Latto has no fears when it comes to performing her infectious hip-hop hits like "It's Givin" onstage, but when it came time for her first New York Fashion Week, she was admittedly a little nervous.
"[Fashion week] wasn't what I expected it to be, in a good way. I'm very shy and my social anxiety tends to creeps up on me. So I went into this thinking, 'I'm going to be so out of my element.' I'm panicking, right? " the "Big Energy" rapper tells BAZAAR.com. "But after the first day, it became fun. It felt like playing dress up for work. I wasn't even in my social anxiety bag. I was just flourishing."
And she definitely turned out the looks, including a sultry satin gown by MÔNOT for the Harper's BAZAAR Icons party, a schoolgirl-inspired fit at Tommy Hilfiger (by Tommy Hilfiger of course), and a leopard-print embellished number courtesy of Sergio Hudson. To plan the outfits, Latto worked collaboratively with her glam team, including her head stylist — and longtime wardrobe consultant to the stars, including Beyoncé — Zerina Akers.
"Me, my hair stylist, my makeup artist, and then my wardrobe stylist — we would all collaborate on these looks. It all started with the outfit," Latto explains. "For whatever show we were going to, we would select the outfit and go off of the designer's vibe. For instance, with Marni, we were choosing different prints and bright colors, just going with the flow of the designer and then adding our little two cents in the overall look, but still making it me. My team always snapped. They understood the assignment."
The rapper had a jam-packed schedule. In between fittings and sitting front row at fashion shows (and fangirling over meeting fellow rapper Doja Cat for the first time), Latto also performed at the official dinner following Sergio Hudson's SS23 presentation.
"Sergio is so cool. We met in person at his show earlier that day and he made sure I felt comfortable," she explained, adding that the lavender gown he gave her for the performance was "so bomb." "He requested that I perform a certain song—he wanted me to perform 'Bitch from the South.' I was only doing two songs, like a little quick in and out, and I didn't initially have that song with me. But he was like, 'Oh you gotta perform "Bitch from the South" for me.' So I said 'Okay, I'll do whatever you want me to do!'"
If anything, her first NYFW has encouraged Latto to keep experimenting with fashion as she furthers her career. It's all a part of the job, after all.
"[Fashion goes] hand-in-hand with artistry and music. You have to look the part. Finding your own lane in fashion just helps you stand out amongst so many different artists, especially in a time like this. For me, I make it very clear where I'm from. I'm authentic and fun and I'm big on sex appeal. I have this voluptuous body that I like to show, you know what I'm saying?" Latto laughs. "Attending my first New York Fashion Week changed everything. It helped spread my wings to see the bigger picture. Whatever's next, I'm open for it. I'm here for everything fashion now!"
