For decades, stylist and fashion designer Marv Neal has been Detroit’s best-dressed secret. Culture Detroit

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Courtesy of Marv Neal

Fashion stylist and designer Marv Neal

Detroit has an incredibly unique style to its culture.

If you’ve ever attended an event, cabaret, summer concert, or church conference, you’ve probably seen how stylish and fun Detroiters can be when they dress up.

There’s more to Detroit than rose-scented gators and Cartier Buffs, and when that style needs to be seen, elevated or replicated, there’s one Detroit man many call upon.

For decades, stylist and fashion designer Marv Neal has been Detroit’s best-dressed secret. He has worked with celebrities, artists and influencers such as Toni Braxton, Delicious, Rhonda Walker, Miz Corona, Mia Rae, Monica Blair, Nisha Nesha and more.

Fashion has always been part of Neil’s foundation. His great-grandmother was a seamstress, so Nell grew up watching customers come to her home for custom measurements.

“There were four generations of women in the house, and I was the first man in 20 years or so. It’s just what got me into fashion,” says Neil. “When I was in high school, I didn’t win best dressed, but I was always hot. There was always one thing with me, fashion was more important than anything else. “

Initially, Neil had goals of becoming a fashion designer, which he achieved with the Jeanous Denim brand. However, he said designing was his focus as he did not understand the many fashion careers that urban streetwear had until his teenage years.

“I didn’t start reading about fashion stylists or fashion editors until the 90s, when I was probably around 13 and they were mentioned in Vogue And Elle” says Neal. “For me, being in the hood, what resonates with me is when Jodeci and Mary J. Blige pop up and you start seeing Misa Hylton and June Ambrose’s names. That’s what made me say, ‘This is what I want to do.’

Misa Hylton is a fashion stylist and icon who helped develop iconic streetwear styles for ’90s stars like Faith Evans, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, Lil’ Kim and more. In addition to being an inspiration and mentor to Nell, he says she saved his life.

“I have a lot of respect for her,” Neil said. I always tell her that she saved my life because I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. “I knew I wanted to do fashion, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. I knew I didn’t want to sit behind a sewing machine. I knew it was someone who was doing the work, but I didn’t know who it was, and to see her, she really saw her and her work and now she knew who I was. She is amazing and I have so much respect for her.

This Sunday, Nell will be hosting a sip and shop at Closet Luxx. The event gives shoppers a chance to not only shop locally, but also receive styling tips and advice from Neal, which he says shouldn’t be reserved for special occasions.

“We made this for people who don’t think they’re powerless or unattainable,” Neal said. “We put this together for someone who’s afraid to DM me a question because I won’t answer, or someone who wants to save it for their birthday. I feel you should always be fresh, not just for the occasion. Today, the tiger jumps and jumps, and we always have the claws.

The SIP-and-Shop will be held on Sunday, October 16 from 2-6 pm at Closet Luxx; 19452 Livernois Ave., Detroit.

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