TrinidadExpress.com
By Erline Andrews
Sunday, June 5th 2005

Free's sense of style

Chance can be a journalist’s best friend. When Express Woman dropped by CBS Studios in New York last week to catch up on what hot shot Trini-born stylist Ricky Davy was up to, we were luck enough to be introduced to one of his regular clients. Free, co-host of BET’s popular countdown/interview show 106 & Park, shies away from the other side of the microphone, but she gave us a few minutes as a favor to her pal, Davy, whom she raves about. In person, Free is just as friendly and warm as she appears on screen. She filled us in on what goes into her signature style and what she does (and doesn’t do) to maintain her figure. Free might have become as much a celebrity as the people she interviews, but we discovered she deals with the same body issues as us regular folk.

“What Free was wearing the other day?! What she have on?!”

The words are from Trini-born, New York-based stylist Ricky Davy as he explains the ups and downs of the job, namely having to take the praise-and the blame-for how Free (real name: Marie Wright), co-host of BET’s 106 & Park. The show has grown in popularity since its debut in 2001, largely because of Free and compere AJ’s casual homegirl and homeboy style. In particular, Free’s upbeat heck-I’m-game persona helps guest feel comfortable and has garnered her fans of her own.

The fascination with Free has extended beyond her personality and into her constantly changing hair and clothing styles. The former can be brown straight or blonde kinky. The latter can be dressy or simple, but they’re always surprising, always hip, exerting an influence on 106 & Park’s loyal legion of youthful viewers. Comments on Free’s style may be positive or negative, but comment is ensured.

Dressed in a pink small-T and flared skirt, ensconced in her cluttered dressing room, Free doesn't look like the style icon she has become. She doesn't talk like it either. Her attitude is very matter-of-fact about the transformation that takes place before she appears in front the camera.

"Like any woman, I have thigh issues," says Free. "If you have a great styling team, they work around that, and they know to accentuate the things that work well on your body and downplay the things that don't."

Davy, who's also AJ's stylist, says that as with any client he has to style around Free's physical and emotional character.

"She has a great body," says Davy. "She's not a very tall girl. She doesn't have very long legs. So all of these things you have to take into consideration when you're styling her. You also have to take into consideration her hair colour and her skin tone."

Free's moods might determine what she wants or doesn't want to wear one day. There are days, for instance, when pants are not on the cards.

"And I could have set out four pairs of the hottest pants," Davy smiles affectionately. "And she's like, 'No, I don't like none of them.' On another day, she'll be feeling different."

Overall, Davy says, "she's fun to work with. She's a really natural girl who makes clothes look nice".

Davy's flexibility is one of the reasons she loves working with him, says Free.

"He goes on what I'm feeling that day. If I'm feeling extra comfortable, he knows I'm ready for some cargo pants and a tank top. If I'm feeling down, I try to put on a really bright colour.

"We try to stay trendy and we try to stay with hip hop culture," Free says about on what goes into 106's styling decisions. "We have a lot of fun with it."

Outside of 106, Free says her personal style is very simple.

"I'm chill," says Free, using the hip hop slang for "laid back". "I love dresses. On a regular day I'm in sweat pants or you'll catch me in cargos and tanks. If I got a hot bag and a hot shoe, I don't care about anything else."

Mascara and lip gloss is the extent of Free's off-camera make-up.

"I feel like you need to let your face rest. (I) put on make-up every day for at least eight hours. I've never been a big make-up person anyway. It just feels like something's on you."

Face moisturiser is also a must-have for Free, who suffered from eczema as a kid and still battles dry skin.

She has what could be called "Free's three-days-a-week fitness regime".

"I work out three days a week," she says. "Three days a week I eat vegetables and fish and chicken only. The rest of the week I bug out."

Looking good, Free says, starts with feeling good.

"Wake up and know that you have another day and you're blessed to have that. That will start the whole process of your inner glow."

You should also chose carefully when you go shopping.

"Try to find clothes that fit with your body, that accentuate and work good with your shape," says Free. "Every outfit that we see on the runway, in the magazines, on 106 & Park on Free does not work for everybody else."