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