Will.i.am may be a rapidly growing star in the fashion-meets-tech arena — but he still seeks guidance from the “king” of fashion, Vogue contributing editor André Leon Talley.
“I like the way he carries himself in public. He reminds me of Michael Jackson in a way,” Will.i.am says of the oft-caped Talley, who joined the Will.i.am brand, i.am +, in November as its fashion and style director. “[They] have similar qualities in how they hold themselves in public. It’s like this royal pose, this royal posture, this royal cadence in how they move throughout the crowd, the way they sit. It’s very kingly. It’s very ‘Lord.’ The lord of freshness. The ambassador of couture. Everyone else slouches, everyone else just staring at their phone half the time they’re there. But when André Leon Talley’s in the room, he’s in the f - - king room.”
Will.i.am adds another notch to his designer belt on Wednesday with a limited-edition ill.i Optics capsule collection with hip-hop star Slick Rick. The shades have already been sported by Jessica Alba and Instagrammed by the likes of Rachel Zoe.
Perhaps Anna Wintour will rock them indoors at next year’s Oscars, too.