How my journey as a celebrity stylist began – James

Akinyemi James is a celebrity and personal stylist based in London. He has built a reputation in the world of fashion for being more than just a celebrity stylist. His clients include Nigerian-British Musician, Joseph Olaitan Adenuga, known as Skepta, and Habeeb Okikiola Badmus also known as portable. In this interview with KENNETH ATHEKAME, he spoke on his journeys as an image consultant to Skepta and Portable, and also about the fashion trends. Excerpts:

Can you tell us about your journey; what inspired you to become a Fashion Stylist?

I studied Personal Styling in women at the London Fashion School, after completing the programme, I had to look for a platform in men’s wear where I would systematically build a profiled clientele in corporate styling and image consulting; so, I got a job as a stylist on Savile Row. Savile Row is known to be one of the best streets in the world for men and women tailoring. I was inspired to be a fashion stylist since I was a kid because I attended a military school, Nigerian Navy Secondary School and the orientation we all had was to dress smart at all times which was a military background, friends and family used to like how I coordinated my outfit and they always like to emulate my style; so, this made me pay attention to the styling profile.

How has your Nigerian heritage influenced your fashion sense and styling choice?

You mostly would find me wearing a navy-blue suit, Savile Row tailored and on casual days, a modern classic blue blazer on a chinos and jeans, and when it’s black tie, I just wear a modern Black Tuxedo. So, the military background I had from Nigeria, attending a military school influenced my fashion sense styling choice, and became synonymous

with sartorial excellence on London’s iconic Savile Row, which boasts a rich and enduring legacy steeped in military history, making a lot of military outfits for members of the British Royal Family and the General Royal Navy in the world. With this platform, I have been opportune to meet most of the Nigerian Navy Generals and Army Generals around the world.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from Nigeria to the UK fashion scene?

Well, this is quite interesting because I would not look at my transitioning from Nigeria to the Uk fashion scene as a big challenge, because as I have mentioned I already had Military background; while growing up as a young boy; you would always find me having my shirt tucked in; dress shirts are typically worn tucked in because they are worn for formal and professional occasions, which call for optimal

neatness and maximum class, which I have always been doing before I started to wear a Savile Row suit.

Can you share a memorable experience or milestone in your career that stands out for you?

I have a lot of memorable experiences and milestones in my career that I would love to share. I have been very privileged to dress a lot of high-profile clienteles. One of my proudest moments of my career was getting to create something special for a monumental event for his Excellency; Mr. President Nana Akufo of Ghana who was attending the King coronation of Charles III King of the United Kingdom, also to dress General Babagana Monguno, former National Security Adviser of Nigeria for the transitioning of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I learnt a lot while dressing General Munguno; humility and power. The General had told me once when he had a meeting with Rtd General Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State of Nigeria, a very good dresser had asked him he was sure most of his suits were tailored from Savile Row, and he had mentioned my name and that I was his Image Consultant. I was also opportune to meet the King of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad.

bin Khalifa Al Thani is Emir of Qatar, I didn’t know he was the King while I was dressing him up; he only mentioned to me he had a meeting with King Charles III King of the United Kingdom and he would want a classic navy-blue suit. I fitted the suit and rushed to the tailor to make the suit ready. He recognised my accent and asked me if I was from Nigeria and if I eat jollof rice; he was very friendly, didn’t know he was the King. After the session, he asked for my email and I gave it to him; the following week I got an email; that was during the world cup that the King of Quarter would need my presence at the Dorchester Hotel, iconic London 5-star hotel, during the Qater national day. There are lots of experiences I have had but not to bore you; I have had one-on-one personal shopping with the American Fashion Designer, Calvin Klien and Maison Valentino; these two are some of the greatest Fashion Designers of all times.

I have also dressed the Biggest Uk Rappers and Nigeria from SKEPA, Dizzee Rascal, Vector, the Viper, and Portable- Nigerian singer and song songwriter for the music production, Tony Montana song by JAE5 Portable and Skepta.

As a stylist with 10 years’ experience, how do you stay updated with the latest trends?

I believe once you have a passion for fashion you would be able to stay updated with trends, because I do attend a lot of fashion shows and I look through Magazines British Vogue and GQ Magazines.

Can you describe creating a look for a celebrity magazine shoot?

Well, I have done this a couple of time, I would give you an example While I was the Getting Dressed with Skepta Ahead of the premiere of his debut short film, Tribal Mark, Esquire spoke to the rapper about his movie’s sartorial impact, what’s next for his streetwear brand Mains, and why everyone needs a bit of magic with was published on esquire magazine by caremen Bellot Published 26 January 2024, it was a black-tie event and I had to dress the SKEPTA team in Black Classic Tuxedo like James Bond, they all had to fittings before I took the garments to the tailor and had the final fitting, then delivered the garments to dress up at the Hotel for a photo shoot. It was defiantly a good experience for me, because British Vogue also captured this content was a good publicity.

What role does cultural diversity play in your work, especially when styling clients from different background?

Well, I do this all the time, Savile Row is the most famous place in the world to get a suit, I have dressed the High Commissioner of Democratic Socialist of Sri Lanka for his official meeting with King Charles 111, I had to educate him about a Morning Dress and make sure he had the best fit for the Morning Dress code because he was going to Buckingham Palace.

How do you approach wardrobe consulting for high profile clients; what factors do you consider most important?

Well, to be honest with you, most of the clients who come to Savile Row are high profile clients, and you have to treat everybody the same way. While I was dealing with the American Fashion Designer Calvin Klien; I was shopping with him and blocking colors; I never knew I was with the iconic Fashion Designer. Not until I was about to swipe his American Express card and I look at the name Calvin Klein, then I knew it was him, I went back to him, and told him I knew him far back when I was young, he wrote and autograph for me, hand written and gave me his number, we also had a picture together that was time I would never forget.

Being a Savile Row Attaché, is a prestigious title, how has this experience shaped your professional skills and network?

This is a very good question; I am very grateful to God. Savile Row is a blessing to me because that where i met all my profiled clients there was no how I would have met the President of Ghana if I don’t have a platform on Savile Row, Savile Row built my confidence and approach to a gentleman style, I think every man in his lifetime should have a suit from Savile Row. There is this confidence you have when you were a Savile Row Suit, I find it difficult to explain, only people who own one can understand what I am saying, it’s just like driving a Mercedes car.

Can you explain what makes Savile Row tailoring unique and why it’s considered the pinnacle of menswear?

A Savile Row suit is considered the pinnacle of menswear, The street is globally renowned not only as the heart of English bespoke tailoring but also as the number one destination for a hand-made suit anywhere in the world. Known for its military roots, A Savile Row Suit would last for over 8 to 10 years if taken care of well.

How would you describe your personal style; are there any designers who particularly influence you?

MY Personal Style is Modern Classic, you often find me wearing a Navy-Blue Suit on official days and on Weekends a Navy Blazer trouser and white shirt. If I am attending a fashion show, I can be fashionable but I keep it classic, Yes Alexander McQueen British fashion designer and couturier, he left school at 16 to become an apprentice on Mayfair’s Savile Row – the historic center of British menswear tailoring – first at Anderson & Sheppard, and then at Gieves & Hawkes, where he learned traditional tailoring techniques i did meet a few of my tailors who worked with him.

What advice would you give to aspiring fashion stylist who are just starting out of the industry?

I would advise that anybody going into styling has to be confident in their own style. Do a lot of networking going to fashion event and meeting people who are into fashion; most important create a profile for yourself and be extremely passionate; I do a lot of free styling jobs without getting paid, even when I needed the money; take nice photos to keep your look you would be surprised who would be interested, most important promote yourself every day, this goes a long way to build confidence for you.

Do you balance creativity with practical needs and preferences of your clients?

Before starting a styling session, I always ask a question what the occasion is, is it a black tie or just a formal meeting, is it a wedding, is the wedding in a hot region; so, depending on the response from the client I would be able to determine what look is good for the image; is it a job interview I always recommend a navy suit for a job interview; I call it the power suit , that’s why the Presidents the United States wears a navy suit all the time.

Are there any project or collaboration you are excited about and can you shear with us?

Yes; it’s the London Fashion Week in September and there is a lot going on. I would be working along with Skepta the Nigerian British Rapper debut clothing line MAINS and also, I am coordinating African Fashion Week London UK founded by Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, Olori (Queen) of the Ife Kingdom.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in your career?

To be honest I think I have no regret, I am taking my time and working with the best people; sometime, people tell me by now you should have created your own collections, but, it’s difficult to explain. As a stylist you don’t have to create a collection you just work with designers; when the time comes to create a collection, I would know. Savile Row Standards are very high, in fact it’s the highest of it all. So, if I am going to create a collection later in life it has to be the best of the best.

How do you see the fashion industry evolving in terms of inclusivity and representation?

I would tell you that modern classic never changes; and that my style is traditional; the representation is classic, I have seen people bring suit from 30 years ago from their grandparents from Savile Row to do alterations on; this suits still look relevant for today’s style; so, that means all the suit I have now would still be relevant for the next 50 years or more.

My Best Fashion Accessory is a Broach; people who are close to me know I wear a lot of Vintage broaches. I have a lot of them. Even the late Queen of England used to wear a broach all the time.