What makes a fashion girl?

Words: Maxinne Mboweni | Images: Supplied

From putting Young Thug in a dress, holding down DJ sets at Boiler Room, Miu-Miu, Moschino and Calvin Klein parties. To getting featured in British Vogue magazine – these are London’s fashion girls to look out for. Here, we check out their style and career highlights.

Sade Shakur / Bidismalls

Originally from Harlem, this dancer, socialite and content creator not only has an infectious and whimsical aura but is out to make her mark on the blogging and YouTube world through her blog and channel Breakfast with Bidi. Inspired by the lack of non-cookie cutter dark skin black girls on YouTube, Sade’s vibey and authentic channel is a welcome relief with her vlogs documenting industry parties, Afropunk and Q&As helping young and confused 20-year-olds who “need hugs and to find their light”.

What is your style a reflection of?

My style reflects my mood. Cosy sexy cool… all ways, always.

What is your style aesthetic/ what inspires your outfit choices?

I choose my aesthetic based on the persona I want for the day. My aesthetic for the day goes with my mood and how the weather is giving it up.

Advice on how to nail a look?

I start with what different body part, accessory, or hair is my statement piece and the rest follows. Every item on the body cannot be the statement piece. If I’m giving body why would I give hella coat and hella hair? Get me?

Whose style do you look up to?

My own.

Where do you get style inspo/ who's your favourite instagrammer?

I don't really like anyone else's style that much to where I look for how they put outfits together. More so I love the pieces they may have that I can’t afford yet, LOL. I am my own inspo.

What are your most worn and favourite sneakers rn?

I admit my Balenciaga runners are currently becoming my beater.

Beija Marie Velez

Complex news correspondent and creative director Beija Marie Velez is undoubtedly the rising star at Complex. Anyone familiar with Complex office vlogs would know that Beija is the fan favourite. Her tomboy style aesthetic and cool demeanour has also landed her numerous cool gigs such as ASOS and Nike campaigns.

What excites you about fashion rn?

That now people are more accepting of fluidity in attire, and the world has evolved so much that people are slowly starting to understand and respect "unorthodox style".

What is your style aesthetic/ what inspires your outfit choices?

My style aesthetic varies from sportswear to streetwear, to minimalistic, to flashy.

How did you end up at Complex and what is/are your most prolific career moments?

I was in Cuba of April 2016 on behalf of the President's Arts & Humanity Committee with my old boss Usher and Complex was there doing a story on him. I vibed with their squad and I stayed in touch with my current boss, Nadeska, over the next year. Complex was feeling my style and basketball skills so we talked about how I could incorporate that into their platform and now I've been with them for seven months and counting, and it's been such a blessing.

Whose style do you look up to?

I don't "look up" to anyone. I despise the idea of idolatry so much. Some people just have financial freedom so they can buy whatever they want and rock the freshest designer pieces... I'd probably do that too if I had that accessibility. But, people's' style that I "respect" are A$AP Rocky, Pharrell, Kanye, Rihanna, Rick Owens, Rei Kawakubo, Steve Jobs (I love the idea of having a dedicated, signature look) and my homeboy Rasheed… he's the only person I hang around where I feel like I need to step my game up.

Rox Brown

If you don’t know stylist Rox Brown by name you should. Brown designed the patchwork denim boots last summer that Kim Kardashian sought out. Brown is also behind the iconic Alessandro Trincone origami-esque viral dress that made Young Thug's 2016 Jeffery mixtape cover. She has worked at the streetwear mecca VFiles since 2013 and is currently the director of VIP services, a role that includes everything from orchestrating in-store performances and more. Brown has worked with multiple big names such as Rihanna and Lil Yachty. She is also behind the Justin Bieber Purpose tour pop-up with Fear of God designer Jerry Lorenzo. Then there is also the Katy Perry's personal Chanel collection, which Brown helped build.

What is your style a reflection of?

My style is a reflection of my mood most of the time. I just do what I feel like.

What excites you about fashion right now?

I'm so happy that black girls are more aware of their influence on fashion and in the world generally. I think black girls are just countering everything. You can't tell us what to do anymore.

What is your style aesthetic and what inspires your outfit choices?

My aesthetic is whatever I want. I'm a different person every day. I learn something new every day. That affects my mood which influences what I wear. Music is also inspiration for me.

Whose style do you look up to?

Lil’ Kim started it.

Prolific career moment?

Styling Young Thug’s Jeffrey cover. It turned out to be iconic, and I was really happy with it.

Styling tip?

Always be yourself, nothing is more of a statement.

Summer favourites?

My favourite things are always accessories. I love shoes and purses.

What are your most worn and favourite sneakers rn?

My favorite pair of sneakers right now are Prada Cloudburst and these all-red Air Force Ones that I came across.

Siobhan Bell

Undoubtedly fashion’s favourite DJ, Siobhan is a London-born and raised DJ and music producer, fast becoming one of the most in-demand DJs on the international circuit. Siobhan commands solo Boiler Room sets, holds two residences on London’s NTS radio, and can be found sitting comfortably on line-ups alongside ASAP Mob, Mark Ronson and Skepta, to name just a few. She has DJed Vogue, Miu Miu, Moschino, Nasir Mazhar, Nike and Calvin Klein. The stylish tastemaker has also been featured by the likes of i-D, Highsnobiety, Wonderland magazine, Notion and Dazed. Summer 2017 saw Siobhan DJ all major festivals, with performances at Lovebox and Wireless.

What is your style aesthetic, and what inspires your outfit choices?

I was a late developer, so in my younger days I would often dress in baggy T-shirts and tracksuits to hide everything, but as I got older, I identified my body as petite and discovered styles to fit my shape, such as a high-waisted baggy leg fit or a polo neck that extends your neck. I looked to other 'tomboy' girls like Aaliyah, Left Eye, Mary J Blige and noticed a lot of the 90s was about mixing streetwear brands with luxury e.g. Baby Phat with a Dior purse or Tommy Lee baggy dungarees with Prada heels. P Diddy once said something along the lines of not every girl is going to wear sequin dresses, the girls he likes wear Reeboks! Music culture inspires a lot of my fashion – I love the reality of 2Pac attending a Versace runway show or Lil’ Kim inventing 'Ghetto Fabulous', dripping designer in all her music videos. I like to be Ghetto Fabulous!

Whose style do you look up to?

I don't have a specific person I look up to for style, it's more the era of time for me as most people go through phases just like myself. For example, 2000s J.Lo is different to 2017 Jennifer Lopez, but she had an iconic look wearing an all-white rhinestone bandana at the MTV VMA awards or Mel C from the Spice Girls who made Kappa tracksuit bottoms her stamp. I have many elements and references that I use to put my looks together.

How did you get into DJing and is it ever difficult trying to make it in a male-dominated industry?

Honestly DJing was never in my career choice but I also have a crazy indecisive creative mind, so just went with the flow from DJing with my friends to making my own club night and then to turning DJing into a full-time business for myself. Yes, there was definitely a battle, when I started there weren’t many girls but it’s not about whether you’re male or female it’s really about your skill set. There’s room enough for everyone!

You are fast becoming fashion’s cool girl; do you think having a signature look has helped your career?

When I first started to put my image and branding out there, I used to colour my hair all the time. At first it was fun to just experiment, but then people started to recognise me as "the girl with coloured hair", I even made my hair extension company Cherryade Hair off the back of it. But as a human you go through phases and I wanted to go in a different direction. I feel like my growing style and phases attract people to follow my journey.

Prolific Career Moment/s?

I have always been patient doing interviews and also, I just felt I had so much work and goals to mark off before sharing my journey. From seeing and reading Vogue, I had always wanted to be on one of the pages, I was finally featured in October's winter issues this year. For me it was a relief that my hard work had not gone unnoticed and proof to me that if you're patient it will happen.

Tiffanie Alice

Some people make you just stop and take notice – content creator & stylist Tiffanie Alice, a 19-year-old Canadian born, French-speaking African girl living in London is one of them. Finding her way in the media industry acting & styling – Tiffanie’s daring makeup and fashion looks have not only made her a hit on the London fashion scene but on Instagram as well.

What is your style a reflection of?

My style is a reflection of myself; my life experiences, being a part of the new generation and my African culture – which meets my western culture too.

What is your style aesthetic and what inspires your outfit choices?

My style aesthetic summed up would probably be 90s cyber princess (haha) but I literally change my style every day. My main source of inspiration comes from my surroundings (the area I live in, people in my life etc.), but also 90s sitcoms and my mother!

What excites you about fashion right now?

Although I have many different styles, 'streetwear' has always been one of my favourites. I used to call it 'dressing like a boy' when people would question my outfits, but now I feel like streetwear has massively influenced the whole fashion industry – regardless of gender. It has become almost a subculture where fashion lovers can try to set new trends without rules, even high street stores now attempt their own versions of streetwear.

What are your most worn and favourite sneakers rn?

My fave sneakers right now have to be my Fila Disruptor IIs. I just picked them up in pink and I am obsessed.