Diddy's Son Justin Combs Celebrates Sweet Sixteen

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by Jane Keltner March 15, 2010



I must confess, it's been a number of years since I've been to a sweet sixteen, and in my day there was no MTV show to document such an occasion. So when I received an invitation to one for "His Royal Highness Prince Justin Dior Combs" (no relation to Princes William or Harry; this "prince" is a descendant of hip-hop noble Sean "Diddy" Combs), my curiosity was piqued. The invitation read "Dress to Impress," a mandate both full of great expectation and devoid of any clear direction. Would this monarchy stand in favor of pimped-out sneakers or sky-high heels? Would formal or festive rule? One thing of which I was certain was that modesty would have no place. Anyone who's seen the commercial for I Am King, Diddy's confidently named cologne, knows that reserve doesn't exactly run in the family--unless, of course, you consider riding around in helicopters with a harem of swimsuit-clad models to be a form of discreetness.

Upon arrival at the party--once I made my way through the velvet ropes, down the red carpet, and onto the "Billie Jean" dance floor--it became clear that dress to impress had been interpreted as undress to impress. There were so many girls in itty-bitty dresses, I half wondered if fabric rationing had been imposed. I was tempted to run and cover up some of the exposed parties but restrained myself. One hour in, the birthday boy arrived--or rather, red drapes lifted to reveal him sitting on a throne in a dapper Dolce & Gabbana tux with Adidas shelltoes. After a photo op in his "entrance outfit," Justin disappeared to change into look two: jeans and a Michael Jackson-inspired red leather jacket. "I like the regal, confident feel," he said. "I thought red went with the royal theme while still showing my young swag." I had to agree--and I was pleased to see I wasn't the only one. Pharrell prodigy Teyana Taylor, one of the few girls who didn't go the hiked-up dress and heels route, sported a similar jacket and shiny new Air Jordans--a classic, even back when I was sixteen. Yes, girls can play that game too. "Cool and comfortable," she said of her look. I had to hand it to her. Halfway into the party, after performances by Lil' Kim, Fabolous, and others, nearly all the heel-teeterers were barefoot. Turns out, it's hard to do chicken noodle soup dance-offs in stilettos.