MODERN-VINTAGE BIK
2020 was undoubtedly a challenging year for so many of us. However, several artists & creatives came forward with bodies of work that kept us entertained, inspired and motivated even in the midst of a global pandemic. Beyoncé’s film, Black Is King was one such body I was deeply captivated by!
It’s no secret, I love and admire Queen Bey! She’s one of the first artists in my teenage years that sparked a fire within. I wanted all of Beyoncé’s outfits, hairstyles and dance moves and over the years I’ve become deeply inspired by her ambition, perseverance, resilience, creative aptitude and dedication to purpose. I truly believe we are blessed to witness her genius in our lifetime.
That being said, I’ve probably watched Black Is King over 15 times so far and listened to the complementary album on Tidal to no end! One year prior to the release of Black Is King I recall listening to Spirit on repeat as the lyrics kept me motivated during a very difficult time in my personal life. The lyrics were encouraging and a call to action to my soul; to not give up & to not allow the grief I was experiencing to get in the way of my destiny!
“Trying to keep your head up high while you’re trembling, that’s when the magic happens and the stars gather by your side… your destiny’s coming close, stand up and fight!”
As time went on, I continued to feel a connection to the entire Lion King: The Gift album and many nights after a long and tedious work day I’d play dress up in my room; dancing and singing along to the songs as a way to unwind.
One night after watching the film for the umpteenth time, I had a light-bulb moment. What if I did my own spin on Black is King; creating inspired looks reflective of my personal modern-vintage style with a bit of a street-style editorial feel. I actually had a similar idea years ago for the Lemonade album but that project never came to fruition so this time I was determined to put my ideas and plans into action.
I reached out to my friend Hardley of ENTICE to share my idea & the rest is history! I honestly couldn’t have done this without Hardley’s excellent work & dedication! To have someone comprehend an idea floating around in your head and effortlessly bring it to life takes a special gift and in case you’re wondering, ENTICE is a creative empowerment brand founded by Hardley Jeannite. The company started as a photography business and is now working towards building a platform for creators to foster their passions and generate income from their work. Creativity has been given a backseat in our culture and Entice is striving to change that.
Now, don’t get it twisted, Hardley & I might have worked together in an effortless manner but shooting each look was far from effortless. It was just the two of us and most outfit changes, makeup, hair etc were done outside in the streets, in colder temps along with the reality of the pandemic.
Because of this, I had to alter some concepts/styling to accommodate a tight schedule with multiple shoots in a single day but we were sure to take Covid tests, wore masks most of the time and social-distanced; being extra careful and considerate of others. Every-time we’d successfully complete a shoot day, I’d joke and remark to Hardley saying, “Damn, it’s hard being Beyoncé” but in all actuality doing this mini-project (which by no means comes close to what she does) gave me an even greater respect for her craft. Also, those poses y’all!!! Let’s just say, ya girl needs to work on her flexibility,lol!
Alright, now that you’ve been given full context on this project, what’s next? Well beginning the first week in February, I’ll be releasing three looks per week (every Monday, Wednesday & Friday) until the series is complete. These looks while rooted in my personal aesthetic will be somewhat different from the typical content I share on here. If I had to describe it, I’d say it’s more street-style editorial and moody as in Mood 4 Eva!
I hope you come back next week and the weeks after for all the fire <insert multiple fire emojis> I plan on sharing!
p.s. Shameless plug; if you know Bey, her Mama or anyone in her circle share this with them! Laughing out loud but oh so very serious. Okay, thanks bye!