By Danielle C. James
Photo by Pieter Henket
“I like to end things with an exclamation, more so than a period,” muses June Ambrose, the creative director, costume designer, and entrepreneur, about her personal style. It’s no surprise then, that she’s become known for her oversized hats, eccentricity, and distinct point of view, all deeply rooted in her Caribbean heritage. “I’m from the British West Indies, and it was always these formal settings. You wore your finest, you dressed your best. It was well-tailored and curated—but also punctuated with color and texture.”
Ambrose brings that same punctuation to her clients. She’s worked with Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, and other icons. Jay-Z, her longtime collaborator, wore a perfectly tailored yellow linen suit in the 1996 Feelin’ It video, a breezy, tropical vibe captured in Negril, Jamaica, early in his career. It was a visual disruption: hip-hop elegance reframed through Black joy and ease. “We were doing things that stepped us out of the social confines of how society saw us,” says Ambrose.
In the early ’90s, hip-hop and high fashion often clashed. There was a lack of representation across models, designers, and creative teams, and some brands borrowed from streetwear without context or used African prints as trends rather than a meaningful tribute. “There was a period of time where fashion didn’t recognize that music and Black culture were influencing popular culture,” Ambrose reflects. Through her work, style became a language of power—one that redefined how people saw themselves and expanded what was possible.
Photo by Andy Zalkin
“There was a time when everything felt like a carnival—shiny, metallic, over the top,” she recalls of her music video era. That imagery wasn’t just art; it drove culture. “At the time, that was our social media. Music videos were our PSAs.” She has long used celebrities as muses to attract and inspire: “Who doesn’t want to look and feel like a superstar?” she says. “That’s what’s attractive… and now we’re creating that mentality in streetwear, in Ready-to-wear, in sports.”
Missy Elliott is another longtime muse. For the 2024 “Out of This World” tour, Ambrose designed more than 250 looks for Elliott and her dancers. “We could’ve gone to fashion houses and asked to collaborate, but instead, I built my own atelier and we got it done.”
Even as the industry evolves, Ambrose’s creative signature remains unmistakable. “I still have that same celebratory, peacocking kind of attitude—and that definitely comes from my Caribbean roots.”
She has plenty to celebrate. With a career spanning decades and powerhouse collaborations, Ambrose has proven her staying power. She shapeshifts between image architect, designer, creative director, and entrepreneur. And although she’s most often found in the rarefied air, stepping out of a black car while mingling with the fashion elite, the style stories that excite her most are happening on the streets. “Style is innate. It’s about character, craftsmanship, point of view.”
A cultural guardian and trendsetter, Ambrose was blending fashion, beauty, and sports long before it became a brand play. Five years ago, she was creative director of women’s basketball at Puma Hoops. Today, she holds the same title at Naturalizer, where she also serves as a global ambassador. And what’s next? She smiles coyly. “I’m not sure I can say.”
Though her resume reads like a highlight reel, Ambrose insists she’s still evolving. “I’m still a student,” she says. One day—maybe—she’ll feel like she’s made it. “At the end of my life cycle, maybe I’ll feel like I’ve arrived.”
Photo by Pieter Henket
Professional Opinion
If Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, and Mary J. Blige trust June Ambrose with their looks, we’ll take a page from her book any day. Here, some of her must-haves for the season and beyond.
What’s your daily uniform?
I love sweatpants and a blazer—mixing athletic with structure is my thing. If I’m wearing something sporty, then I pair it with something sophisticated, like a ballet flat with a sweatpant. If I’m wearing sneakers, I’m wearing it with a trouser. I love a Toteme blazer—I’m also passionate about Margiela.
What do you wear while in the field?
I like to be comfy and chic. I always need a comfortable pair of shoes—I love a tennis sneaker. Naturalizer makes a really good sneaker, the Lorena Lace Up. The Row has a pair of loafers that I love. I have these sweaters by Lauren Manoogian, they are my favorite. She has these really great French terry and cotton terry crewnecks that I’m obsessed with.
What are some recent purchases you’re most excited about?
My Phoebe Philo Small Kit Cabas bag. Phoebe Philo is killing it right now on the quiet luxury side—so good. And, I live in Sacai. There’s a lot of Sacai in my closet because every piece is so dramatic. It has attitude. I love when designers think that way.
How about bags?
The Loewe medium Madrid bag. And then, I mean, we all need a Bottega [Veneta] bag in our lives. I like the large Andiamo tote.
What are your favorite statement-making pair of shoes?
I bought Margiela’s Tabi cowboy boots. They look great. We’re in a cowboy era.
Favorite fragrances?
Santa Maria Novella’s Melograno. I’ve been wearing it for years. I don’t like commercial fragrances. There’s something about this scent… I do the bath wash, the soap, and the oil. I’m an Apothecary-holic, but this is really one of my faves.
You’re on the road a lot. What’s your go-to suitcase?
Rimowa trunks. I like to stand on my suitcases and dance.
Where in the world are you eager to visit?
I really want to go to India to explore textiles and woven work. It’s on my bucket list.
What’s your go-to travel outfit?
It’s definitely not a onesie. I like nice track pants, a button-down shirt, a blazer, or an oversized cardigan. I always like to look the part when getting on a plane.
Favorite finds for the home?
I have this Rogan Gregory coffee table that we purchased when we remodeled our New York apartment. He creates functional sculptural pieces for the home that are just incredible. It’s really one of my favorite pieces in the apartment.
What’s your go-to hat brand?
There are two of them: Esenshel by Rodney Patterson and then there’s Khia Tullaé. They’ll custom block anything for me. Rodney has a great existing block that’s just really over the top, eccentric—you know, oversized. These two milliners get me!
