Conversations with Jannique Heard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jannique Heard.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been deeply connected to the arts, especially fashion and music. I started out as a rapper in high school, performing all over, and kept pursuing music seriously when I moved to South Florida for college. There, I studied fashion marketing while pushing my rap career even further.

After graduating, I moved back to the DMV, where I was born and raised, and landed a job as a visual merchandiser at Macy’s, creating fashion displays for years. When I was let go due to attendance issues, it actually set the stage for my next chapter. A former Macy’s coworker from Virginia, who had moved to New York and was working at Macy’s Herald Square as a visual/stylist, told me there was an open stylist position. I applied—and got hired almost instantly. I packed up, moved to New Jersey, stayed with that same friend for a year, and worked as a stylist at Herald Square, all while still recording music.

I spent three years there until another friend, who always admired my personal style, asked me to style their clothing line. That experience was a turning point. From then on, I poured myself into fashion—connecting with photographers and showrooms all over NYC, hustling by test shooting for free, lugging around my big purple suitcase, collaborating on editorials, and choosing picture credits over money.

I landed my first editorial with photographer Rico for Hue Magazine, which was incredibly exciting. That opened doors to more test shoots with agencies like IMG, One Management, Wilhelmina, and NYMM, eventually leading to more magazine features.

I took the leap to go full-time into styling, letting music take a backseat. Early on, I styled artists like Que from Day 26 and battle rapper Math Hoffa, and shot my first music video with director (and good friend from home) Langston Sessoms for Lightshow, which was special because we were all from the DMV.

Around that time, I became a fan of Griselda and decided to take a chance by reaching out to see if any of them needed a stylist. Conway The Machine was open—well, not at first (haha). I remember telling him, “Trust me,” and thankfully, he did. Now, six years later, I’m his Creative Director and Stylist. I designed his last two album covers, was creative lead in ‘23–‘24, and am currently working on the third for ‘25.

I’m also the lead stylist for dancehall artist Alkaline. Over the years, I’ve styled campaigns for Walmart (NFL, NBA, NHL), Macy’s, Target, Puma, Saucony, Timberland, Steve Madden, and even led campaigns for Christian Dior Men’s, Highsnobiety, Complex, and Atlantic Records. I’ve also worked with artists like Kevin Gates, Icewear Vezzo, ScarLip, Math Hoffa, Method Man, Benny The Butcher, Westside Gunn, Que from Day 26, and more.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was not a smooth road. I had to take countless free gigs just to build a resume and get my foot in the door. I lived with roommates and still struggled to pay my bills— spending my own money to pull clothes for shoots, often without ever seeing that investment come back.

Some showrooms—which I won’t name here—were downright prejudiced against stylists who didn’t have a “Michael Jackson-level” roster (said with all the sarcasm). It was tough: constant closed doors, a hundred “no’s” for every one “yes.” But that grind taught me resilience, sharpened my craft, and built the foundation for everything I’ve accomplished since.

On top of that, my dad’s mom was diagnosed with cancer, all while I was stuck in a mentally abusive relationship. There were so many reasons to just stop. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as it looked online.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a wardrobe stylist and creative director who’s deeply rooted in the worlds of fashion, music, and culture. I started out as a rapper, so my approach to style has always been tied to storytelling and the emotion behind an artist’s image. Over the years, I’ve specialized in menswear styling, campaign work, and bringing a fresh perspective to artist branding — from editorial shoots to full-scale tour wardrobes.

What I’m most proud of is how I built this from scratch.

I think what sets me apart is my genuine artist-first approach. I’m not just putting clothes on people — I care about the story, the feeling, and how it all ties back to who they are and where they’re going. I also bring my background as a performer into my work, so I know how style moves on stage, on camera, and in people’s hearts. That mix of vision, lived experience, and hustle is what I’m known for.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I won Miss Baltimore beauty pageant. I also did ballet

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Jannnique