THE TRENDSETTER

Clients Jourdan Dunn, Ashley Graham, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tessa Thompson, Uzo Aduba

Lacy Redway is one of the few women in what is traditionally the boys’ club of high-fashion stylists. She started out assisting editorial and runway greats like Guido Palau and Eugene Souleiman. Now, she’s asked to do everything from magazine covers to awards shows. “I like to do nontraditional styles on nontraditional textures,” she says. “For example, doing a finger wave on natural hair, the way I did with Uzo Aduba at the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards. I love educating everyone on black culture through my work and making people feel their most beautiful self.”

SHE STARTED OUT YOUNG

I was that girl at school braiding all the student’s hair for money. That’s how I got my start: practicing on my friends, doing zigzag cornrows and other designs. Braiding has always been a core part of my foundation, so it comes up often in my work.

THE CONVERSATION IS CHANGING

With there being so many more roles opening up for actors of colour and women, everyone has become more comfortable embracing what makes them their most authentic self. One day you can wear natural hair and one day a wig, and that’s OK. It’s about celebrating you.

BUT THERE’S STILL WORK TO BE DONE

I’m often the only person of colour on a major shoot, so I try to make it my business to help others.