“My style is like a cross between Edie Sedgwick and Grace Jones, Audrey Hepburn and Salt-N-Pepa. It’s kind of edgy, but very classic,” says Estelle in a chic black cashmere-and-leather Calvin Klein dress and Stella McCartney short jacket at the 3rd Annual Black Girls Rock Awards.
“This dress was made specifically for me by Tory Burch," Estelle tells us. "I love Tory Burch; generally they do really classic pieces that you will always be able to wear. I met her a few times and she was like, ‘I’d love to dress you for the GRAMMY’S’ and I was like ‘I’d love to be dressed by you.’ It was a mutual thing and it was really cool the dress just fit and it was easy. I actually have it hanging up right now. I’m going to wear it for a show tonight,” says Estelle about her knock out green mini dress she wore to the House of Hype Island Def Jam Grammy After Party at Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Beverly Hills, California.
“Most of the events I have, I pick out the clothes myself. I have a stylist, Karen Binns, who I’ve worked with for the past ten years. She’ll bring me things that I’ve kind of pointed her in the direction that I want. I’m not one of those girls who gets told I need to ‘dress like this or dress like that.’ It’s definitely my own personal style you see on the red carpet,” shares Estelle.
When ESSENCE.com asked Estelle if she works out to keep her toned legs in shape, she dished, “I do now! I never used to, but then I went on tour and I put on two dress sizes and I said ‘Oh no, I’m not buying a new set of clothes because I put on weight.’ But it’s not like I try to stay a certain size for the cameras. I’m comfortable and I know how to manage my size. It’s more about not being unhealthy.”
“This dress is very epic. It’s by Dolce & Gabbana. It was just beautiful — the arms were amazing and I like things that look like they fly. After the Brit Awards last year people were like, ‘We can’t wait to see what you are going to wear.’ I like to wear something different; a bit to the left that no one is expecting. I’ve never been the type of girl to wear what everyone else is wearing. I’m not into ball gowns and I find them hard to walk in,” she says.
“The dress was just sparkling, big and silver. I saw it and was like, ‘This is going to look fantastic on TV.’ Since this was for the performance, I wanted an outfit when I got on stage to be like a bolt of light. They told me I had to walk out on stage and come out behind Kanye, so I was like, ’I need the shiniest thing ever,” says Estelle with a laugh.
“I found this dress at a general store in London called Joy, and I’m African, so I loved it. My mom usually has to get these dresses made, so I picked it up and brought it back to New York,” says Estelle about the African-print dress she wore to the Alicia Keys “As I am” Tour Wrap Celebration at the Park in New York City.
“Once again I figured everyone was going to be wearing ball gowns and I wanted to look like Judy Jetson. I wanted something different, where everyone else was going to be doing something flowing I wanted to stand out. I wore a big necklace and no earrings. The necklace was almost like a boomerang it was huge. I had a big statement directional dress on, so I needed a big chunky solid necklace. I think people get it wrong when they start piling on necklaces, bracelets and rings it’s just too much,” says Estelle about her Swarovski and Noir jewelry at the GRAMMY’s.
Estelle is setting things in motion to launch her own clothing line, watch out Kayne West! The World Music Awards winner thinks it’s “fantastic, he should definitely do it” about Kanye’s plans to be an intern at Louis Vuitton because she also plans to go back to school and study fashion design. Could a fashion duet be in the works for this powerful pair?
Estelle and Tyson Beckford walk down the runway during the Fashion For Relief Spring Summer 2009 fashion show.
Want to get Estelle’s stellar style? Her two favorite websites, colette.fr, and marialuisaparis.com