THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED & PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREA DIALECT
Why Black Men Tend To Be Fashion Kings… For many, style is much deeper than articles of clothing; it’s a statement of identity. Black men have a unique relationship with fashion, one that can be traced all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries. (npr.org)
Street style is fashion that is considered to have emerged not from studios, but from the grassroots. Street fashion is generally associated with culture, and is most often seen in major urban centers. – Wikipedia
STREET STYLIN’
She simply adores Wool & Brass, aka Black Men, Mocha Men etc. But call them what you like as long as you’re putting some respect on that name. She, as in my character whose name I chose not to reveal until her official unveiling, showed up some years ago. I captured her voice on my recorder, and ironically, she showed up laughing hysterically during her debut. After I got over that, I realized the unique way she spoke; besides that, it was what she said.
Thus, the performance piece “Black Man” officially named “blank,” which I choose not to reveal, avoiding that spoiler alert, was born. Check me out @ mzdialect on Instagram or Andrea Dialect on my FaceBook page. You’ll get that sneak peek into the makings of (The Andrea Dialect Experience). Follow the breadcrumbs or seek out one of my privately exclusive shows.
I can’t quite remember whether Men were From Mars or Women were From Venus. Still, John Gray was dead on when penning the obvious contrast between the two because we are as different as oil and water, and often, that clash between or the premature mix is one of the same. No disrespect, Mr. Gray, but I sometimes find those gray areas to be many; some good, some bad, and others pretty indifferent.
Yet, despite our differences, I wouldn’t trade the concoction of such a connection for anything in the world. As stated in the monologue, our Wool & Brass Brutha’s are royalty, their love is king, and they are poetry in motion. Ain’t that the truth? As the mom of three sons, I have gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for our differences through our journey. I still have some ways to grow, but we are in a much better place now.
Those Art Forms walk on twos, I tell ya. You’ll know, by the way, they reposition their coats on their back or that fitted cap on the ol’ dome. How they scale those stairs as exiting the subway or the way they slip, dip or slide into the driver seat of their ride or simply the way the body sways as they exit point B to return to point A.
I absolutely love to people watch, and Wool & Brass is one of my favorite subjects. Despite all the negative representation that is usually sprinkled around like confetti, you want to talk about great, kind, generous, and respectful men. It is all I’ve ever encountered since I lifted that camera to shoot my first Mocha Male as a subject. I love exhibiting them the way that they truly are.
Are there those that have thing going on with them that are not so deserving? Yes, of course, but that’s a human story, not just our story. I love their style’s diversity in charisma, personalities, perspectives, and individualism and how they put together the gear; need I say more? Street Fashion is being presented here today, but most can throw it on if they gotta, trust me. Listening to my character’s script yesterday convinced me that the Kings are worthy subjects for this space today. So today, we pay homage to our own…Swagga? Check!
It’s drippin everywhere in these hoodscapes, and anywhere Mocha resides. YOU AIN’T KNOW? Do the darn thang, be you. Do us proud!
MUSE….
DID YA KNOW THAT…
For many, style is much deeper than articles of clothing; it’s a statement of identity. Black men have a unique relationship with fashion, one that can be traced all the way back to the 17th and 18th centuries.
Monica L. Miller, the author of Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, spoke with Tell Me More’s Michel Martin about the past, present and future of black men’s fashion.
Miller, an associate professor of English at Barnard College, explains that African American men have used style as a way to challenge stereotypes about who they are. “Sometimes the well-dressed black man coming down the street is asking you to look and think.”
Victor Holliday, associate producer of on-air fundraising at NPR and one of the resident kings of style, tells Martin that he learned about the importance of fashion at an early age. “When I was 5 years old, I knew exactly how I was going to look,” he says. “And that was the year I got my first trench coat and my top hat.”
Holliday’s style icon is his father, who taught him that the main object of dressing up is winning respect. “Because as you present yourself seriously, people tend to take you seriously.”
Why Black Men Tend To Be Fashion Kings (www.npr.org)
What is street style clothing?
Street style fashion can be defined as a particular style of clothing that originated from the Hood which is urban fashion culture. It is a comprehensive approach to fashion which includes styles that intersect, differ from mainstream fashion and is based on individualism, with any strict and restricted focus on trends. (Googled this, tweaked this!)
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