Solange Franklin Reed
{{Short description|American fashion stylist}}
{{Orphan|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person | name = Solange Franklin Reed | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Solange Franklin | birth_date = | birth_place = | nationality = American | other_names = | education = Mount Holyoke College (BA) | occupation = Stylist, editor | years_active = 2015–present | known_for = Fashion styling | spouse = Brian Franklin Reed | children = 1 | website = {{URL|SolangeFranklin.com}} }}
Solange Franklin Reed (née Franklin) is an American fashion stylist. Since 2015, she has worked as an independent stylist, with a portfolio that includes editorial, runway, and celebrity styling. Franklin Reed was recognized as one of the inaugural New Wave: Creatives at the 2019 Fashion Awards.{{Cite web|date=2017-06-19|title=See a Stylist's Week-Long Outfit Rotation|url=https://repeller.com/stylist-solange-franklin-style/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Repeller|language=en-US}}
Early life and education
Born Solange Franklin, she was raised in Des Moines, Iowa.{{Cite web|last=Macon|first=Alexandra|title=Solange Franklin and Brian Reed Tie the Knot in Bed-Stuy|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/solange-franklin-brian-reed-wedding-akwaaba-bed-stuy|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Vogue|date=9 September 2016 |language=en-us}} Both of her parents are physicians.{{Cite journal|last=Keltner De Valle|first=Jane|date=March 2014|title=Solange Franklin|journal=Teen Vogue|volume=14|via=ProQuest}} From a young age, Franklin had a passion for fashion and frequently read magazines such as Honey. She cited Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, and Aaliyah as early fashion inspirations.{{cite web |last1=Blaze |first1=Toni |title=Solange Franklin Reed |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2020/06/11/wonderland-bfc-how-to-become-video-solange-franklin-reed/ |website=Wonderland Magazine |date=11 June 2020 |publisher=Wonderland |access-date=13 January 2021}} Franklin enjoyed shopping at thrift stores and often borrowed clothing from her older sister's closet. An avid reader of fashion blogs, she found them to be a catalyst for considering a career in the industry.
Franklin attended Mount Holyoke College, initially enrolling as a pre-med student. She later created her own major in race, gender, and health relations before eventually switching to African American studies.{{Cite web|last=Kliest|first=Nicole|date=2020-07-27|title=Solange Franklin Predicts the Future of Styling Post-Pandemic|url=https://www.thezoereport.com/p/how-stylist-solange-franklin-uses-clothing-as-armor-29600511|access-date=2021-01-17|website=The Zoe Report|language=en}} During college, she interned in the marketing department at Teen Vogue.
Career
Franklin Reed's fashion career began with an internship at Essence. She then secured a salaried position at Teen Vogue. After gaining experience, she transitioned into freelance work, assisting various stylists. For over four years, Franklin Reed served as the first assistant to fashion editor Giovanna Battaglia, whom she considers a mentor.{{Cite web|last=Warman|first=Emily|date=2015-04-30|title=Meet NYC's Most In-Demand Stylist|url=https://www.papermag.com/meet-nycs-most-in-demand-stylist-1427561450.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=PAPER|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2019-07-31|title=Behold: Solange Franklin's Vintage-Meets-Luxury Closet|url=https://coveteur.com/2019/07/31/fashion-stylist-solange-franklin-closet/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Coveteur}} She also worked as an editor-at-large for Paper.
Since 2015, Franklin Reed has worked as an independent stylist, with her portfolio including editorials, runway styling, advertising, and celebrity styling.{{Cite web|last=Kliest|first=Nicole|date=2020-07-27|title=Solange Franklin Predicts the Future of Styling Post-Pandemic|url=https://www.thezoereport.com/p/how-stylist-solange-franklin-uses-clothing-as-armor-29600511|access-date=2021-01-17|website=The Zoe Report|language=en}} She places a strong emphasis on representing creatives who are Black, women, curvy, and from other underrepresented communities.
Franklin Reed has worked with high-profile clients such as Serena Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Solange Knowles, Tracee Ellis Ross,{{Cite web|last=Colon|first=Ana|date=2020-06-02|title=How Solange Franklin Went From Pre-Med to Styling Magazine Covers|url=https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/solange-franklin-went-pre-med-130000784.html|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Yahoo! Life|language=en-US}} Zazie Beetz,{{Cite web|last=Net-A-Porter|title=BAFTAs 2020: Best Dressed|url=https://www.net-a-porter.com/porter/article-91abb098033796a5/reporter/news|access-date=2021-01-13|website=NET-A-PORTER}} and Kerry Washington.{{Cite web|last=Cochran|first=Sam|title=Kerry Washington Transforms a Bare Apartment Into a Cozy Family Home|url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/kerry-washington-transforms-a-bare-apartment-into-a-cozy-family-home|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Architectural Digest|date=14 March 2019 |language=en-us}} Her work has been highlighted by publications such as Pause and Editorialist.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-12|title=The Black Creative Professionals Making Waves In Fashion|url=https://editorialist.com/fashion/black-creative-professionals/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Editorialist|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Phelan|first=Bobby|title=PAUSE Highlights: 25 Black Stylists to Know|url=https://pausemag.co.uk/2020/06/pause-highlights-25-black-stylists-to-know/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=PAUSE Online |date=4 June 2020 |language=en-GB}}
In 2024 she styled the actresses on the cover of Essence
= Other work =
She was a speaker at the 2017 Women's March in New York City.{{Cite web|date=2017-03-06|title=Watch Dressed for Protest: How the Women's March Sparked a New Fashion Movement|url=https://www.glamour.com/video/watch/dressed-for-protest-how-the-womens-march-sparked-a-new-fashion-movement|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Glamour|language=en-us}} After styling the first troop of homeless Girl Scouts for Teen Vogue, Franklin Reed became a troop leader herself.{{Cite web|last=Gant|first=Essence|title=Three Black Women In Media Get Real About Identity And Career|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/essencegant/black-women-media-identity-career|access-date=2021-01-17|website=BuzzFeed|date=12 April 2018 |language=en}}
= Artistry =
Franklin Reed named Eartha Kitt and Simone Leigh as two inspirations for her work as a stylist. She described herself as tactile with her work, and as someone who seeks to be "bold" and "expansive." She encourages her clients to push themselves by 10% with their style choices.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-09 |title=Celebrity Stylist Solange Franklin Explains the Power of Centering Yourself When Shopping for Trends |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1305751/celebrity-stylist-solange-franklin-explains-the-power-of-centering-yourself-when-shopping-for-trends |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=E! Online}}
Personal life
She married journalist Brian Reed, host of S-Town, in October 2015. They met through a mutual friend. The couple legally changed their last name to "Franklin Reed" after appearing in court to secure the right to do so without hyphenating or merging their names.
They reside in Brooklyn, New York, and have one child (born 2021).{{Cite web|last=Franklin|first=Solange|date=2020-09-21|title=Solange Franklin: "I want our beauty to defy violations of touch, possession, and hierarchy"|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/y3z9dx/solange-franklin-i-want-our-beauty-to-defy-violations-of-touch-possession-and-hierarchy|access-date=2021-01-13|website=i-D|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ruiz |first=Michelle |date=2022-03-14 |title=Is Rihanna Changing Pregnancy Style Forever? |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/rihanna-pregnancy-style-effect |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}
Accolades
- 2019 – The Fashion Awards, The New Wave: Creatives, British Fashion Council{{Cite web|date=2019-10-10|title=The Fashion Awards 2019 Introducing The 2019 New Wave: Creatives|url=https://fabukmagazine.com/the-fashion-awards-2019-introducing-the-2019-new-wave-creatives/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Fabuk Magazine|language=en-GB}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.solangefranklin.com Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Franklin Reed, Solange}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century African-American women
Category:21st-century African-American people
Category:Mount Holyoke College alumni