Stylist Ade Samuel Knows the Difference Between Trendy and Timeless

A Conversation About Fashion, Originality, and the All-New 2025 Lincoln Navigator SUV

Story by Lynn Pitts

Photography by Dustin Baker

Published April 16, 2025

In today’s world, style can be fickle. One moment, quiet luxury whispers across the fashionsphere. The next, maximalism is shouting from the rooftops. But some things remain timeless, without sacrificing modernity and relevance. For instance the all new 2025 Lincoln Navigator SUV can claim that mantle; its latest model maintains a beloved design tradition: elevated, iconic, and made for those who prize innovation with purpose and boldness without flash.

Superstar stylist Ade Samuel, who holds deep affection for the Lincoln brand, is one of those people. “The Lincoln Navigator is a really nostalgic car to me,” says Samuel. “It makes me think of my dad. When my parents first came to the US, my dad was a livery driver. He drove a Lincoln. So it brings me back to being in the car with him. It also brings me back to the early 2000s. You just saw so many Lincolns during that time, especially in New York City.…It’s a classic. It’s the OG SUV!”

…if you want to be an original you have to find the storytelling that aligns with your essence, your body. You have to be able to block out the noise and create something that’s personal.

But nostalgia isn’t Samuel’s only connection to the style and originality of the Lincoln Navigator. The Bronx-born daughter of Nigerian parents grew up immersed in both American culture and her family’s heritage. “In Nigeria, we wear a lot of custom pieces that are used for celebrations,” Samuel explains. “My grandma was a tailor. She created a lot of that kind of clothing. Watching her create amazing looks made me want to explore how to create looks myself. I was also influenced a lot by Black [American] culture in the 90s and early 2000s. I saw originality on display in television, in films, and in music videos. I really wanted to contribute to that.”

Samuel’s entry into that world came first through fashion magazines, where, as an editor, she was captivated by the stylists who created art and told stories with clothing, shoes, and jewelry. She eventually landed her first solo project styling A-list actress Yara Shahidi for a cover story. But her career in magazines coincided with the tech boom and the rise of digital and social media. She could tell right away that a big change was coming. “I remember thinking: ‘what is gonna happen?’ says Samuel. “But the Internet essentially created opportunities to make styling almost limitless. It makes finding inspiration limitless. I’m inspired by trends that I see globally… I can integrate that into what I do for my clients.”

When Samuel left the world of magazines she ended up with a roster of Hollywood and music celebrities, who trust her knowledge and her style philosophy to get them spotlight ready. “The thing about style is, it is really personal. There’s a difference between style and fashion. Fashion is trend forecasting, aligning with those predictions, and creating collections that sell based on those predictions. Style is about storytelling that’s personal to you.”

Most importantly, though, Samuel is always searching for the thing that helps her clients’ originality shine through. “So many people follow trends and create looks that they’ve seen on a digital algorithm. But if you want to be an original you have to find the storytelling that aligns with your essence, your body. You have to be able to block out the noise and create something that’s personal.”

So her work with her clients is an almost intimate collaboration, one that she counts as successful when her clients go out into the world brimming with confidence. “I love styling my clients…seeing their confidence when they hit the red carpet and get all the ‘best dressed’ press. I love that feeling.”

So how would she style a client if she was pairing them with the all new 2025 Lincoln Navigator? “I think of somebody who really knows their cars, someone who understands originality, who understands what timeless luxury looks like,” Samuel muses. “If I was styling someone coming out of the Navigator, they would be bossy, they would be bold, they would be confident.”

Just like Samuel’s approach to style, Lincoln Navigator stands apart by honoring legacy without getting stuck in the past. It’s not just a vehicle—it’s a statement.

Creative Producer Esthefany Castillo | Kelvin Prather

Executive Producer Yvie Saint-Louis

Photography Dustin Baker

Photo Assistant Christian Medina

Stylist Victoria Cummings

Hair Stephanie Riley

Makeup Stephanie Riley

Editorial Lead Joshua J. Pinkay | Lia Miller