Chuck Bennett didn’t create the word style, he just owns it. As Detroit’s undisputed guru of style, Bennett, for the last four decades, has been synonymous with excellence in fashion, which includes serving as master of ceremonies for elite events including grand openings, demonstrating etiquette at its best, and interfacing in metro Detroit’s most prestigious circles. In other words, if it’s anything dealing with class and elegance, Bennett has his finger, politely, on the pulse.
He currently wears several hats — with style of course — which includes his longtime work as a columnist for the Detroit News, wrting two columns, “Society Confidential” and “Society.” He is believed to be the only African-American male in the United States who writes society columns for a major daily newspaper.
Bennett is also Fox 2 News style ambassador, offering style, fashion and etiquette advice to metro Detroiters stepping out to any classy, high-profile event in the region. He also heads up Chuck Bennett, Inc., an organization that specializes in creating unique and fashionable images for businesses. His list of clients has included MGM Grand Detroit, the Roostertail, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Compuware and Christian Dior, among others.
Additionally, Bennett is the founder and editor of The Social D, an online magazine that keeps readers abreast of what’s happening in metro Detroit in fashion and recent and future high profile events for various worthwhile causes. The Social D will celebrate its one-year anniversary this month.
“It’s my online reality show,” said Bennett, with a laugh. “Because it follows me mostly to different parties, restaurants, fashion shows and to everything else that encompasses my life when I’m out and about in metro Detroit.”
Bennett traces his passion for flair and style to his days as a student at Denby High School where he was always a shoo-in for best dressed honors at various grade levels.
“I used to wear suits to high school,” he recalled. “I wore suits because afterwards, I would go dance on a popular local television show called “Swingin’ Time” hosted by Robin Seymour. I guess this would have been in the late 1960s.”
Bennett credits his mother for helping him to develop a love for fashion. He remembers a time when he and his mother were shopping at Hudson’s downtown. They both saw a shirt that was incredibly stylish.
“We both touched it and talked about how fashionable and beautiful it was,” said Bennett. “A couple days later, my mother surprised me with the shirt. She just continued to encourage and always promote me to dress well and it just stuck with me through the years.”
After graduating from Denby, Bennett attended Wayne State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and fashion merchandising and design.
While he could have moved to other cities that are better known for fashion, such as Los Angeles, New York or even Paris, he decided a long time ago to stay in the Motor City.
“The people of the city have kept me here,” he said. “There is a certain camaraderie that exists in Detroit more than any other place. We have the best people, which makes it impossible to walk away from. I’ve had opportunities, but each time I’ve changed my mind because this is where I’m supposed to be.”
He continued, “People in Detroit love to dress up. Fashion designers have always told me that they love Detroit because Detroiters understand and know how to dress up and look good.”
Bennett’s passion for fashion has allowed him to help community, civic and other entities with their missions. He sits on the board of directors for Danialle Karmanos Work It Out Foundation and has played significant roles in raising millions of dollars for such charities as Detroit Meals on Wheels, Boys and Girls Clubs in the area, Yatooma Foundation for the Kids and The Rhonda Walker Foundation, as well as what he refers to as his pet project, The Horatio Williams Foundation. The organization helps at-risk youth receive college scholarships.
Whatever Bennett does, fashion is not far away. For two years he served as the style ambassador for Art Van Furniture, one the nation’s largest furniture retailers. He also appeared on the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” serving as the host’s on-air guide to Detroit’s best soul food eateries.
For almost three decades, Bennett’s choice of Detroit Best Dressed has been considered the undisputed truth. He recently put together a list for Hour Detroit Magazine.
“We are all good at things that we are passionate about,” Bennett said, who has been featured in Real Times Media’s “Who’s Who in Black Detroit.”
“Fashion has always been my passion,” he said. “At one point in my career, I was writing about fashion, I was modeling fashion, I was selling fashion at a couple of local clothing stores and I was designing fashion.”
Chuck Bennett loves that Detroit is rebounding after a period of decline.
“There are a lot of things that are going on in the city and people are coming back,” he said. “The economy is on the rise. Therefore, more and more people will embrace the social scenes and some of metro Detroit’s philanthropy events or they will just support the city on many other levels. I’m looking forward to helping the city come back, with style.”
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