Man urban fashion

Yes, there was a time when hip-hop stars Eve Jihan Jeffers and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs were thought of as ghetto-fabulous. Both had taken trends to the edge of over-the-top, fearlessly blending high style with an urban sensibility, influencing music fans and fashion designers in the process. But things done changed. According to Eve, who's preparing to launch Fetish, a womenswear line, and Sean, whose Sean John menswear line has garnered international acclaim, the hip-hop generation is maturing; its sense of style is evolving. Could it be that the call for a simpler life within the past year actually influenced hip-hop style, which seemed to thrive on excess? We brought together the versatile entertainers--Eve, 23 (who releases her third album, Evolution, and stars in the film Barbershop this month), and Sean, 32 (who appeared in this year's Monster's Ball and is touring to support his current album, We Invented the Remix)--to discuss the evolution of urban style. The result: a conversation about the death of ghetto fabulousness and the return to tradition and a look at how Black folks have always been fashion pioneers.

Sean: Eve, you and I have a similar sense of style. It's unpredictable; you really can't tell which direction we'll go. Your style definitely projects sexiness, strength, confidence and versatility--qualities I think most women want to project.

Eve: The way I dress reflects how I feel. Some days I want to feel very feminine, so I'll think, Okay, let me put on a pretty little dress. On other days I may want to be rugged, so I'll wear shoe boots with jeans and a T-shirt. A woman should dress from the inside out and always wear what she feels most comfortable in. Black women are creative dressers, so we know how to take the traditional and the trendy and give it our own flavor.

Sean: Yeah, like your hair. It's one of your creative trademarks. The wrong style can mess up the look a woman's going for, but I don't think I've ever seen you having a bad hair day. Black women take a lot of pride in their hairstyles, and other cultures are starting to catch on. Black women have always worn cornrows, and now you see people like Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez with 'em. As a man, I've always wondered how y'all come up with those styles and how you know what works.

Eve: My emotions dictate my hairstyles, too. If I feel happy, my hair's light and flowing; if I feel seductive, I have sexy curls; if I feel the need for a fresh start, I'll go short and chop it off, 'cause it'll grow back. I go through a lot of transitions in my life, and my hair reflects that. Right now, I love where I am. I feel free, and I'm moving into other areas like film and clothing design. So my hair is bright because it reflects my happiness.

Sean: There's something else that I, and I'm pretty sure most men, want to know. Does the time and care you put into achieving the beauty of your outer layer match the care you take with the bottom layer, which we don't get to see--unless we're lucky? I'm talking about undergarments, body piercings, tattoos. Are women as focused on those things as they are with getting, say, the newest Gucci shoes with bamboo heels?

Eve: You have to start with your bottom layer to really accentuate the outer. I'm addicted to lingerie. I love La Perla. I also love tattoos; I have seven. I think they add to the beauty of a woman if they're done in the right places in the right way. And women should always smell nice. When a woman walks by, her scent should be unforgettable.

Sean: I'm attracted to a woman who's fashion-conscious. If I see a woman from across the room, I go from the feet, to the eyes, to the gear. Do you took for a sense of style in your partner?

Eve: If we're going out together, we gotta look good together. You know what I'm saying? So if a brother isn't as stylish as I'd like him to be, he would have to be able to take suggestions, at least.

Sean: Yeah, I would give a crash course on style for about a week: Take a girl to Milan, hook her up. But if she's fighting the feeling, we may be better off as friends. Now I'm not knocking women who aren't into clothes, but for me, personally, it's like, "Baby, I just want to see your toes in some Manolos." But it's harder to change a man's style 'cause we're used to what we're used to. It's gonna take longer than a week. Brothers need help. That's part of the reason I started my own clothing line. How's yours coming along?

Eve: It will be available this fall. It's a fun line--kinda like urban couture. The line is definitely feminine and sophisticated, but I want women to feel empowered, sexy and independent when they wear Fetish.

Sean: What made you want to start your own fashion line?

Eve: I figured, Why not? I got tired of asking designers for clothes; it was time to start wearing my own stuff. I would love for Fetish to be as successful as Sean John. I admire the fact that your clothes are respected in every area of the fashion industry, from the higher end to the urban world. You were one of the first people I called to get some pointers.

Sean: As I said when we discussed it, I'll do anything I can to support you. I've been blessed as an African-American designer. The line is successful, and I was nominated for two Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards, so I hope I can open some doors. Eve, I think you have a bright future. A lot of entertainers think that their celebrity should carry them in the world of fashion. You're going about it the same way I did, with a love for clothes and being a true consumer of fashion. When we talked, it wasn't as Eve and P. Diddy, the recording artists. We sat down as an established designer and an up-and-coming designer. You had a lot of intuitive, intelligent questions, and you were serious about it. I'm proud to hear that it's taking off.

Eve: Thanks. I hope to be one of the first young Black female designers to introduce a line that truly reflects our sense of style. Overall, I want my clothes to scream, "I'm comfortable with who I am!"

Sean: I'm glad to hear your line is taking a sophisticated approach. Both of us have been associated with the term ghetto-fabulous, but that's something we did four years ago. It's played out. The hip-hop generation has evolved and matured from just being ghetto-fabulous to finding that happy medium between over-the-top and traditional, classic elegance. The phrase I'm coining is urban elegance. What we've done is kept our fierceness and our edginess, and combined it with a Harlem Renaissance vibe. That could only come from hip-hop innovation and Black people's style.

Eve: Right. Urban is still the edge, but now we've graduated into a more refined look. The best style is simple sophistication.

Sean: Now it's about the person. The clothes are just accessories. Style is about a person's inner strength.

Eve: I love to see us continually evolving and changing. That's who we are. And that's what keeps things exciting.

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