Zerina Akers, Beyoncé’s Stylist
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Look Styled By Zerina Akers. www.beyonce.com
A major part of my entrepreneurial journey and personal inspiration lies in the network of incredible individuals I find myself amongst on this concrete island called Manhattan. I first met Zerina Akers when we were both freelancers in the fashion department at W magazine. I worked assisting editors in the fashion closet and she had the same position in W‘s accessories department.
Zerina was always incredibly nice, helpful, and usually in a good mood- exemplified mostly by her serene demeanor. Unfortunately, that’s more than I could say for myself. I found the fashion editorial world to be quite arduous.
Fashion & Celebrity Stylist Zerina Akers. Photo by Suzanne Abrams
After a year, I left W to work with a top-tier fashion stylist full-time as her assistant. My last memory of Zerina is her in one of W’s conference rooms with a pile of shoes on the table, that were spilling over to the floor. Zerina was tranquilly sorting through what would be most women’s dreams, the mountain of very expensive shoes not yet available in stores. She had a Prada pump in one hand and a Chanel in the other.
A few years later, that composed young woman became the personal wardrobe stylist to one of the most famous women in the world: Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Knowles-Carter, who #LikeABoss, was recently named one of the 60 Richest, Most Successful Self-Made Women by Forbes, commissioned and collaborated with Zerina to incorporate striking color blocking techniques, mixed prints, bold color stories, and talented under the radar designers into Beyoncé’s daily attire. Akers expertly mixed the elements of high and low, like only a fashion savant can do so well.
Beyoncé Formation Video. Look Styled By Zerina Akers. www.beyonce.com
With the streets and star-studded events serving as Beyoncé’s runway, the paparazzi documented Zerina’s work with each click. Beyoncé did as well, on her Instagram account where she posted periodic #ootd’s (outfit of the day’s) to her 74+ million followers.
In April, Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade debuted to a deafening buzz and a #1 position on the billboard charts. The album’s popularity even made lemonade sales at some US companies increase by 20%.
I saw this as the perfect opportunity to talk with Zerina and share her story with other fashion entrepreneurs, offering some background information on her career trajectory, and landing such an enviable position within the fashion industry.
AA: Tell us your full name, and occupation.
ZA: Zerina Akers, Fashion and Celebrity Stylist / Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Curator to Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.
AA: Can you share your career trajectory starting from where you studied for undergraduate and ending where you are today?
After studying for two years at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, I landed my first internship at W Magazine in the fashion closet, which led to my first freelance position on the accessories team at W. Shortly after, I moved to New York City where I completed my undergraduate studies at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM). While at LIM, I studied abroad in London at the University of Westminster and completed an internship in Public Relations at Stella McCartney.
Before graduation, I also freelanced at W Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily. Then, I went on to assist stylists like Camilla Nickerson, Lori Goldstein, and B. Ackerlund, working on everything from television commercials to fashion editorials. Through these experiences, I was able to develop my own point of view.
In 2011, I took my first in-house position at Brooks Brotherscoordinating and styling catalog shoots. A few years later I returned to the freelance world, focusing more on commercial styling. All of these experiences helped me build the confidence I needed when I landed the role as Beyoncé’s Personal Stylist / Wardrobe Curator in 2014.
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Autumn Adeigbo, Women@ForbesContinued from page 1
In April, Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade debuted to a deafening buzz and a #1 position on the billboard charts. The album’s popularity even made lemonade sales at some US companies increase by 20%.
I saw this as the perfect opportunity to talk with Zerina and share her story with other fashion entrepreneurs, offering some background information on her career trajectory, and landing such an enviable position within the fashion industry.
AA: Tell us your full name, and occupation.
ZA: Zerina Akers, Fashion and Celebrity Stylist / Personal Stylist and Wardrobe Curator to Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.
AA: Can you share your career trajectory starting from where you studied for undergraduate and ending where you are today?
After studying for two years at The Art Institute of Philadelphia, I landed my first internship at W Magazine in the fashion closet, which led to my first freelance position on the accessories team at W. Shortly after, I moved to New York City where I completed my undergraduate studies at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (LIM). While at LIM, I studied abroad in London at the University of Westminster and completed an internship in Public Relations at Stella McCartney.
Before graduation, I also freelanced at W Magazine and Women’s Wear Daily. Then, I went on to assist stylists like Camilla Nickerson, Lori Goldstein, and B. Ackerlund, working on everything from television commercials to fashion editorials. Through these experiences, I was able to develop my own point of view.
In 2011, I took my first in-house position at Brooks Brotherscoordinating and styling catalog shoots. A few years later I returned to the freelance world, focusing more on commercial styling. All of these experiences helped me build the confidence I needed when I landed the role as Beyoncé’s Personal Stylist / Wardrobe Curator in 2014.
Beyoncé with husband Jay-Z, at Kanye West’s fashion show. Beyoncé styled by Zerina Akers. www.beyonce.com
AA: That sounds like every fashion girl’s dream trajectory. You have been named by Vogue as Beyonce’s personal wardrobe curator- what does that title entail and what does a typical day at the office look like for you?
ZA: My office changes everyday—and that’s how I like it! Some days are spent pounding the pavement visiting showrooms seeing what’s happening in the market, other days are spent researching trends that can be created. Even on days off, my eyes are looking toward to the streets in search of the next new movement in fashion.
AA: Congratulations on being a part of the creative team behind the massive success of Beyoncé’s Lemonade album. She was pretty much a part of all of our collective pre-teen and teenage zeitgeists, as she was a central player in the uber successful group Destiny’s Child. Growing up did you ever think you would end up working with her? What it always your dream to work in fashion?
ZA: Working with Beyoncé is a dream that I didn’t know I was allowed to dream. Doing what I do today is something that was once out of the realm of what I dreamed for myself. Until I crossed paths with the opportunity, then I knew I couldn’t back down. There was no room for fear or doubt.
Even as a young girl, I would quiz myself in fashion magazines, naming the designers without looking at the credits. My Grandmother, Yolanda Spalding, taught me how to sew on her old Singer sewing machine. I would make my own clothes and eventually had a small clothing line in high school. That lead me to study fashion design in college, where I soon discovered the many avenues I could take in the world of fashion, this lead to my first internship at WMagazine!
Fashion & Celebrity Stylist Zerina Akers. Photo by Ashley Sky Walker
AA: It seems we always get inspiration from the women who came before us. I love the story you shared about your grandmother, Ms. Spalding.
Looking deeper at the idea of women supporting women, there have been numerous articles (for example- Forbes: Minority Women Entrepreneurs, Go Getters Without Resources) discussing how difficult it is for minority women to attain things like start-up funding. This leads to the African Diaspora being extremely under-represented within the fashion industry (NY Times: Fashions Racial Divide).
What has been your personal experience navigating the fashion industry? Has it been easy or difficult for you and why?
ZA: I’ve definitely been fortunate to have certain doors within arms reach. Often as an intern, I was the only black woman in the office. Communication was one of the hardest hurdles for me, I thought I had to speak a certain way in order to fit in. I later realized that I didn’t have to fit in—I just had to be me. I had to be genuine. I learned that no matter how much you have to offer, when a sense of pretentiousness is felt, it’s harder for a simple human connection to be made. Once I realized this, all of my experiences changed. I began to have more fun!
AA: That’s an incredible epiphany. I can attest that working within the fashion industry can be an intimidating sphere. I also often felt like I had to act a certain way to fit in and am just now realizing its ok to be myself!
In my personal search for start-up capital for my fashion business, I’ve come across articles (Forbes: Inside One Woman’s Investor’s Plan To Get Black Female Founders Funding) discussing a staggering disparity: even though African American women are the most rapidly growingentrepreneurial sector, generating $44B in revenue annually in the US, we received less than 0.2% of venture funding in the past 5 years.
What do you think are the keys to breaking down the existing boundaries so the African diaspora is better represented in the fashion industry?
ZA: Don’t. Don’t try to. We have to be ourselves and celebrate who we are. Breaking down the “existing boundaries” only leads you to fitting into another mold. Imagine tearing down a wall only to realize that it was merely a door to a box? We have to create something for ourselves. We have to support each other. We have to work hard. Be extraordinary. Be undeniable. Be indispensable. Be so good that when you look up, you see no limits.
AA: I like that, and will add that in addition to seeing no limits when we look up, we should also see past color when we look at other people.
Thank you for providing that fresh perspective. It’s no wonder Beyoncé trusts you with one of a woman’s most prized possessions- her closet. Coming full circle, Beyoncé is a perfect example of a woman who saw no limits, making it on to Forbes richest self-made women list.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Look Styled by Zerina Akers. www.beyonce.com
AA: Zerina, What’s next for you?
ZA: I’m really excited to be launching ZerinaAkers.com! The site will house my portfolio of recent work in fashion and my blog– which will highlight the latest trends in fashion and beauty. My blog will give readers a chance to see fashion through my eyes and learn a few tips along the way. For example, one thing I love to do is mix high-low fashion and on my blog I will show everyone how it’s done. I’ll also be featuring up and coming designers and sharing other fashion how-to’s! I want my blog to help curate closets worldwide and influence how ladies express themselves with style.
Visit www.ZerinaAkers.com to learn more.
Zerina Akers, Celebrity & Fashion Stylist. Photo by Suzanne Abrams
