The Style Of The Puerto Rican ILe Cabra

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

It can be said that the style of the Puerto Rican composer and singer Ileana Cabra, better known as iLe, runs parallel to her music. Just as her music mixes traditional Caribbean rhythms with modern sounds, her way of dressing combines pieces that are inspired by the past with garments of the moment. On stage you will see her both in costumes with colorful textures and fabrics and with extremely feminine dresses in sober tones, something that is very in tune with the romantic melodies that accompany her music and her powerful voice.

Just hours after launching her new album Almadura, we spoke with the artist about how this new stage will be reflected in her style, her admiration for vintage clothing and how important it has always been for her to look natural.

How has your style changed since you belonged to the Calle 13 group until now?

With Calle 13 I think it deserved another style, the energy was different. At the beginning I started with a lot of colors, [later] I was sorting perhaps a little better the colors. I started in my adolescence just the same, so I was with too many colors at the same time, I played with many props too. So I was [changing] with the clothes and looking more or less for comfort. I always like to feel comfortable. I have always liked the medium vintage style but always accommodating it to the present.

What can we expect to see in terms of your style with this new album?

With the first album it lent itself to something more subtle, perhaps softer. With this album there is another way to express it. This album has something a little rougher and I think that this will also express itself with the clothes. I still haven't had my first live performance but everything will be taken there little by little. But I think he has a more direct intention than with the first album and that's how it will be with clothes. The colors also change, the shades, … I think it is something more connected to the Earth. All of the clothes I work with Daniela Fabrizi who is the one who dresses me, who has been my friend since she was a little girl. For us it is like playing with clothes, so we had a great time and I admire her work very much.

You are very supportive of Puerto Rican brands and designers. Can you mention some that you have worked with?

There are several stores that have vintage clothes that I really like. Len. T. Juela, Jhonny & June, and Hi Aida. There are also designers that I like, like Lisa Cappalli, who collaborated with her on the first album. I love her style, it is very unique and very artistic. I have also worn shoes by Josefina Ferroni, who is from Argentina. She is very creative too. I love how it makes some very nice pieces in the shoes and apart they are very comfortable. I have worn MUZA clothes too. I love the idea of continuing to meet local designers.

Do you have any piece of clothing that is special to you?

Choosing one is always so difficult because each one has its own special touch. Whenever I use it on stage it is where I feel most special. They all had their fun on stage. In Santurce's Fine Arts, I used a piece that Daniela Fabrizi made, that she made entirely by hand, and that seemed special and interesting to me. Also because she made it herself with her hands and it was something a bit more theatrical I would say. It was fun playing with the dress.

Is there any beauty advice that you inherited from your mother or grandmother?

Actually in my family if there is something that I like and admire a lot is that they never taught me how to wear makeup. I prefer to be without makeup but we still enjoy it. We have always seen it as something that depends a lot on the mood you have. Sometimes you don't feel like putting on makeup and that's fine. [Nor] do I like to feel compelled or forced to do things I don't want to do. I learned a lot from the women in my family, the same is with fashion. You express what you feel inside of you. In Puerto Rico it is so humid and hot that the makeup can be very heavy. I don't like putting many things on my face. There are times when perhaps I dare to play with an umbrella or a lipstick that does not bother. It depends on how I feel or if the outfit asks for it or not.

What advice would you give someone so they are not afraid to go out without makeup?

I have honestly realized that there are people who still have a little trouble going out without makeup. I don't understand that because I didn't grow up with that mentality. If there is someone nearby who can recommend it, I also say [to do it] because we all have to learn to find the beauty that we have in us and we all have beauty. We must break with stigmas of beauty that have rude us. It is looking in the mirror for a while and appreciating who you are and what you have.