Jon Batiste’s music credentials are impressive. He is a singer, as well as the music director and bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and associate artistic director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem – all of which he delivers with ample style. We checked in with Batiste to discuss his sartorial preferences and NYFWM prep.

Personal Style: Honest. I try to represent where I come from and where I’m going. Elegant with an edge. Traditional with a twist.

American Fashion Favorites:  I have a lot of clothes custom made, but I really do like Billy Reid for his southern charm and Mr Turk for his wild patterns. I also love Tom Ford and Brooklyn Circus.

Why I Love Fashion: Many people process information visually first. Fashion allows for you to translate who you are before even saying a word.

NYFWM Prep: Go to the stores and get back into the feel of shopping. I don’t have much time to do that these days and often times we have the clothes brought in to the Late Show. It’s important to get acclimated to looking at what’s on the racks before looking at something on the runway.