Fashion King: Steve Harvey

Romina Martinez for L'Officiel Arabia: Steve, growing up in Ohio, what drew you into the entertainment industry? Is it true that when you were about nine years old in the sixth grade you wrote a paper that you wanted to be on TV one day, and is it strange for you that you are now considered a Fashion Icon around the world today?

STEVE HARVEY: Well, that is a true statement. I was actually ten when I wrote the paper that I wanted to be on TV. Dressing up was always a part of my life because my mother was a Sunday school teacher so we had to go to church all the time. It was a requirement to dress up to go to church. It was old school back in the day. You had to wear a suit and tie to the church. I didn't mind dressing up, even as a little boy. That was kind of always a part of it. So when I was touring, even the first year with the Kings, when all the guys wore shirts and pants and what they normally performed in, I was the only one with a suit. And then the second year, all the Kings started wearing suits, which was a great compliment. So I've always just liked dressing up.

Is it strange for me to be considered a fashion icon? I mean, a hundred percent. I didn't see it coming. I owe that to two people. One, my wife, because she saw my love of fashion. She's always known that, and she knew that I didn't have time to shop, that I didn't have time to keep up with what was out there. And she knew I wanted a different look, but I didn't know how to get it. So it was her idea to hire Elly Karamoh. It turned out to be a real blessing because, all of a sudden, I could get the types of clothes that I really liked. But more than that, Elly knows a lot more about fashion than I'll ever know. He does his passion, his dream. He focuses on fashion quite a bit, and he brings a lot of stuff to me that, of course, I would never be able to find or locate. I get a lot of firsts. I get a lot of things that I just wouldn't find, and, while we go back and forth with some of the stuff, he has found out how to dress me as we've gone over the two - three and a half year journey we've been on. But if it wasn't for my wife and him, I probably wouldn't have this new title. It is a bit of a surprise.

 

RM: You worked several different jobs before landing your first gig at the Hilarities Comedy Club in Cleveland, Ohio from being a boxer, an autoworker, an insurance salesman, a carpet cleaner, and even a mail carrier. How do you feel these jobs prepared you for the hard road ahead as an entertainer, and what advice would you give your younger self?

SH: Well, I don't know that it was the jobs that prepared me for my life as an entertainer more as it gave me an appreciation for the blessings that this career has given me. I think it has done that. I think where I grew up, and how I grew up, and my father were more responsible for my work ethic, my attitude. The neighborhood I grew up in, the guys I grew up around, they kind of shaped and formed me as to who I am today, not my jobs. They're more responsible for anything about my work ethic.

I wish I had known this, just like I saw Tom Hanks do an interview, and I wish I had known this myself, but “this too shall pass” is the advice I wish I knew. Because I would get stuck in so many places trying to figure it out, when all I had to come to the realization that this too shall pass. That these dark moments, they're going to go away. These real high moments, they're going to go away. The moments when nothing's going on in your life, they're going to go away if you're willing to put in the work and the effort. I wish I had just known that earlier that this too shall pass but, it's sort of funny, because it's really helped me.

In my forties, I understood that without knowing. But that's why I stay kind of level. I don't get too high and overly excited, and I don't get too down. But things happen. You know, I've had the most crushing things in my life already happen. My mother passing was the lowest point I've ever been. All the departures of friends and relatives that I've had since then, nothing was more severe than my mother. Only thing I could imagine that could be worse than that is if I lost my spouse or my children. But, you know, just realizing that things are not forever is the best lesson I could have taught myself that I wish I knew.

RM: In your stand up comedy special “Steve Harvey: Don’t Trip, He Ain’t Through with Me Yet” you mention how money changes people when you comment on the effect of that “Michael [Jackson] money,” and how having so much of it likely influenced his very unique wardrobe style. How do you feel success has changed you or shaped your fashion sense into who you are today? Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a style icon yourself, and what change in your style evolution are you most proud of?

SH: When I wrote that joke and everything, the real essence about money is money doesn't change people. Money allows you to be more of who you really are. So when you see these celebrities going off on these tangents, that isn’t the first time they've gone out on a tangent. They've already been on these tangents before. When you see celebrities as being very generous, it is because they've always been a generous person whose money has allowed for more of their generosity. But at the same time, if you see a person or a celebrity that is an asshole, they've probably been an asshole for a while and money just allowed it to come through.

So money changing me, as far as styling, all I can tell you is I've always loved fashion. I've always loved dressing up. But when you have the means, of course you can afford nicer things now. You can afford more special items, you know, and I'm very grateful for that. But like I said, I didn't set out to be a fashion icon. I've always enjoyed dressing up. I've always gotten compliments on how I dress, even though when I was most famous for dressing was when I was on the Apollo and on the King tour, but it was all urban-wear, you know. I was repping the city boys. I was repping Detroit, Chicago, Philly, Cleveland. I was representing new dudes that had that old school. So I was fine with that, and now I’m a lot more mainstream. A lot more designer brand awareness. I don't really care what the name is because I'm not married to a brand. It's not like I only want this. Now, I wear what looks good. I wear what I love. I'm wearing what fits nice. Even though a lot of my suits, probably 90% of my suits are Dolce & Gabbana customs, I do wear Tom Ford and I do wear other brands. Balenciaga is huge for me. Berluti is really, really big for me.

RM: Speaking of unique wardrobe styles, you have such an incredible sense of style with  some of the best monochromatic looks I’ve ever seen put together. What is the styling process like during a fitting between you and your stylist?

SH: Well, that credit belongs to Elly because he brought that. I really liked it when he first brought it to me. He said this is what we're going to specialize in, and I went, “Wow, okay.” It was really his concept and his idea. I fell in love with it and I started getting into it with him so we started designing. We actually get suits made, and shirts and ties. The shirt and tie is the exact same fabric. We're not trying to find a tie that closely matches the shirt, we get the tie made from the same fabric of the shirt. So we were spot on, and that's why you get that monochromatic look that we are able to get. A lot of people think we're out there shopping, finding this stuff, we actually make it.

RM: Fortunately for us, you have a new clothing line H by Steve Harvey coming out soon. What can we expect from your new collection?

SH: I've gotten Elly Karamoh to get in there within the design team. We try to make a lot of improvements. I've had a clothing line for a while, but it was indicative of the way I used to dress. And now we're trying to bring it more into where I am today. So he's gotten in there with the design team and changed it, making it a more fitted suit. We're offering some of the monochromatic looks that we’re doing, and so I think it would be a really nice change. I think it'd introduce a lot of younger people to this new collection.

RM: You once said comedians have a third eye to be able to see things others don’t. Do you think this also applies to being able to have a keen eye for trends?

SH: Oh, absolutely. You can make a lot of money and still not know how to dress. Money's not going to make you have an eye for fashion. One thing we're very conscious of though is just because it is in style, doesn’t mean it’s for you. Skinny jeans were all the rave a little while ago. That's not a look for me. Plus, you know, I'm 65. So I also have to remember that whatever I put on has to be age appropriate. That I can sell without trying to look like I belong in another generation. No, I want the generation to want to be like me. I don't want to be like the other generation. That's not me. I'm not following the crowd. What young artists do, that’s them. You know what I do? I like it when they go, “Man, what Uncle Steve’s got on is really dope,” or something like that. You know, I enjoy that. But I'm not trying to beat them.

RM: With Paris Fashion Week coming up, will you be attending any particular shows, and could you tell us anything about your upcoming looks?

SH: I think we’re going to the Dior show. Balenciaga. If LV has a show, I’m pretty sure we’re going to that. But my wife will be at everything, you know, that’s for sure. I’ll go wherever she tells me to go. But I have no idea what I’m going to wear. None whatsoever. I’ve got way too much going on. I’m trying to figure out what I’m going to wear today right now. I’ve got about twenty or thirty shows to complete. I’ve got an anniversary coming up Friday so I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.

RM: What was your experience working with the all-Latinx production company, Burgerrock Media, for this cover with L’Officiel? Do you have a favorite look or moment for this particular spread?

SH: That was one of the best times I've had. I thought Irma Penunuri and her crew, I thought they were very thorough. I thought they were smart about it, and they were very creative. They were easy to work with. They were prepared. You know, I hate doing these things and then I’ve got to wait an hour for everyone to decide where to shoot, and what's going to be. So I thought that company was really, really good. Irma, who was in charge, was really smart.

I was kind of happy with everything else they chose. The gold suit, or the white with the silver outfits. I really liked the Gucci x Adidas collaboration jacket that they had. I wish they had pants with that. I was really happy with the shoot.

RM: Being that this is for L’Officiel Arabia, can you tell us about your business in the UAE and why you chose to start your company, Melt Middle East?

SH: Melt is a company formed out of Abu Dhabi. It's my love of the region. It’s why I’m there. It is where I love spending my downtime, in my free time. And Melt Middle East is a company that's designed to help shine a very positive light on the UAE and some of the beautiful things that they have. There’s tourism involved, but also for business too. I think the business possibilities there are amazing. And just to be around in a place where you can walk around freely without any fear of crime, or becoming victimized, I think that's just an incredible thing. I've never had it in my life, and I enjoy every day.

 

RM: Your most recent fashion looks went viral while you were visiting the Middle East. What is it about Abu Dhabi and Dubai that makes you dress so cool and vibrant?

SH: Well, you know, first off, it helps that I don't have to dress for TV. So everything I wear in my free time is a free choice. It’s what I'm feeling that day. Elly has a wide range of things for me to wear, and every day I decide what that'll be. And it just comes across. But I've got some kandoras made that are really, really fly. I’ve just got to see how far I can take it with the kandoras because, you know, everything over there is white. Every now and then there was another color, but very rarely. It was mostly white. But I got some ideas that I might try out. See how they’re taken over there in the Middle East, and they could be pretty fly. Pretty impressive. So we'll see.

RM: Will any of this style be featured in your clothing line H by Steve Harvey?

SH: No, I might do some separately over there. But no, I don't think I'd get any traction over here.

 

RM: Lastly, as Judge Steve Harvey, what would you consider to be a fashion-crime worthy of being fined for committing? What are your absolute do’s and don'ts of fashion that you can share with our readers?

SH: Well, I can only talk about the definite not’s for me. You know, what somebody else does is cool like I love seeing guys with sneakers on with suits. But the absolute not for me is a high-top sneaker with a suit. That's an absolute no for me. But I see other guys wear it, and they could pull it off. Skinny jeans are an absolute no for me. A shirt unbuttoned down to my navel is an absolute no. You know, I just don't get it. I don't wear big chains. And that's just a no for me. But I love to see NBA players and ballers and stuff with big chains all iced out, but that's not for me. That's a definite no-no for Steve Harvey. You will not see that.