Head-to-toe Chanel is a style statement most women can only dream of making. But then, Biko Beauttah is not your typical lady who lunches. The Kenyan-born trans-gender fashion model is known for her over-the-top tastes of both the couture and Kensington variety. This week’s best dressed—spotted at the National Ballet’s White Hot Gala—dishes on her grudge against grunge and why dressing for body type is a universal challenge.
(Photo by Courtney Shea)
Did you buy your outfit in one go, or is Chanel something to be accumulated?
I didn’t buy it all at once. The gloves and shoes are from a couple of seasons ago. I got both at Saks in Las Vegas. The dress is vintage Chanel. There’s a store in Kensington called King of Kensington where the owner calls me whenever they get a new shipment. You can find a lot of great labels if you get there before everything is picked over.
You lived in Kenya until 2006. I’m guessing your look has changed quite a bit in the past few years.
I’ve always lived for clothing, but in Kenya I had to be a closet fashionista. Being trans-gender is illegal there, and the style is just totally different anyway. In high school I wore a lot of hip-hop-type clothing—baggy pants, Tommy Hilfiger, totally not my style. When I went to Dallas and then later to Canada, I could express myself.
Speaking of expressing yourself, are there specific dos and don’ts for trans-gender dressing?
Sure, although it’s not that different. Like any woman, I think about what flatters my body. With my genetic makeup, I’m never going to look good in the same things as, say, Dita Von Teese. I avoid pants, and I almost always wear heels at least four inches tall to make my legs look feminine. I’m lucky I’m not that tall in the first place, otherwise I’d tower over everyone.
What trend would you like to see the end of?
This is easy. I am a huge vintage fan, but I really don’t like the sort of hipster look where younger people just throw on a bunch of stuff that doesn’t match. It’s like they’re trying to look homeless. I like to think everything through. For this outfit, I had the dress and shoes on, and then I thought the gloves would make a nice addition, then, finally, the hat. It’s like Coco Chanel said, “Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions.”
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She looks great. It’s “Best Dressed,” not most fashion forward or most clever matching of eras – betcha that, if you saw her at this event, she’d stand out and you would look twice. Works for me – she looks great. It’s also an interview piece, so getting a sense that the subject has something interesting to say about fashion is also really important. In that way, the fact that she’s a tranny helps – a different question to ask than the usual stuff in this column – and also, it’s led to more comments, which is also good for the website, it’s keeping us here longer, and more engaged. But as far as the look: not the most avant-garde, but I loved it.
July 12, 2009 at 12:53 pm | by Metal MickyBiko, I know you don’t listen to the haters, but just in case any of them get under your skin once in a while, know that you have many, many people in your corner. You looked fabulous in that Chanel ensemble. You are not just one of the best dressed in Toronto, but in Canada. Check that, in North America. Check that – in the Western Hemisphere. No, check that again. You are one of the best dressed in the world. I love you and you are truly a role model!
xoxo
October 26, 2010 at 7:46 am | by Keri LotionBiko rocks TL Keep up the good job.people would you stop complaining and appreciate somethung which is good atleast for once.
April 8, 2011 at 3:02 pm | by MillyHi Biko u look gourgious in that outfit, WHAT A FLY IMPRESSIVE OUTLOOK cheers ……………
April 17, 2011 at 5:50 am | by Mova Mwendwabiko you look great and that is the version of a kenyan transgendered. The rest watch out my look on facebook . My name on facebook is ‘joji baro’ see you there.
October 8, 2011 at 3:42 am | by GEORGE BARASA