A passion for getting dressed gets me up each day and out of the door. It's my armor, my protest, my art. Fashion casts out despair.
We would like to thank you for supporting Perry Columbus in this years competition. Your participation allows us to empower the Elton John AIDS Foundation in their mission to end AIDS for everyone, everywhere.
What makes your style stand out?
A silent protest of what people think a black man from Detroit should dress like is probably at the root of my style philosophy. There can be a strict code of what is the norm and I love stepping outside of that box. It's exciting. Every day I treat getting dressed like solving a puzzle—travel and life in LA, New York, Italy, Hawaii, and the military taught me to mix fabrics and shapes until each look feels whole. I’m daring to mix things up but never loud for shock’s sake.
What’s your dream fashion moment?
Every day I get dressed is a dream fashion moment—playing with flowy fabrics and adding flair like Lenny Kravitz or Prince. But my ultimate dream fahsion moment would be winning this competition, flying to Versace, red carpet in front of photographers and seeing not just the runway but how everyone else attending is dressed too.
What would you do with $20,000?
If I win, I'd spend about half on clothes I’ve been dreaming of—pieces that are art to me and elevate my everyday style. Another portion would go to the creative direction arm of my entertainment company, bolstering my creative services quality and helping other artists refine their looks. The rest I'd put towards completing my first full album, "Despair and Fashion". I've been working on it for a bit now and this win would help make it a reality even faster.
