Marquelle Turner-Gilchrist of The New Stereotype//
Bevel Code: What or who inspires your style?
Marquelle: My style is inspired by the things I've been exposed to in life. I was fortunate enough to live in Europe for a brief period of time, and my time there exposed me to a new way of dress, creating this lens of possibility. I would also say growing as a man has increased my confidence and encouraged me to try things.
BC: What are your fashion rules?
MTG: I don't have any rules. And that's mostly because I focus more on style rather than fashion. Fashion is the business of selling clothing and communicating it to customers. Style is how you interpret it. Fashion is what you inhale and style is what you exhale.
BC: How has working in fashion impacted your style rules?
MTG: Fortunately, I work in fashion so it's a fine balance between being on trend and this "American" approach to prep and clean lines. Because certain parts of the industry are liberal, I'm privy to some styles before they're mainstream, and I get to "test" them.
MTG: Much like my style, this haircut allows me to express my creativity, while still maintaining a clean and polished look. I'm a fashion buyer, so to be on trend is important. But I also must appear as an authority in my area of buying (menswear including suiting).
BC: What does NY mean to you? How do you feel when you're there?
MTG: NYC means liberation. It means going with your gut and taking risks. Prior to moving from North Carolina, most folks would say I was very safe because I come from a conservative state but I've learned to live differently and to be open. When I'm here, I feel this sense of consistent inspiration. Inspiration is in the air!
BC: Why is self-expression important?
MTG: Self-expression allows you to vent without saying anything. It can highlight your mood and ties into body language, which is the only true universal language. It took me 29 years to accept my entire being, and now I wanna share it in an unapologetic way.
BC: What gives you a sense of pride?
MTG: Believing in my vision and seeing it come to life gives me a sense of pride. Over a year ago I started a project called The New Stereotype, which celebrates and highlights the many diverse layers of black life in America through fashion, photography, and film. To see a simple vision come to fruition makes me feel proud. I remember reading once where Tristan Walker said, "Take a simple idea and take it seriously." To stick to something you believe in and consistently see the support of others gives me a sense of pride.
