Real estate agents rarely appear in the fashion pages of glossy magazines, but Lana Turner has never been much interested in doing what’s expected of her. The Harlem local (and, many would say, legend) first caught the gaze of the fashion media thanks to her impeccable style—simultaneously classic and unusual—which has now been admired and photographed by several generations of New Yorkers. She once sold a hard-to-shift townhouse by mounting a display of her outfits inside it. Turner is embedded in the history of Harlem—not just in its buildings, but also in its culture. I met her while working on programming with the literary society she’s helmed for 38 years. She’s currently organizing a season based around the life of Alain Locke, the philosopher, educator and “father” of the Harlem Renaissance. It’s not so much that Turner is “more than” her style (500 boxed hats included), it’s that she sees her wardrobe as integral to her This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Five Buy Now Related Stories Fashion Issue 19 Nick Wakeman Creating a menswear-inspired line for women, Nick Wakeman welcomes the challenges arising from forging new aesthetic territories. Fashion Issue 19 Camille Tanoh Camille Tanoh found his niche working for Pierre Hardy and Paul Smith. Now he’s blazing a path for the next generation of French designers. Fashion Issue 19 The Heat of the Moment Wide eyes, tense muscles, goose-bumped skin and sweat-dotted brows. Fashion Issue 19 On Courage The English word “courage” comes from the Latin term “cor,” meaning “heart", yet we often assign this virtue to acts of mere physical fortitude. Fashion Issue 19 This Tall to Ride Amusement parks offer us a taste of danger as sweet as cotton candy. Fashion Issue 19 Keeping Tempo: Henrik Vibskov From creating outlandish fashion shows to drumming in several bands, Henrik Vibskov keeps things unpredictable with his freestyle approach.
Fashion Issue 19 Nick Wakeman Creating a menswear-inspired line for women, Nick Wakeman welcomes the challenges arising from forging new aesthetic territories.
Fashion Issue 19 Camille Tanoh Camille Tanoh found his niche working for Pierre Hardy and Paul Smith. Now he’s blazing a path for the next generation of French designers.
Fashion Issue 19 The Heat of the Moment Wide eyes, tense muscles, goose-bumped skin and sweat-dotted brows.
Fashion Issue 19 On Courage The English word “courage” comes from the Latin term “cor,” meaning “heart", yet we often assign this virtue to acts of mere physical fortitude.
Fashion Issue 19 This Tall to Ride Amusement parks offer us a taste of danger as sweet as cotton candy.
Fashion Issue 19 Keeping Tempo: Henrik Vibskov From creating outlandish fashion shows to drumming in several bands, Henrik Vibskov keeps things unpredictable with his freestyle approach.
