Before Kenneth “Kusdem” Carnell stepped onto the panel for The Quintessential Gentleman’s Style & Grooming event at the MCM store in Atlanta, our Editor-in-Chief, Eric Keith, sat down with him for a conversation that moved from his early days as an artist to the creative force he is now: a celebrity stylist and the Lead Creative Director at Homeroom.
What emerged was a story rooted in Southern culture, HBCU excellence, and a lifelong commitment to looking like the person you want the world to see.
Morehouse: The Foundation of His Style Identity
Kusdem’s fashion sense didn’t begin in a showroom; it began at home, shaped by his mother’s insistence on showing up presentable, no matter where he was headed. But it wasn’t until he arrived at Morehouse that he truly began shaping his personal brand.
Growing up in Atlanta, he was surrounded by Black excellence. But Morehouse sharpened it. “Morehouse really was super formative,” he reflected. “I’ve seen fly dressers… gentlemen from New York, DC, Chicago, Detroit, LA. And I’m just like, wow, this is really cool.”
Seeing so many expressions of Black style from around the country gave him space to study, absorb, and experiment. Morehouse men are known for their poise, polish, and presence, and Kusdem is no different. “It allowed me to combine all of the things that I am… I can take tidbits from this person, these places, these regions.”
This mix-and-match approach became his blueprint, ultimately influencing the stylist and creative director he is today.
A Superstar Mindset
Before styling celebrities, Kusdem was one. Signed as a rapper at just 18, he learned early that presentation is part of the job. One lesson sticks with him:
“When the people want to come to your show… they want Superman. They don’t want Clark Kent. Every time somebody sees you, you gotta be Superman.”
Whether on stage or simply grabbing coffee, that awareness of presence follows him everywhere. To this day, he jokes that even on a grocery run, people ask where he’s headed because he looks ready for an event.
How He Approaches Styling Clients Today
As a stylist and creative director, Kusdem’s process starts with understanding the person, not just their closet.
“Before we get to pulling pieces, it starts with conversation and a questionnaire.” He digs into preferences, insecurities, and aspirations to build a profile that guides the creative direction.
But what really sets him apart is his belief that styling is emotional work. “Styling is reinforcing the confidence that’s already inside… helping you find that confidence and amplifying it times 10.”
For him, clothes are armor: something that helps men walk through the world feeling powerful, refined, and ready for what’s next.
His Philosophy on Trends vs. Timeless Style
Carnell is intentional about avoiding the trap of trend-chasing. “You can’t be too trendy… if you’re too trendy, your closet’s going to change every six months.”
Instead, he pushes men to develop a capsule wardrobe of timeless staples that reflect who they are now and who they want to become. “Style never goes out of style. Once you find something that works for you and your body type, you can build around that.”
His Grooming Gospel: Skincare Is Not Optional
Carnell is firm on this: grooming is part of your personal brand. “Skin, hair, and teeth can actively aid you in a negative way if you don’t take care of them.”
His routine includes cleanser, toner, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, and SPF, a step many Black men still skip. “I know we Black… but we still need sunscreen. If you have hyperpigmentation, the sun is just going to exacerbate that even more.”
At night? “Don’t forget the retinol. That’s going to replenish those cells.” Oh—and switch that pillowcase. Often.
Kusdem’s Morehouse upbringing, Southern roots, and commitment to excellence continue to shape the way he shows up, both for himself and for his clients.
And at the end of our conversation, one thing was clear: He’s a student of culture, a champion of confidence, and a true architect of style.
Photo Credit: Rachel Delsarte Lewis / Tyren Redd
