Fashion Beat: Meet Miguel"s Stylist, Jasmine Benjamin
Behind every major superstar, there's usually a team of equally major beauty and fashion experts. The collaborative role of the fashion stylist has become increasingly important in the world of music, extending beyond the red carpet beat and into the realm of performance. Each day this week, we're checking in one of the talented new stylists who are shaping the look of music now; today, we feature Miguel's stylist Jasmine Benjamin. Here she talks about the singer's punk-inspired suiting, star-worthy leather jackets, and what it really means to evoke the spirit of rock 'n' roll.
Describe the creative process€"how do you like to work together?
I am always researching something in the library or watching old films and checking the runways. We send reference images back and forth all the time too. It really depends what he's feeling at the time€"Miguel literally can give me a few words and describe how he wants to look for an event and I just know exactly what he means.
Can you pinpoint any turning points in Miguel's style?
When the video for €Adorn€ was being shot, Miguel was moving into a new creative space, and the rockabilly styling reflects that. He's in a double-breasted Prada jacket, Ben Sherman maroon flooded pants, and T.U.K. creepers. For the Grammy Awards in 2013, he wore a Lanvin suit that we tailored to have a punk fit. Another great moment was the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. He wore head-to-toe Saint Laurent and incredible glitter Chelsea boots on the red carpet€"in that moment we dropped the punk-inspired tailored suits. For Clive Davis's Grammy event in 2014, he wore a fantastic Saint Laurent leather jacket completely studded over a vintage T-shirt, and shredded 501s that we went to the Levi's headquarters in San Francisco to make. That was our sleazy, glam-rock moment.
What have been your favorite looks so far?
The first is the look he wore at the BET Awards in 2013. It's an Alexander McQueen button-up, Levi's jeans, Raf Simons shoes. That night we had four changes and three performances, so we wanted to go with a dressed-down-cool red-carpet vibe. The bold bird print and the heavy chain on the shoe were great details.
The second is a look he wore on the Drake tour in 2013. We had a motorcycle jacket custom-made with raven feathers by an incredible L.A. designer named Ashton Michael. Feathers and leather€"what else can I say? The jacket was a show in and of itself!
Lastly, I really liked the Saint Laurent look he wore to the Grammys in 2014 with a Lynn Ban sapphire brooch. Patent leather pants, pointy boots, and diamonds€"he made this look so masculine with ease.
How would you describe Miguel's style?
His style is sexy, bold, rock €n' roll, and everything that idea encompasses. We go from rockabilly and punk to 90s glam-metal band. He always needs a good pair of jeans a T-shirt, a pair of leather boots, and a leather jacket, of course. These staples are a part of who Miguel really is. It comes down to the tailoring to redefine the look of the subculture that we're influenced in any particular moment. The more boundaries we push, the better.
What things do you look for when you're pulling looks for him? Do you find that you can tell straight off the bat if he will like something?
I totally know what he's going to love right away, but sometimes he surprises me!
We used to be into very tailored suits, with a flood leg and fitted short blazer€"think rockabilly and punk silhouettes. We would tailor everything to fit that way.
Now the look has evolved. We are more into loose and oversize on top and tight on the bottom. He's very into black but it's about mixing textures, like leather and denim or feathers, patent leather, black-on-black prints and silks. Currently I'm loving jewel tones similar to the ones Haider Ackermann showed for men this spring. That color palette and silhouette is a step in a new direction.
How long have you been working together and what first attracted you to his style?
I have been working with Miguel for almost two and a half years. I remember seeing Miguel and thinking there is a man who likes taking risks and making bold statements. He OWNS it.
How did you get into fashion?
My parents' taste in music and fashion magazines first got me thinking in that direction. I was fascinated with the Rolling Stones and fashion magazines like Vogue at a young age. My mom and dad were California hippies in the 60s, so my personal style was always around me. When I moved to Seattle as a preteen, I was right in the middle of the grunge era. I had an eccentric older brother€"he was the coolest. He had a different fashion look all the time.
Professionally speaking, I've lived in New York and L.A. and assisted stylists and costume designers. My first gig was a chance of a lifetime€"working for Chaka Khan as her wardrobe girl. I would travel around the world with her and facilitate her stage costumes as well as shopping for her. The rest is history.
Describe the creative process€"how do you like to work together?
I am always researching something in the library or watching old films and checking the runways. We send reference images back and forth all the time too. It really depends what he's feeling at the time€"Miguel literally can give me a few words and describe how he wants to look for an event and I just know exactly what he means.
Can you pinpoint any turning points in Miguel's style?
When the video for €Adorn€ was being shot, Miguel was moving into a new creative space, and the rockabilly styling reflects that. He's in a double-breasted Prada jacket, Ben Sherman maroon flooded pants, and T.U.K. creepers. For the Grammy Awards in 2013, he wore a Lanvin suit that we tailored to have a punk fit. Another great moment was the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. He wore head-to-toe Saint Laurent and incredible glitter Chelsea boots on the red carpet€"in that moment we dropped the punk-inspired tailored suits. For Clive Davis's Grammy event in 2014, he wore a fantastic Saint Laurent leather jacket completely studded over a vintage T-shirt, and shredded 501s that we went to the Levi's headquarters in San Francisco to make. That was our sleazy, glam-rock moment.
What have been your favorite looks so far?
The first is the look he wore at the BET Awards in 2013. It's an Alexander McQueen button-up, Levi's jeans, Raf Simons shoes. That night we had four changes and three performances, so we wanted to go with a dressed-down-cool red-carpet vibe. The bold bird print and the heavy chain on the shoe were great details.
The second is a look he wore on the Drake tour in 2013. We had a motorcycle jacket custom-made with raven feathers by an incredible L.A. designer named Ashton Michael. Feathers and leather€"what else can I say? The jacket was a show in and of itself!
Lastly, I really liked the Saint Laurent look he wore to the Grammys in 2014 with a Lynn Ban sapphire brooch. Patent leather pants, pointy boots, and diamonds€"he made this look so masculine with ease.
How would you describe Miguel's style?
His style is sexy, bold, rock €n' roll, and everything that idea encompasses. We go from rockabilly and punk to 90s glam-metal band. He always needs a good pair of jeans a T-shirt, a pair of leather boots, and a leather jacket, of course. These staples are a part of who Miguel really is. It comes down to the tailoring to redefine the look of the subculture that we're influenced in any particular moment. The more boundaries we push, the better.
What things do you look for when you're pulling looks for him? Do you find that you can tell straight off the bat if he will like something?
I totally know what he's going to love right away, but sometimes he surprises me!
We used to be into very tailored suits, with a flood leg and fitted short blazer€"think rockabilly and punk silhouettes. We would tailor everything to fit that way.
Now the look has evolved. We are more into loose and oversize on top and tight on the bottom. He's very into black but it's about mixing textures, like leather and denim or feathers, patent leather, black-on-black prints and silks. Currently I'm loving jewel tones similar to the ones Haider Ackermann showed for men this spring. That color palette and silhouette is a step in a new direction.
How long have you been working together and what first attracted you to his style?
I have been working with Miguel for almost two and a half years. I remember seeing Miguel and thinking there is a man who likes taking risks and making bold statements. He OWNS it.
How did you get into fashion?
My parents' taste in music and fashion magazines first got me thinking in that direction. I was fascinated with the Rolling Stones and fashion magazines like Vogue at a young age. My mom and dad were California hippies in the 60s, so my personal style was always around me. When I moved to Seattle as a preteen, I was right in the middle of the grunge era. I had an eccentric older brother€"he was the coolest. He had a different fashion look all the time.
Professionally speaking, I've lived in New York and L.A. and assisted stylists and costume designers. My first gig was a chance of a lifetime€"working for Chaka Khan as her wardrobe girl. I would travel around the world with her and facilitate her stage costumes as well as shopping for her. The rest is history.
