By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
August 16, 2000
Queen Latifah. Hip-hop star, actress, talk show hostess, author and fashion diva. At 5-feet-9 3/4 inches (and none-of-your-business pounds), the personable artist and star of a Lane Bryant ad campaign is the host of this year’s Fash Bash.
Phoning from Texas, where she was on a promotional tour, Latifah squeezed in an interview prior to a manicure and pedicure, proving that she’s a diva from head to toe.
What designers do you favor?
I love Prada, Gucci, Phat Farm, Dolce & Gabbana. I’m rocking the Gap right now. I’ve got on one of their long, jersey, knit skirts that tie around the waist and have zippers down the side. I also shop in the men’s clothes department. I can rock them and get sexy in those clothes.
Sounds like you don’t mind mixing and matching designer with ready-to-wear.
I mix and match everything. I’m probably one of the few people who wear Nike and Adidas together. I wear plenty of things. I don’t like to be dressy or too high end all the time. I’m a jeans and sneakers girl. But when I want to look cute, I can be cute.
What’s your take on shopping at vintage stores?
I’m not really a thrift store girl. There are some pieces that I like. Those old leather jackets with the crackling, worn style are nice. But with a lot of those clothes, you don’t know where they’ve been.
I prefer to buy new clothes that look old.
Exactly! Then you know for sure you’re the only person who has ever rocked them.
How did the Lane Bryant ad come about?
I’ve had other companies ask me to do ads for them, but Lane Bryant was just right for me. They represent people my size with nice clothes. My money is as green as the next skinny person, so I should have as many options with my clothes as they do. It’s still very difficult to find cute clothes my size, though. Either they’re way too big, or way too small. That’s why I’m about to meet with some manufacturers to talk about doing my own line possibly. I can’t really go into that further right now.
What was your style 10 years ago compared to now?
I was shopping a little bit of everywhere 10 years ago. I was a little more Afrocentric and more wrapped up. I used to find pieces of fabric that were cute and use them as headwraps. I also wore a lot of bangle bracelets. These days I wear a Rolex. Actually, I have a Rolex, but I don’t wear it that often.
If you could pick one city in which you could go on a shopping spree, which would it be?
I have a lot of favorite places, but I’d probably pick Paris off the top of my head. They have so many choices. I also like shopping in New York, but I can shop in L.A. as well.
Are you a boutique or department store kind of woman?
I’ll go to a department store for Polo things or clothes that I can pretty much find anywhere. But if I want something more unqiue, I’ll hit a boutique. It’s a little more expensive, but they have pieces that you won’t find in a department store. In Los Angeles, I like to go to Fred Segals because they’ll have snowboard gear mixed with Prada. I can always find something good there.
When I was at Segals earlier this summer, I saw Leonardo DiCpario shopping and he looked very un-movie star like in his shorts, T-shirt and baseball cap. How do you dress when you’re running errands?
I’m not one of those girls who gets dressed up to go to the grocery store. It depends on how I’m feeling, but usually I’ll be in jeans and a T-shirt. If I’m going to a club, then I’ll get all cute. But not to run out and get a paper.
How many pairs of Manolo Blahnik shoes do you have?
One. I’ve also got Commes des Gacons. I really love Prada as well. They make a lot of great stuff. And I have this pair of Gucci golflike shoes that’re pretty comfy. This was the shoe back in the ’80s. So I’m glad it’s back.
Who’s your style guru?
I think Mary [J. Blige] is one of the best dressed people. She always looks good, from her hair and makeup to her wardrobe. I also dig Angelina [Jolie’s] style. She doesn’t really care, and I like carefree as much as I like well put together.
What was your biggest fashion don’t?
I think it usually happened when people were dressing me in wrong colors. Or when they didn’t know how to dress a big woman and put me in things that made me look fat, like spandex. I’m kind of conservative. I like conservative chic. I don’t like to be too way out there most of the time. Mary can get away with that. I can’t.
What makes you feel most like you?
I have this pair of Guess? jeans that I wear all the time. I love them to death. They fit kind of snug around my butt and make me feel really good, and that’s what clothes should ultimately do. I also have jeans that are five-years-old with a little hole under the butt. No matter what happens, those pants are not going to be thrown away. I’m not cutting them off into shorts either.
Any fashion quirks you can share with us?
Well, nothing really horrible. I’m a Hanes T-shirt girl. I love to have fresh new T-shirts. But I’m kind of obsessed with having brand new, clean, white, crew socks that stop right around the ankles. I buy new packages of socks all the time.
