dressing for your body shape and beautiful pieces put together. Stunning!
I echo kateeee!
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