July 8, 2020

I painted and Sewed Beyoncé’s Look for Sewn Magazine!

I hand-painted and sewed Beyonce's look from the Global Citizen Festival for Sewn Magazine

I was featured in Sewn Magazine! I have officially DESIGNED, PAINTED, SEWN, STYLED, MODELED and EDITED a look for a PRINT MAGAZINE!!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

My feature in Sewn Magazine was released for the April 2020 issue. I’m excited to now give you a peek into my make and my process with notes on my inspiration and a few of my favorite images.

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@stylesinseams is admiring her work in the current issue of #sewnmagazine Did you order your copy of the next issue for June?? We’ve got some #Ankara magic happening in the next issue. Link in in our bio. #getyourcopytoday #teamsewn #sewistsofinstagram #sewingmagazine #sewnmagcontributor #sewing

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Founder of the magazine, Michelle Michelle Morris AKA @thatblackchic, asked me to ‘Sew the Look’ of Beyoncé. No doubt chosen by her fantastic stylist, Zerina Akers, Beyoncé‘s outfit is from the Senegalese label Tongoro Studio. I love how her look is a fun play on a professional silhouette with a short-sleeved blazer and flared pants. But the print is a far departure from the pant suits of Hillary. The stunning graphic black and white print makes a bold, unapologetic statement with one striking pattern from shoulders to ankles.. I love to dress like this, bringing my culture to the boardroom. For a tall woman power move, I changed the silhouette of Beyoncé‘s look from a 2-piece suit to a jumpsuit.

Handpainted jumpsuit by Styles InSeams for Sewn Magazine — This exact image came to mind as soon as I was given this assignment. Me, standing tall with this ancient art.

In recreating Beyoncé‘s lewk, I wanted to be thoughtful in capturing both the aesthetic and spirit. Beyoncé wore this outfit while headlining the Global Citizen Festival in South Africa. She used her platform during her time on the continent to feature African artists and help their brands achieve a global reach. A Black woman was styled by a Black woman, wearing a Black designer in front of Black art in Africa. I centered my own make on Black creators by designing and painting my own textile in a traditional African Kuba design. I also chose to photograph my jumpsuit in front of African and Black-American art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’m so happy I was able to execute my vision to join the statues in the Met’s Temple of Dendur!

My magazine feature tells all about how I fit this McCall’s M7777 jumpsuit to my uniquely tall and curvy proportions. I also wrote a tutorial on how to paint my kuba design onto the fabric using machine washable textile paint. Since I’d mostly figured out the fit on my previous makes of M7777, I reserved all of my problem solving skills for the paint design. I went back and forth between cutting the pattern and painting the fabric to make sure the design followed the grain line. The seams and darts are obscured by the paint and the print continues from the bodice to pants. I feel like a molded work of art when I’m wearing this jumpsuit.

Sewn Magazine is a celebration of diverse sewists and makers. I’m so proud to have received the invitation to contribute alongside many beautiful, talented makers. This project pushed my sewing, design, photography, modeling and editing skills to the next level. It gave me the confidence to bring Styles InSeams up to a more professional level and to see myself more as an artist. I strongly encourage you to subscribe to Sewn Magazine and help this important publication grow.