JOBOT and Shaunte Denee are two ladies that have a strong sense of personal style as well as a bit of a rebellious streak. While dressing them was completely off- the- wall fun, it was also a huge challenge to reign in on the sense of prettiness that neither “tomboys” nor purveyors of “edge” are quick to admit they possess. Dressing these two Chi-Town musical talents was a worthwhile challenge. Once we gained the girls trust that we wouldn’t take away their edge or sense of modesty with the fabulous clothes we pulled from local boutiques Akira, Verse, and Funkshion, they opened up their shells to reveal pearls. - By Elizabeth Aguirre, CoutURe Contributor & Stylist

Photographs by Jarrah Dequien



So how exactly does one go about dressing a sassy rapper with clever hooks and a strong sense of personal style and a dance party DJ with a penchant for sports and arcade games? Easy, dress them up in outfits that are too hot to resist, and let them throw some of their own clothes into the mix. For our kitchen shot we used a coat made by I.B. Diffusion from Verse Boutique on Shaunte that was 80’s inspired. When she put it on with her own turquoise leggings it was love at first sight, for the coat and the leggings that is. Once JOBOT saw the Blossom Collection Booties, also from Verse that we set out for her to wear with a sequined party dress, any fear she had of wearing a dress was instantly diminished.


On Jo-Bot- Lira Clothing tee found @Funkshion, Jeans and Ring Jo-Bot's own, Alien Necklace found @verse, 
On Shaunte: TuTu found @Funkshion, Trash and Luxury Tee found @ Akira, iridium Ring Shaunte's own

We originally planned to shoot combat shots with the girls and really play up the idea of competitiveness, however, Shaunte and JOBOT were so full of girl power that it became almost impossible. It wasn’t long before the shoot became an homage to raw female power and talent, and the girls posing with a “you’d better not fuck with us attitude”, knife play anyone? The shoot became a metaphor for just how well women in the music industry tend to band together here in Chicago. Instead of competing with one another, they work together to create a sense of being in it together;  which is why we weren’t surprised when JOBOT told us about her growing Chipped Red Polish movement that was created to empower women in creative industries living in the city and help them network.



The clothing we used for the shoot really reflected the artists’ personalities in a totally unintentional (or was it intentional?) way. In our second shot, Shaunte Denee flaunted her Iridium finger rings and it was fitting to her music, which is total B-Girl style and is as colorful as rap was during the 1980s. The alien chain we used for JOBOT in the couch shot was from another planet, which is just how the electro beats she makes with her production group Yellow Fever will make you feel, simply out of this world.



By the time our final shot in the garage happened, and four hours flew by on the clock, these bitches were ready and willing to allow themselves to be beautifully made up into the gorgeous girls that they are. Despite both musicians being self-proclaimed tomboys, I think they realized that there is a fine line between being pretty and being true to your own sense of style. They trusted us not to take them too far out of their comfort zone and we didn’t have to, because their comfort zone happened to be cute and stylish. They are diamonds in the rough that learned that you could be rough and still be a diamond.






On Shauntee Dress Akira Black Label, Shoes Stylist, Sunglasses found @ Akira
On Jo-Bot Shirt Adam Spagnola found @ Verse, Shoes Blossom Collection found @Verse, Leggine Shauntee's




On Jo-Bot: Shoes A-Life Jo-Bot's own, leggins Shaunte Denee's, Rajat Leather Jacket found @Verse, Shirt found @ Akira
On Shauntee: Trash and Luxury tee found @ Akira, Skirt Akira brand, Stlyists own shoes, Earrins and Bracelets Shaunte's own