Ade Samuel On How She Hustled An Internship To Become A Top Celebrity Stylist
Ade Samuel is already hard at work when I walk into the living room of Yara Shahidi's home.
She moves swiftly back and forth between two full clothing racks and the Black-ish star—barefoot in an oversized black coat and a khaki-colored cap, her assistant closely in tow waiting to buckle a shoe or tighten a belt at a moment's notice. Yara playfully poses as Ade snaps photos of her finished look for reference before moving on to the next visual.
“Yara and I met when I did the Essence cover," she says, referring to the first-ever “Black Girl Magic" issue that also celebrated fellow trailblazers Teyonah Parris and Johnetta "Netta" Elzie on three separate covers.
At 27 years old, Ade is doing the damn thing. She has snagged clients like Nicole Richie and Christina Aguilera to Alicia Keys and Marsha Ambrosius, just to name a few who've walked red carpets of award shows and graced sets of high-fashion magazine shoots donning her style visions.
When it comes to her clients, Ade is all about her business. While prepping Yara for the Radio Disney Awards, I watch her mind turn as she directs her assistant in straight boss mode. After a few minutes, she remembers that I'm still in the room and kindly asks if I've gotten everything that I needed and promises to meet up the following week before hustling back over to Yara to finish her morning session. I catch the hint and head towards the door, feeling a little Alice in Wonderland as I exit the world of the fashion queen and tumble back into my own.
Yara Shahidi style session
As a child, Ade undoubtedly knew that her place was in the fashion world. Born to Nigerian parents, where colorful garments with bold patterns and vast arrays of textures were a staple in the Samuel household, it's no surprise that she put pencil to paper drawing dresses and creating her own creative combinations.
“It's so funny because my family are not fashion-driven people," Ade says when we catch up a few days later. We're seated outside at a large round table at Aroma Coffee & Tea, one of her favorite food spots as confirmed by the cashier who gave her a knowing smile when we strolled up to the counter. “I honestly just had an innate feeling and love for it. When I would watch movies, I wouldn't be interested in the movie itself and what's happening, I'd just sit there like, 'Oh, shit, what are they wearing? How can I wear that to school?' I was a little girl, like six or seven, and I was like, I want to put this on.'"
“I honestly just had an innate feeling and love for [fashion]."
At Buffalo State University, she did a three-year program in Fashion, Merchandising and Textile Technology while picking up internships at fashion and beauty PR firm Tractenberg & Co. and W magazine. Working in editorial, she found that having a strong knowledge of high-fashion brands wasn't optional, it was a necessity. So she spent a semester abroad in Siena, Italy to understand the appeal of Italian-made designs. “I wanted to see how art influenced fashion and understand why art is so important to designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino," says Ade. “It's because the art culture in Italy is insane, from the buildings, the architects, the painters."
After returning to the states, she interned at Teen Vogue while completing her formal education at the Fashion Institute of Technology and working as a manager at the South Street Seaport location for Express. At the end of her senior year, she was offered a position at the magazine as a fashion assistant, but it wasn't quite what she had in mind for her career path.
“I turned the job down at Teen Vogue because I wanted to be a stylist. Why would I take a position to be in the fashion closet when I wanted to be a stylist?" she says, biting into her egg, black bean and bacon breakfast burrito.
“I remember talking to James [Worthington DeMolet] and Karla Welch, and Karla telling me, 'You can always be a stylist. Working at a magazine is once in a lifetime. It's a great way to cultivate relationships. This is the way people are going to know who you are.' So I took their advice and ended up doing that; I went back to the magazine."
At Teen Vogue she slayed. So much so that she was promoted to Accessories Market Assistant Editor before a job with Kate Young for Season 2 of Fashion Star landed her in Hollywood styling for Nicole Richie, just shortly after leaving the magazine. But once the gig was up, the Bronx-native found herself on a flight back home.
Booking consistent jobs is one of the many challenges of being a stylist, and one that Ade doesn't take lightly. “There's always that fear as a stylist of will they book me again? So you always have to deliver. Every time it has to be something new, something fresh. It has to be something that makes people remember."
It's part of what drives her to go above and beyond to make her clients happy and to cultivate strong relationships with fellow stylists, brands and clientele. “You have to know your competition and you have to see what they're doing that's keeping them consistent in work. Think about what you can do in your niche and how to be an innovator with your clients. The reason why some stylists don't find consistent work is because they do the bare minimum. They do like, 'Okay, let me go call in clothes' or 'Let me go to the store and buy something and then put it on my client' when it's like you're costing them money now. A stylist like me or a bigger stylist has relationships. We don't need to go to Versace and shop. We can just get Versace in for you through our relationships with the PR company."
"Think about what you can do in your niche and how to be an innovator with your clients."
Three months after being back in New York, Ade received a referral of Nicole Richie to work as an assistant to Simone Harouche, stylist for stars such as Miley Cyrus and Christina Aguilera. Once again Ade packed her bags and headed for L.A.—and this time she wasn't coming back.
“I think it's all about showing people that you work hard without trying to show them you work hard," says Ade. "Sometimes I run into interns who are trying so hard to prove to me that they're doing work instead of just doing it."
"The work is going to show for itself."
I try to please who I'm working with and just make them feel comfortable and at peace. At the end of the day, styling and fashion is such a stressful industry that the assistant, intern or whoever you're working with should alleviate that. That's what I always try to do and that's my mentality about assisting and being a part of this space and energy of people when it comes to work. How can we alleviate each other's stress? How can we work with each other to make magic happen?"
Ade pauses to check her phone as I glance at mine. We're running late. “Let's head out," she says, taking a last swig of her latte.
I navigate the snake-like roads through Hollywood Hills, and park outside the home of Ade's client. Minutes later, Ade pulls up and heads inside, instructing her assistant to grab the garment bags before walking through the gate. After a few moments, she waves me inside the door of Big Sean's house.
“With Sean, he's street but then he's also high fashion," Ade says at she sets up the clothing rack for their styling session. “I love to do research based on the event that I get. When I look at a different red carpet or a different premiere, I usually do my research based on what people have worn in the past, then I develop and go from there."
Earlier, Ade confessed that Big Sean was one of the clients she really looked forward to working with. “Because I liked his style," she says matter-of-factly. “I'm someone who likes a challenge in myself; I've never had a male client, but I knew I was able to do it. Big Sean, to me, has his own personal swag and style that's so trendy but yet not trying. It's his innate style to dress the way he does."
Ade's first session with the Detroit rapper was for the Grammy Awards, where his white and black tux and black patent leather Giuseppe Zanotti loafers became one of the most talked about red carpet looks of the night. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ade revealed that she referenced Al Pacino's character Tony Montana in Scarface for the formal fit. “It's kind of having that balance and looking for people, looking at different movies, and things that inspire me to differentiate his style and not make it so trendy," she says before rushing out of the room for more clothes.
It may be connections that have gotten her on the sets of high-fashion magazines, on the style team for Beyoncé's “Formation" video and working with A-list clients. But it's her work ethic and consistent dedication to her craft that's helped Ade brand herself amongst the fashion elite.
She hopes to not only have her name whispered amongst her clients, but also on the lips of the everyday consumer with her own shoe line Ade Samuel Shoes. “Everything that I've been doing—having my full time jobs, being an intern, assistant and then being able to turn around and create a shoe line—is still a shocker, but I'm happy that it's all come together and it's been major."
Despite the accomplishments that pad her résumé, Ade still has one thing in common with many of her fellow peers. “I think I'm still learning what my purpose is as I grow every day. It's something that I don't think I'm going to know or understand until I kind of get older, because every day I'm still figuring things out. I can't really put my finger to it, but I never get to a place where I'm like my purpose is to be a stylist, because I'm into so many other things. I'm a designer. I'd like to be on television. I'd like to be on-air, but I love clothes and I know that I'm great in that. I'm confident in doing that. Can I do other things? Yes, but I have to understand that it takes time."
One thing's for sure, on the road to purpose, she won't be easing her foot off the gas pedal anytime soon. “Slow down? What is that?" she laughs. "No, I really don't slow down now. I'm happy when my clients are happy. The fact that I am able to style my client, and make them feel good and confident on the red carpet or on the runway…that allows me to be appreciative. The fact that I spoke my dream to existence, I feel appreciative about that."
For this boss chick, it's full speed ahead as she takes the fashion industry by storm. No brakes necessary.
Go behind the scenes with Ade as she styles Big Sean and Yara Shahidi below!
Kiah McBride writes technical content by day and uses storytelling to pen real and raw personal development pieces on her blog Write On Kiah. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @writeonkiah.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Do You Want To Be A Wife? Or Do You Just Want To Have A Wedding?
Even though it’s my life, sometimes I look at it and totally trip out over certain things.
For instance, even though I am aware that both Hebrew and African cultures put a lot of stock in the name of a child (because they believe it speaks to their purpose; so do I) and I know that my name is pretty much Hebrew for divine covenant, it’s still wild that in a couple of years, I will have been working with married couples for a whopping two decades — and boy, is it an honor when they will say something like, “Shellie, we’ve seen [professionally] multiple people and no one has been nearly as effective as you have been.”
Yep, me. Little ole’ never-been-married-before me. Yeah, y’all better quit letting people tell you what you’re called to do in this world. That is between you and the One who made you.
Okay, but let me stay on track. When it comes to the engaged couples specifically, who have crossed my path, something that I believe I’ve said to each and every one of them (especially the bride-to-be) is — “You better enjoy every single minute of your wedding day because you deserve a big ‘ole party for all of the work that you’re about to do.” And then I look at the woman as intensely as I can and say, “And you? Remember, you are a bride for a day. You are a wife for the rest of your life.”
Why do I emphasize that point so much? It’s because those two things are not one and the same. Hmph. Let me tell it, a huge reason why 70 percent of divorces are initiated by women, however, is because a lot of them think that it is. And so, in the effort to do my part to help make marriages last longer and cause the divorce rate to go down, I think it’s important for more women to ponder if they really want to be a wife — or if they just want to throw a big party (a wedding), go on a trip (a honeymoon) and not much more than that.
Buckle in. This one might be a bit of a ride (for some, at least).
It’s Time to Stop “Living for the Fairy Tale”
GiphyIf you’ve been reading my content for a while (and if so, thank you), it will not shock you in the least that I’ve spent many years studying the origins of things as they directly relate to marriage. I know that the engagement ring is not about love but about a jewelry company that was about to go bust. So, they came up with the slogan “A diamond is forever” and then made some serious bank from it (you can read about that here).
I know that white wedding dresses have nothing to do with purity and virtue; in fact, women in the Bible often wore lots of bright colors during their more-than-one-day wedding celebrations. Actually, white comes from Queen Victoria making it famous back in the 1840s. I also know that a lot of people were pretty obsessed with evil spirits back in the day because things like wearing a wedding veil and bridesmaids wearing the same dresses were all about hiding from said spirits. Another pretty popular wedding day tradition? Well, I’ll just let you read Insider’s “Here's the horrifying truth about why grooms carry brides across the threshold,” if you’re interested.
And as far as marriage goes, don’t even get me started on the whole “I’m living for the fairy tale” narrative that gets pushed incessantly. I’ve said in other articles before that "fairy tale" literally means “a story, usually for children, about elves, hobgoblins, dragons, fairies, or other magical creatures” and “an incredible or misleading statement, account, or belief.” Who wants to live for childish stories that are incredibly misleading? And the ones that have a character like Prince Charming in it? The Bible literally says that “charm is deceitful” (Proverbs 31:30).
Know what else the Bible says? It states that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). So, what’s up with all of this wedding/marriage rhetoric that’s so popular and also, so… “silly” is the first word that comes to mind, “unrealistic” is the second and “unnecessary” is the third?
Why are there so many expectations, especially when it comes to the wedding day, that push folks to the point where a whopping 49 percent of couples end up going into debt right after jumping the broom — all because they wanted to live for the fairy tale and throw a big party that they basically couldn’t afford? SMDH.
It really is wild, just how much human nature tends to do things without even really knowing WHY it does it — even when it comes to marriage. And so, if you are someone who desires this type of union, be honest with yourself: what is your “why”?
When it comes to becoming a wife someday, WHY do you want to do that?
A man needing to spend three times his salary on an engagement ring, WHY?
When it comes to having a big traditional wedding, WHY is it necessary?
Marriage is a goal for you (and don’t get me wrong, marriage is a beautiful thing) — WHY is that the case?
When it comes to being married, WHY do you think it will better serve you than your single state?
Motivational speaker Eric Thomas once said, “When you find your ‘why’, you will find a way to make it happen.” And when it comes to something as big (and supposed to be lifetime lasting) as marriage, perhaps a big part of the reason WHY so many of them do not go the distance is because there aren’t enough “why” questions, on the front end, that are asked (which is why you should partake in premarital counseling before your wedding day). Oh, but there should be.
Because saying “why” you want a huge wedding is nothing more than “because I want to” or “why” you chose the man that you did is simply “I love him” — I’ve been doing this couples work thing long enough to assure you that those answers simply aren’t good enough. You need to know what it means to be a wife and why a marriage and a wedding are not the same thing…not by the longest country mile that you can imagine.
What It Means to Be a Wife
GiphyIf you’ve been reading my content for a while now, you know that I’m good for throwing some Scripture in; it’s a part of my foundation and I make no apologies for it. And so, when it comes to what it means to be a wife, the first word that’s used to define it in the Bible is “helpmate” (Genesis 2:18). A helpmate is a companion, a helper and someone who assists another individual — in this case, a husband.
While we’re here, a helper is not helping unless the help is actually needed and it’s good. Lawd, I can’t tell you how many wife clients I’ve had who have totally missed that part. So, what does “good help” look like?
- A good helper ASKS the person they are assisting what they need.
- A good helper does not try to control another person or make them do what they want.
- A good helper gets that needs can shift based on what is transpiring at any given time.
- A good helper makes things easier and less stressful.
- A good helper learns how to master good listening, effective communication, and wise timing.
And yes, in many ways, this is what it means to be a good wife. So, if you are someone who desires marriage, when it comes to what is required to be not just a wife but a GOOD WIFE, how much have you factored helping your man into the dynamic?
Not mothering him. Not bossing him around. Not trying to manipulate him into being a version of a husband that you would prefer. No, how much thought have you put into “Am I equipped to help another person be their best self? Am I ready to be supportive, encouraging, and nurturing? Was it even modeled to me, while growing up, to know what a proper helpmate looks like? Have I realized how much sacrifice goes into that type of role? Am I even selfless enough to be a consistent helper?”
I know this is probably gonna ruffle some feathers yet, you know something that I’m not big on? Women saying that their man should give them the “princess treatment.” Every time I hear that, the first thought that comes to my mind is “Fathers make their daughters princesses while men make their wives a queen” — and little girls are treated differently than grown women. And to that, Proverbs 12:4(NKJV) says, “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.”
My point? There is a MATURITY that is to come from going from princess to queen. A queen does have more privileges, yet, at the same time, she also has way more responsibility. It’s not about sitting around and being catered to all day long. Queens have work to do — and it’s not always comfortable or pretty. Same thing goes for being a wife.
Y’all, I could go on and on (and on and on and on) about what it means to be a wife in a marriage. For now, I’ll just end this part of the article with, “If you’re not ready to help, each and every day of your relationship, you’re not ready to be a wife.” Plain and simple.
Weddings Are Not Marriages (and Vice Versa)
GiphySo, why do so many people jump brooms (I’m writing this with Black folks in mind first; jumping brooms is for us only), only to turn around and get divorced a few years later? Oh, I could go on and on as well about how a lot of people don’t have much integrity when it comes to the promises that they make. Listen singles, when you’re dating someone, pay very close attention to whether the person you’re seeing keeps their word — and if you do the same.
It makes absolutely no sense to keep letting someone slide when it comes to reneging now, only to act shocked when they do the same thing after saying “I do.” And while we’re here, being a man or woman of your word is a character issue. Maybe folks are not strong in character when it comes to this.
Yet another reason why folks will get all dolled up, stand before God, family, and friends, look someone straight in the eye, and promise to never leave, only to do just that, is because many people honestly don’t see past their wedding (and maybe their newlywed years). That is why you will hear so many people describe their perfect wedding day, down to the last detail, and yet, if you ask what their five-year plan for their marriage is, they have absolutely not one clue.
I mean, I get it — to a certain extent. A wedding is a big party where you get to dress to the nines, have people come to celebrate you and you get to have everything go your way — down to the font on the programs and reception napkins. Oh, but what a “trick” that can be if you think that your marriage is going to move like that, all of the time, moving forward. I liken it to The Bachelor franchise. Who wouldn’t feel like they are falling for someone when they’re able to live in a mansion with no bills, have fantasy dates that cost thousands of dollars, and a big ole’ rock that a famed jeweler donates?
Meanwhile, folks should watchUnREAL (the television series from several years back where some former producers of the franchise talk about what really happens behind the scenes) to get a reality check. To a certain extent, the same thing goes for marriage: while weddings produce this belief that marriage will be one big party where everyone focuses on you and everything goes your way, that isn’t even close to being the reality of being married.
Honestly, the real deal is 1) if you don’t want to learn how to love on a supernatural level; 2) if you don’t want your strengths to be refined and your weaknesses to be challenged; 3) if you don’t want to be held accountable in ways that you would never be if you remained single; 4) if you don’t want to compromise on a daily basis and, 5) if you don’t want to be challenged to become a truly selfless individual — marriage isn’t for you.
You’d be far better off just throwing a big ass party for yourself, just because (and no, I don’t mean marry yourself; you are already “one” with you; no need for that), and call it a day. Spare yourself and another person the heartache of divorce because…divorce is A LOT to go through.
Lawd, I can only imagine how much drama could be spared if folks simply took into their spirit that weddings ARE NOT marriages and marriages ARE NOT weddings. Weddings are a party to celebrate your union — yet your union? That requires daily energy, effort, and time. It’s not a party. It’s a relationship. BIG DIFFERENCE.
Please Don’t Get Married Until You’re Sure That You Want…BOTH
GiphyAnd this is why, whenever someone tells me that they are going to get married, I don’t immediately respond with, “Congrats! That’s awesome.” NOPE. The very first thing that comes out of my mouth is something along the lines of, “For real. Why?” WHY? Because, it never fails that, about 7.5 times outta 10, folks will be caught off guard and say, “What do you mean ‘why’?” and then follow that up with, “Because I’m in love” or…they don’t really know what to say at all.
Is being in love a good answer? I mean, it explains why you picked the person that you did; it doesn’t really explain why you are choosing to commit to them for the rest of your life, on a marital level, though. Are you getting married because you know that the two of you will make each other better people? Are you getting married because you want to raise your children in a two-parent dynamic? Are you getting married for biblical reasons like wanting to love like Christ loves his bride (the Church and the Church sent him through A LOT — Ephesians 5)?
Are you getting married because you think you’ve gone as far as you can in your evolution as an individual without the assistance of another? Are you getting married because you want to serve another person as they do the same for you (perhaps not in the same ways because you’re both different people)?
Is that asking the most? Chile, that’s not asking enough. I don’t care how much people mock marriage in the media by changing partners like they change cars or homes. I don’t care how much divorce has been normalized. I don’t care how much folks like to act like a husband is a 2.0 boyfriend (it’s not) and having a wife is a 2.0 girlfriend (it’s not) — marriage is special, sacred, and needs to be honored as such. A wedding should be seen as a happy occasion where two people publicly acknowledge what I just said…not simply a time to get a lot of attention and presents only to come home and go from heaven to hell in six months.
And honestly, that’s a bit part of the reason why I do what I do: it’s because I actually think the covenant of marriage is SO MAGNIFICENT that I want to make sure that people know, as much as possible, what they are signing up for — not an endless wedding; a very real relationship that will challenge them and mature them like nothing else ever will in this lifetime.
____
This was a lot. I already know. Still, it beats spending thousands of dollars on a wedding to stand before a chaplain only to spend thousands of more dollars several years later on a divorce lawyer and therapy while standing before a judge.
Weddings are awesome; you’ll get no argument from me there. Still, I think if I was to narrow all of this down into one statement, it would simply be this: “When it comes to marriage, if the thought of being a wife doesn’t excite you more than being a bride — wait. You’re not ready yet.”
Thank me later, sis. YOU WILL.
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