Ilfenesh Hadera is committed to keeping things stylish, no matter the occasion. The Godfather of Harlem actress’s refined taste is evident whether she’s stepping onto the red carpet for her latest project or heading to Brooklyn for a slice of pizza. The native New Yorker’s approach to fashion is all about adapting trends to suit her needs and the seasons. If Hadera feels like throwing on a slip dress for a trip to the museum, she adds an Isabel Marant sweater to make her look autumn appropriate. Dinner with friends means little Jacquemus dresses and Bottega Veneta flats, or leopard Nili Lotan with a pair of Vans.
Hadera’s wardrobe may be designer-filled, but her vibe is laidback. A week’s worth of outfits shows her skill for mixing and matching coveted pieces and a willingness to infuse casual looks with a bit of runway glamour. Even trips to the gym can feel remarkably put together when you layer studded leather jackets over your leggings.
Here, Hadera guides Vogue through a week’s worth of looks.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper1/10Monday
It’s already a good week if I get to start it off with my friends at Dogpound. I missed this community so much during quarantine that I don’t even complain about having to wear a mask while I get owned by the assault bike (wear your damn mask!). Workout essentials: Super soft, super lightweight, high waisted Nike running tights, Athletic Propulsion Lab shoes, which I find wonderful in terms of stability and support, Palace Skateboards socks, and my favorite studded ACL leather/hoodie combo.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper2/10Monday
This jacket was a Christmas gift from my beau six years ago. He set the bar pretty high for himself with this one; it’s one of my most treasured pieces.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper3/10Tuesday
After months loafing around the house in tube socks and boy shorts, I swore if given the chance I’d never put on a flat again. So here I am meeting mom for coffee in my favorite Bottega Venetas, which are as comfortable as being in socks anyway.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper4/10Tuesday
If I’m in heels during the day, I like everything else to be pretty casual, so I paired them with these GRLFRND jeans and what I call my Tony Soprano shirt by Acne. I never do tons of accessories, but I love this classic Gucci belt and these Mykita sunglasses to give the fit a lil flash. I always match my metals.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper5/10Wednesday
I took a trip to Brooklyn for a pizza pie to go from my favorite spot, Lucali. I thank God every day that I live in Harlem, which is the opposite end of the earth from them. I love mixing prints and fabrics, and having some fun with looks.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper6/10Wednesday
I also love slip dresses for their versatility. This leopard one is Nili Lotan, like all of my slip dresses, and it’s so good with a T-shirt under it or over it like I’m wearing it here, with this Saint Laurent belt bag to give it a little shape. The T-shirt is from this great restaurant I used to work at called Super Linda. Plus, classic checkerboard slip-on Vans for driving ease and little extra funk.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper7/10Thursday
Rainy day today, my favorite kind of day, a good excuse to stay home and mess around with my new camera. If I had to pick a saying that summed up my at-home style, it would be “home is where the pants aren’t.” I’m always walking around in just a T-shirt. This one is Palace Skateboards, one of my favorite brands. They only do menswear, but I love oversized, and everything they do is really fun and well made. I’m wearing their Tri-Ferg logo tee, which is one of their classics. But this one is part of their “Tri-To-Help” series, which features ten different colorways and directly benefits the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper8/10Friday
The Whitney Museum is back! I missed museums. When this building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, was going up, I was skeptical because of how much I loved the original Whitney on the UES. But it’s grown on me. Whether you’re inside visiting or sitting on the steps out front enjoying that perfect Westside sun, it’s lovely. Finally, it’s sweater weather in NY after an excruciating summer, so I’m wearing another slip dress with this Isabel Marant sweater under it. I love to mix textures as much as I love to mix prints. Slouchy suede boots and Gucci’s Dionysus supermini in Beige are the essentials. Are you starting to see that I hate lugging around a big bag?
Photo: Jennifer Cooper9/10Saturday
Next up, dinner with girlfriends. Pre-pandemic, I wouldn’t get this dressed up. Usually some good denim and heels would do it, but I am grateful to be out and about with loved ones in the best city in the world, and every get together feels like a reason to celebrate. I also do like a dress for sheer ease: one and done! Pick your shoes, and you’re out the door. This one is Jacquemus, so clean. Shoes are Bottega Veneta again. They can do no wrong in the shoe dept as far as I’m concerned—perfect heel height and so comfortable. I usually wear my Maria Tash huggies with everything, but tonight I swapped a pair out for these silver Jennifer Fisher hoops. I love her big gold ones too, I’m a gold girl, but I think this size in silver is chic.
Photo: Jennifer Cooper10/10Sunday
Finally Sunday. My schedule is so unorthodox that days of the week have never meant much to me, but Sundays have taken on new meaning since Alex has started taking weekends off work. As I said, home means I’m bottomless unless it’s the dead of winter, but cozy is still a must. This set is Eberjey. I think they make delicate, comfortable lingerie. No underwire in this one, [I have a] strict no underwire at home policy. The shirt is the gauziest, oversized linen I could get my hands on. I love a white linen shirt so much, but I think great ones are hard to find. I finally had some luck getting this one at Kes, one of my favorite stores on the Upper West Side. Big sock lover here, and these were a Christmas gift from my grandmother a few years ago. Cashmere knee-highs from a French marketplace, she gets me.
