Chrisette Michelle's Exotic Turban Look: Is Urban Entertainment Finally Ready to Get "Real?"

Are today's female R&B artists ready to break free of cookie-cutter molds and adopt more ethnically natural styles? Those following the burgeoning career of singer Chrisette Michele might agree. She happens to be one of the R&B world's breakout artists. Debuting in 2007 with album, I Am, she has quickly burned a trail in the entertainment world, becoming as much a fashion icon as a promising new artist.

Recently she was seen wearing a sparkly black turban on the red carpet at the Soul Train Awards (which took place in Atlanta on Sunday, November 28) with a sleek ruched, sheath dress. Donning a pair of strappy black pumps and bright lips, the singer completely channeled the sophistication of Hollywood's Golden Age. Clearly, it was the turban that set things off. And according to TheFrisky.com, this particular accessory is a trademark of celebrity stylist June Ambrose's (who styled Michele for the Soul Train event) flair for "period chic."

But it isn't the first time that Michele was seen sporting this exotic gear. Chrisette is seen in her "I'm a Star" video, channeling the same feisty "turbanized" swagger. Her decision to go natural and embrace more ethnic styles apparently hasn't affected her popularity, although initial record sales for second album Epiphany were deemed pretty low by industry standards.

But compared to other mainstream R&B singers, she is a throwback to many singers of yesteryear, opting for thought-out vocal melodies as opposed to looped sexual "nursery rhymes." One might even say that her daring approach to fashion is also directly represented by her musical style. By cutting her hair, and rocking a short-cropped natural 'do, she broke out of the pack.

R&B singer Solange (who ironically served as her opening act in 2008) underwent a similar fashion epiphany (pun intended), receiving much criticism from urban blogs about her short, naturally curly hairstyle. Some might say that Beyoncé's colorful sibling appeared to be taken more seriously when she was sporting the longer locks of a weave. But does this mean that black audiences are still firmly attached to the standard of beauty that tends to focus on more European features?

In an interview with VIBE magazine, Chrisette Michele explained how she came to shave her head: while on tour, a stubborn, glued-in piece of hair weave wouldn't come out. So she simply shaved it all off in frustration, realizing that maintaining the weaved look just "wasn't that serious."

Considering the panache of Michele's turban-friendly Soul Train ensemble, punches of "ethnicity" such as hers are bound to become trendsetting. After all, Chrisette Michele isn't the first R&B artist to embrace something different from than the "norm." Janelle Monae is famous for her funky retro approach to both fashion and music. But before Monae became one of Prince's prime picks to go on tour, it took a bit of time for her style to catch on with mainstream audiences.

Chrisette's similar approach to fashion isn't necessarily a new philosophy. But when more than one entertainer flaunts a style that is off the beaten path, you can expect droves of others to follow, as other non-black Hollywood entertainers are now sporting the turban. Is the entertainment world finally ready to diversify its over-saturated urban market? Perhaps---just one turban at a time.

SOURCES:

www.thelifefiles.com
www.latimesblogs.latimes.com
www.vibe.com
www.mtv.com
www.thefrisky.com