Fashion trends we love started by black women
Being a black woman is a great thing – it really is. It would be much easier to exist as a myriad of separate identities with less social oppression. But even knowing that, I wouldn’t trade myself for the world.
Black women generate a cultural vocabulary by virtue of their presence. Our fashion and artistry extends from our community to the entire world. Although we often don’t get the credit where we deserve it, we continue to create and shape pop culture with our limitless flair, creativity, and aesthetics.
These six fashion trends you know and love, but you might not realize were started by black women.
6 fashion trends started by black women
1. Nail art
Source: Tony Duffy | Getty Images
Two words: Flo Joe.
Modern manicure dates back to ancient Egypt and long nails to the historic Inca Empire in South America, but what we now call the “full set” was brought to the pop culture stage by a black woman.
In 1988, Florence Griffith-Joyner broke the 100-meter world record three times at the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Championships. The world took notice of this amazing feat; her amazing nails. Flo His Jaws, with their 4-inch curved, tabby-striped claws, took the world by storm. And the next day he came back with a whole new set of fiery fuchsias.
Years later, in the 1997 film Baps, Halle Berry and Natalie Dessell Reed gave a performance that’s still talked about today. But it was the hair and nails that really took center stage. Their long, crafted nails and elaborate hairstyles made them legends in the black community.
From Flo-Jo in 1988 to Cardi B in 2021, Black women have continued to phase out the nail game, treating their nails as canvases for art long before the rest of the population realized it. now? We’re not the only ones doing this. Some of our favorite celebs like Kylie Jenner and Billie Eilish regularly sport the iconic long nails and stunning nail art first worn by black women.
Source: Tony Duffy | Getty Images
2. Nameplate jewelry
Source: Prince Williams | Film Magic | Getty Images
When Carrie Bradshaw debuted her famous “Carrie” script necklace in the first season of the movie “Carrie,” sex and the city (1998), the topic continued. Patricia Field, Sarah Jessica Parker’s stylist on the show, came up with the idea to put Carrie in her script necklace after she saw “The Stars.”kids in the neighborhood” is wearing. The piece spread like wildfire and soon became known as the “Carry Necklace.” However, her nameplate trend is from necklaces to earrings.It was the top The influence of Hispanic and black culture since the 1970s in New York.
Like many trends created by women of color, these personalized necklaces and earrings were thrown out and called “ghetto” before the Carrie Bradhoe effect.
3. Hoop earrings
Source: Bettman | Getty Images
Since we’re on the topic of jewelry, we can also applaud black women for popularizing hoop earrings. Conceptually, hoop ornaments date back to Nubia and ancient Egypt. However, in modern times, it can be attributed to figures like Nina Simone and Angela Davis of the 1960s and her ’70s.
Bamboo earrings also originated in the black community and were brought to the spotlight by Salt and Pepa in the 1980s.
4. Oversized clothes
Source: Jim Smeal | Ron Galera Collection | Getty Images
Listen, I know what you mean. Indeed, the popularity of baggy clothes was caused by one man. To that, I would say yes, but only to men. Baggy clothes for women? Thank you to my personal heroes, the ladies at TLC, for making oversized, male-dominated styles cool enough for women to wear.
Alongside icons like Aaliyah, TLC has made masculine trends feminine and even gender-ambiguous. Sometimes rocking a completely loose fit, other times pairing it with baggy bottoms and a bra top, she led us to Aaliyah’s style. Tommy Hilfiger’s iconic look.
How about a loose, matching sweatsuit you’re wearing this winter? We can thank black women for making it cool.
5. Cornrows, edges, weaves, and protective styles
Source: John Lamparski | Wireimage
This is bittersweet for me (and I think for many other black women). It’s hard to see something you were made fun of or self-conscious about become a trend because lighter skinned people are cool. To be honest, many trends on this list fall into this category, but this one is more shocking.
As kids, we were teased about our cornrows, told our edges were too “extra,” told to stop wearing braids and rock our natural hair, and then we were told that our natural hair was ugly. Ta. Despite all this, we made hair art and pushed each other to be more resilient and creative.
Now that Kylie Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande, and other non-Black celebs are wearing these styles, they’ve become palatable, and that’s harmful. Our hair has long been an expression of who we are, a source of stereotypes, and ultimately an expression of our individuality. criminalization.
I say this not for pity, but so that we can have an honest conversation about how black women, their hair, and styles are treated compared to non-POC women. .
6. Chain mail
Source: Frank Micelotta | ImageDirect
If you’re like me, you didn’t know this trend had a name. I’ve shamelessly googled “saggy, sparkly tops” more times than I care to admit in search of these tops and dresses (though, to be honest, I’m still trying to find the courage to buy and wear them). There is no, but There’s still plenty of time in 2022).
There is little debate and even more controversy over whether black women started this trend. which one Black women started it.Most people would point out Aaliyah for her iconic expression Please try again Music video; however, some credit LisaRaye McCoy was the first to rock this look.
It’s hard to say who was first, but we do know that these two won’t likely be last.
These are just some of the trends started by black women, but there are countless others.
I pray that we continue to build a society where identity unites us rather than divides us. As I wait for that hopeful future, I realize that society will always see me as black and female, probably in that order, before asking my name. it’s okay. I remain proud to be a black woman. It is an honor to stand on the shoulders of such intelligent, creative and beautiful ancestors.
