Icons & Influencers

Is it possible to be known for both your substance and your style?

I’m not talking about the “classics” like Audrey Hepburn, an actress who then went on to devote much of her time to UNICEF or Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis or Princess Diana –two women who used their extraordinary positions in life to do good. I’m wondering about contemporary style icons. In an article I read recently both Victoria Beckham and Carrie Bradshaw were cited as style icons: a former Spice Girl turned designer and a fictional character that seems to be more Cinderella than sex –in the city.

is a New York based fashion designer, creative activist, humanitarian and Huffington Post Columnist. Not only does he share my admiration of those who have both substance and style but he’s emblematic of this himself. Though he thrives on being a jack-of-all-trades, Malcolm’s primary purpose is to live his life as a vehicle for social change. Malcolm’s creative passions for fashion, art, music and film, along with his extensive and diverse global social network are all means to support one simple aspiration – “to make the world a much better and more beautiful place for all of her inhabitants.” And he does this with impeccable style. So I am thrilled that he is our first profile in this new section, Icons & Influencers.

SDNYC You are such an international person – your concerns are global…so what is it about NYC that makes you want to call it home?

Malcolm Harris I truly believe New York City is the equivalent to ancient Rome… All roads lead to New York City… In all honesty my love affair with New York City is the equivalent of being with an abusive lover. It beats you up really bad, then comes home occasionally bearing gifts and begging for your forgiveness… LOL…

SDNYC What’s a perfect New York City day for you?

MH A morning walk through Central Park, a quick pit stop at the Metropolitan Museum, lunch at La Goulue on Madison Avenue, the Fifth Avenue bus downtown, a matinee at the Angelika Film Forum and dinner at Indochine… That would be a blissful day… I love moving through this magical city and creating little magical vignettes and experiences as the day goes on… And I’m very lucky that my career allows for inspirational days just like this…

SDNYC I read your article on the Sheikha Mozah on the Huffington Post and I love that you are pointing out this combination of substance and style! I don’t think there is enough emphasis on this in our culture. We still have these ideas that if someone has style -especially extreme style- they must be an airhead or a narcissist. And conversely if someone has substance they don’t care about things as superficial as appearances -which are both ridiculous concepts. How do we encourage more appreciation of substance in this never-ending quest for style?

MH Somewhere along the line I believe it just became easier in our society to make the two – style and substance – mutually exclusive. But I think the more we present the case of people like Sheikha Mozah, Daphne Guinness, Rushka Bergman or Bernard Henri Levy, etc. people will begin to see that personal style is simply an extension of substance, intelligence and purpose.

SDNYC I’ve recently been to the McQueen exhibit and was struck by his historical knowledge and how it played into his collection. What are your thoughts on this? “knowing your history” and it’s relation to the creative process?

MH I’ve actually gone back to see the McQueen exhibition on three separate occasions and not once have I left without being a complete emotional wreck – in a good way. Alexander McQueen gave his everything to the creative process and it is perhaps the reason he left this earth too early. His collections were simply the manifestation of his beautiful yet haunting personal demons. I believe it’s the reason that creatives must always find a mission or calling outside of our self-contained process that balances and anchors our creativity.

SDNYC I feel like living in NYC especially you have the opportunity to open yourself up to new experiences and people. Can you share three encounters/people in your life that changed it or made you think differently?

MH
The first time I met Andy Warhol as a youngster and he said to me, “Never leave NYC – they won’t understand you anywhere else.”

The first time I stalked Linda Evangelista for 15 minutes in Soho during the early ’90s and realized she was just a normal person – doing normal things.

The first time I met Madonna, and she asked me a very pregnant question, “Are you just going to stand there staring or are you going to do something?” At the time I simply laughed and began the fitting that would change my life. To this very day, it is the question that I ask myself before I take on any new project, cause or endeavor.

SDNYC Speaking of projects, what inspired the ONE Dress project?

MH The One Dress Project was born out of the demand of women over the years whom had been approaching and requesting my assistance with their various charities and causes. Therefore, I decided to create ONE product that could unite and support many women and many causes. The One Dress Project’s mission and vision truly become the calling that wakes me up in the morning to live my life with purpose and passion.

SDNYC Do you consider yourself a feminist or do you think that term is outdated?

MH I do realize that I may have become an accidental feminist, and feel that the struggle for women’s rights globally is still too relevant to retire the word. As a male in the movement, I compare it to all the non-African Americans that supported the civil rights movement in the ’60s. But I came to this global mission after I began to seriously travel the world and see how women are truly treated, or moreover, mis-treated. Therefore I knew exactly where my voice and energies were much needed and appreciated.

SDNYC StyleDefined started out as a street style blog because I wanted to show what I saw on the streets of NYC. Some of which is a little different than you’ll find on The Sartorialist and others who are more high fashion oriented. One thing I’ve noticed is that I see more males with interesting street style than females. And more blacks than whites…maybe blacks and Asians. Which is markedly different than what you see in mainstream media or many popular sites. I could probably fill a blog strictly with African American men with great style. Any thoughts on the “why” of this?

MH As an African-American man I know exactly why most of us are usually so well dressed… In a country where oftentimes minorities can feel absolutely invisible to the majority, our outward appearance often becomes our own personal calling card that simply says, “I AM HERE!”

SDNYC You’re an unmissable figure on the streets of the city. What are you trying to present? If how you dress is a way of speaking, what are you saying?

MH I really don’t think about dressing or fashion in those terms… I am really on a much more personal journey and voyage of self-discovery and expression. I look at every day as a new adventure, and therefore I prepare and adorn myself for the ride.

Malcolm “Mister GoLightly” Harris

Below are photos I’ve taken of Malcolm for StyleDefined NYC.