In THE LOOK, OC friends drop by to try on our favorite new arrivals and tell us about their wardrobe preferences past and present. This week, OC's Mecca James-Williams interviews Luke James.
Luke James’ reputation precedes him. Before I had the pleasure of shooting and styling the up-and-comer in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, this week, I already knew him from his songs penned for everyone from Justin Bieber to Chris Brown, his new single “Options” ft. Rick Ross, which dropped this week, and yes, his dance moves in the seminal "Run the World” Beyoncé video. Okay, so the man is multi-talented. He’s also easy to hang out with: While I was styling this fella, he was crooning songs (the voice is quite impeccable), quoting Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, and discussing the astrology signs of his friends (incredibly, they’re all Virgos, including Bey). Read the interview to find out where he got the nickname “Wolf James,” his favorite spots for Southern food in NYC, and how his style evolved from pants four sizes too big to Dries Van Noten.
Name: Luke James
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Why did you move to NY? And why Harlem? Well, originally I moved to New York to shoot a movie, Black Nativity [based on the Langston Hughes musical]. I played a local worker. As for Harlem, I just had a lot of friends that lived in Harlem, and in NY in general, and I just needed change. I love the culture, I love the way of living, and I just love the city. That’s my reason for staying in [NY] and moving to Harlem.
What have you been wearing lately? You know what, I’m not really much into brands. I’m just into style, I guess. I just know what I like when I see it. I can throw on a pair of ripped up Levis and keep it moving.
Favorite places to shop? Back home and in NY? I go thrift shopping a lot, mostly on Sundays. Lower East Side—they have a lot of little flea markets here and there. I like jumping in and out of Opening Ceremony. There’s always great pieces in there. Pieces you won’t find anywhere else, so every now and then I’ll jump in there and snatch up something and treat myself. Back home: you know what? I really didn’t get into fashion or style there, so I really couldn’t tell you any place. Buffalo Exchange if anything. Again, I like to go thrifting.
Being from the South, what is the best taste of home in New York? Georgio’s! Georgio’s Country Grill, the food is absolutely good. Anything you ask them to make is just amazing. And for seafood, I would say Pearl Oyster Bar. It’s absolutely good. They have this lobster roll that’s absolutely delicious.
Where did the name Wolf James come from? Well, I’ve taken a liking to wolves just in general. When I was young, I loved wolves. For Halloween I was always a werewolf or something like that. I just love the hell out them and it just adapted to my personality. Luke in Greek actually means wolf. Pronounces LUK-OS, I believe. And that’s something I found out only two years ago. I guess it was just divine that it be something I’d fancy a lot—that they’d be an animal I’d fancy.
You’re currently wearing Umit Benan, Dries Van Noten, and Acne Studios. Why did you choose these pieces? You kn
Luke James’ reputation precedes him. Before I had the pleasure of shooting and styling the up-and-comer in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, this week, I already knew him from his songs penned for everyone from Justin Bieber to Chris Brown, his new single “Options” ft. Rick Ross, which dropped this week, and yes, his dance moves in the seminal "Run the World” Beyoncé video. Okay, so the man is multi-talented. He’s also easy to hang out with: While I was styling this fella, he was crooning songs (the voice is quite impeccable), quoting Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues, and discussing the astrology signs of his friends (incredibly, they’re all Virgos, including Bey). Read the interview to find out where he got the nickname “Wolf James,” his favorite spots for Southern food in NYC, and how his style evolved from pants four sizes too big to Dries Van Noten.
Name: Luke James
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Why did you move to NY? And why Harlem? Well, originally I moved to New York to shoot a movie, Black Nativity [based on the Langston Hughes musical]. I played a local worker. As for Harlem, I just had a lot of friends that lived in Harlem, and in NY in general, and I just needed change. I love the culture, I love the way of living, and I just love the city. That’s my reason for staying in [NY] and moving to Harlem.
What have you been wearing lately? You know what, I’m not really much into brands. I’m just into style, I guess. I just know what I like when I see it. I can throw on a pair of ripped up Levis and keep it moving.
Favorite places to shop? Back home and in NY? I go thrift shopping a lot, mostly on Sundays. Lower East Side—they have a lot of little flea markets here and there. I like jumping in and out of Opening Ceremony. There’s always great pieces in there. Pieces you won’t find anywhere else, so every now and then I’ll jump in there and snatch up something and treat myself. Back home: you know what? I really didn’t get into fashion or style there, so I really couldn’t tell you any place. Buffalo Exchange if anything. Again, I like to go thrifting.
Being from the South, what is the best taste of home in New York? Georgio’s! Georgio’s Country Grill, the food is absolutely good. Anything you ask them to make is just amazing. And for seafood, I would say Pearl Oyster Bar. It’s absolutely good. They have this lobster roll that’s absolutely delicious.
Where did the name Wolf James come from? Well, I’ve taken a liking to wolves just in general. When I was young, I loved wolves. For Halloween I was always a werewolf or something like that. I just love the hell out them and it just adapted to my personality. Luke in Greek actually means wolf. Pronounces LUK-OS, I believe. And that’s something I found out only two years ago. I guess it was just divine that it be something I’d fancy a lot—that they’d be an animal I’d fancy.
You’re currently wearing Umit Benan, Dries Van Noten, and Acne Studios. Why did you choose these pieces? You kn