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Gabriella Karefa-Johnson

Former Global Contributing Fashion Editor-at-Large, Vogue US

The New York-based stylist has changed the game by spotlighting new designers, pushing for representation and crafting narrative-driven ensembles.

Gabriella Karefa-Johnson

Gabriella Karefa-Johnson is a New York-based stylist and editor known for her keen eye for up-and-coming designers, as well as her narrative-led approach aimed at diversifying representation in fashion. 

The stylist, known for her looks pairing disparate colours, textures and silhouettes, worked as associate fashion editor under fashion director Tonne Goodman at Vogue, and fashion director of Garage Magazine in 2017. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to style a cover of Vogue. As Global Contributing Fashion Editor at Large, she styled 13 international covers of Vogue, featuring Serena Williams, Paloma Elsesser , Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman. 

In November 2023, Karefa-Johnson announced she had stepped down from her role at Vogue. She now helps to nurture emerging talent and has used her network to support the development of Central Saint Martins graduate Torishéju Dumi.

Career History

VITAL STATISTICS

BORN1991
NATIONALITIESSierra Leonean, American
LOCATIONUnited States
MEMBER SINCE2022

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Latest News & Analysis
Media

The BoF Podcast | Gabriella Karefa-Johnson on Building a Better Fashion Industry

The stylist and fashion editor reveals to BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed why she resigned from Vogue and how she is channelling her influence and energy to support that next generation of fashion talent.

Media

The BoF Podcast | Gabriella Karefa-Johnson on Building a Better Fashion Industry

The stylist and fashion editor reveals to BoF founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed why she resigned from Vogue and how she is channelling her influence and energy to support that next generation of fashion talent.


Partner Content

Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner

Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.

Partner Content

Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner

Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.

What is The BoF 500?

The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.

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