Yara Shahidi has truly become one of the top fashion-icons of her generation. Whether she is sporting red carpet couture or casual Boho-chic, the college-bound 17-year-old always makes a statement with her unique style. It is no wonder that the Grown-ish star was just named brand ambassador for Chanel.
Recently, the young star sat down with People Magazine at the Aerie Real Role Model Campaign to discuss the fun-fashion trends that Grown-ish fans can follow on the show from bold dresses to mini-skirts and beyond.
“Michelle Cole, the costume designer, is phenomenal. She did the costumes for In Living Color, she did some for black-ish, and grown-ish too. She really does understand how integral our wardrobe is into our character,” Shahidi told People. “So we started the season with full mood boards, all sorts of stuff. I trust them so much so it’s more so that I get veto power if we ever come across an outfit I don’t like. But for the most part I like pretty much everything, and she does have that great eye for doing high/low [designers] and a lot of vintage stuff. She’s definitely opened my eyes to a lot. I have to shop with her.”
Shahidi, who has always remained true to her own sense of style, told People that that is one element that was a must for the characters on her new Freeform hit series. “It really is about who the person is and what they’re doing and so there are moments in which characters wear crop tops, there are moments in which somebody may wear something where theoretically more skin is showing but it’s driven by who they are personally and it’s not about trying to feed the theoretical need of this is what teenagers do. It always makes sense in the context of who that character is.”
So, just what has been Zoey Johnson’s favorite outfit so far on Grown-ish? Well, she can’t pick just one. “There was one really retro kind of moment…I’m in a dress and I have bell-bottom jeans on and glasses and a little ascot situation going on—that was a great one. I have some good ones throughout these 13 episodes.”
In addition to promoting her own fashion-style, Shahidi has combined her love of fashion with her passion for activism as she joins gymnast Aly Raisman, singer-songwriter Rachel Platten and more in the new Aerie campaign as an Aerie Real Role Model. “I just love the fact that I get to work with a brand whose message I appreciate and whose clothes I wear and who is really intentionally making campaigns,” Shahidi said of the campaign. “We’re not fitting into what their campaign is supposed to be but they’re fitting a platform to us.”
And just when we thought that we couldn’t love this rising star even more, she makes us fall in love with her all over again. Shahidi is truly one shining star that has cemented herself as a true role model not for this generation but for many more to come.
