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[title]Imani Duck Coppola, 34; singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and owner of Plush Moon Records (imanicoppola.com); Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Her personal style: “Afro-punk, pagan funk, crazy Buddha. It’s colorful, bold and carefree. As a singer, I get to wear whatever I want, whenever! I’m currently making a solo record and I like to look like Andy Warhol on mix days. In general, I like to wear friendly and approachable looks, but always paired with a fuck-you element. I’m a New Yorker—I need attention, but I also need my space.”
Her inspirations: “Art in the 21st century, Brooklyn, music, nature and sleep deprivation.”
Favorite stores: “I love the atmosphere at Beacon’s Closet (92 Fifth Ave at Warren St, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-230-1630 • 88 North 11th St between Berry St and Wythe Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn; 718-486-0816 • 10 W 13th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, 917-261-4863 • beaconscloset.com). I love how everything is organized by color and I love the music they play. I am often driven out of clothing stores in a cold sweat with my heart palpitating because of the music. This doesn’t happen at Beacon’s Closet. Music is important; the right music really helps you get into the zone you need to be in to get the right looks for yourself. I get a little nostalgic when I go to Goodwill (1100 Fulton St between Classon and Franklin Aves, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; 718-789-0856) in Bed-Stuy. When I was growing up, we shopped in thrift stores because we couldn’t afford to shop elsewhere. It was embarrassing for me then, but now it’s like a source of pride. There are so many incredibly unique items you can find in a secondhand store. I almost always leave feeling like I just won the fashion lottery. Sometimes I like to wear clothes that make me feel like a spiritual leader, and the items from Callalilai (827 Broadway between 12th and 13th Sts, 212-477-7377 • 43 Spring St between Mott and Mulberry Sts, 212-334-2188 • 296 Atlantic Ave between Hoyt and Smith Sts, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn; 718-875-1790 • callalilai.com) give me that feeling of spiritual togetherness. The tribal patterns and earth tones just make me feel one with it all. The store also carries Aoyama Itchome, who is one of my favorite designers and makes very loose-fitting, comfortable yet beautiful clothing. Om.”
Favorite salons: “I go to Creative Hair Spa (326 9th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-788-8796, creativehairspa1.com) for facials and massages. It’s a utility spa—very basic. The prices are reasonable and they don’t give me shit for same-day appointments. I also just discovered D’mai Urban Spa (157 Fifth Ave between Lincoln and St. Johns Pls, Park Slope, Brooklyn; 718-398-2100, dmaiurbanspa.com), which is soon to be my new favorite. It’s fancy-pants. I go there when I want to feel like I’m at a spa in the Virgin Islands. Once you step inside, you won’t feel like you’re in Brooklyn anymore, which is the whole point.”
Her signature garment: “Harem pants. Not the best bottoms for bike riding, but so very comfortable. I live in the ’hood, and although it’s sometimes nice to be admired from behind, it’s also nice to know your ass is covered on the days you just don’t feel like being some passing stranger’s sexual fantasy.”
Favorite designer: “I love Junkprints (junkprints.com). Chanel Kennebrew is the designer and owner—she’s awesome. She makes really funky, urban, kooky stuff with bright colors, fun shapes, crazy prints and tons of personality. It’s Tokyo meets Brooklyn.”
How she describes New York style: “It’s a celebration of self. It’s freedom of expression.”
How her style has evolved: “I first moved to Manhattan when I got a record deal at 18—I was still a kid. I just wanted to play with color and sparkle makeup, snort Pixy Stix and create wacky characters. I used to look like a cross between Rainbow Brite and Punky Brewster in a fluorescent Ricky’s wig paired with bright-green fairy wings and clown shoes. I was cuckoo pants, didn’t give a fuck and loved it. But then something changed in me as I lived in the city longer: This concept of looking ‘cool’ grew on me. It’s interesting; nowadays it seems as if we’re back to where the ’90s wanted to go—be as outrageous as you can possibly appear to be, but I did that already. Now I like to outrage through the medium of my music and look cool while I’m doing it.”
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