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 Films Issue 47 Farida Khelfa France’s fashion muse. Fashion Issue 47 Between Us The world looks brighter among old friends. Fashion Issue 47 Veneda Carter An interview with a superstar stylist. Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 47 A Picture of Health Xiaopeng Yuan photographs the world’s weirdest wellness cures. Design Fashion Issue 47 Jean Touitou The A.P.C. founder on the demands of hype and craft. Design Fashion Issue 47 Hot Desk The many faces of a multifunctional workstation.
Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 47 A Picture of Health Xiaopeng Yuan photographs the world’s weirdest wellness cures.