‘Fit Check
What we did in that one genre of music has become pop culture.
That fact alone perfectly encapsulates her cultural influence.
Now, Ambrose is bringing her magic fashion touch to another cultural subset: Formula One.
Whats your favorite look youve ever styled?
It would probably be the Missy Elliott blowup suit, that was dubbed a trash bag.
But, went on to [be] the iconic Halloween costume moment of our generation.
It was a process, because the technology didn’t exist when I created the suit.
We had to take it to the gas station to blow it up.
Because I didn’t really think about how I was gonna inflate it.
It had no stitching, it was all seamed with tire glue.
The outer layer which was the patent leather vinyl we were able to sew up.
Any little leak could throw off the inflation.
Which look would you say is the most culturally impactful?
We moved Missy from being a tomboy into more of a feminine aesthetic.
We took Jay-Z out of jerseys and baggy clothes and moved him into a more structured, CEO persona.
I couldnt call a fashion house and get that.
We weren’t even part of the conversation.
It was all about high fashion models and magazine covers.
I was fortunate enough to have a styling skill and I married the two.
Then we had the attention of the high fashion houses.
What we did in that one genre of music has become pop culture.
It became a culturally-defining moment of artistic expression that moved into streetwear and sports and lifestyle.
It normalized the Cardi Bs and the Doja Cats and the Lizzos.
You look at those punch in of artists and it just feels normal.
When we were doing it, it was hugely a risk of alienating that consumer.
Can you talk about the vision behind Diddys Met Gala look?
Sean really wanted to reintroduce the Sean John label.
He bought the name recently and he was very insistent that thats how he wanted to return.
Puff’s persona is very specific its very alluring.
It was kind of like Othello meets a really gangster version of Karl Lagerfeld.
He became the romantic Dark Knight.
Puff has a very high taste level.
Outside of hip-hop, what are you excited about in the future of fashion within the Formula One space?
There’s so much energy and so many opportunities.
Now, a young consumer can participate in that space in a really approachable, accessible way.
I have no doubt that it will bleed into streetwear.
It will bleed into commercial culture.
It’s going to be really exciting to see what comes out of the partnership.
Where does fashion intersect with sport, like Formula One?
Motorsport is a very elite space.
It could be as alienating as high-fashion couture.
The average customer couldnt necessarily imagine themselves wearing any of the pieces they see on the runways.
You see Ferrari doing runway shows because they recognize that people love the style and DNA of Motorsport.
All of the different cut lines have been infused in fashion since I can remember.
We’ve all had biker jackets.
Designers have been tapping into Motorsport on the runway for years.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
