The Original Fashionistas

By: Chantel Gillus

Black women are the standard. We are trendsetters, innovators, and reinventors. Black women have continuously pushed the barriers of fashion and exempli ed immense creativity in a society where their contributions are often overlooked and discredited. Fashion trends like hoop earrings, colored hair, braids, long and intricate acrylic nails; styles

called ghetto and unprofessional when Black women wear them but labeled as edgy and trendy on white and

non-Black women. The fashion world should celebrate Black women's impact and persistence in challenging fashion norms today.

Black women have made both societal

and political statements through their

fashion sense. They continue to ght for justice and equality in style. Enter singer and dancer Josephine Baker, who was also a Civil Rights activist and part of the French Resistance. She was popular for her shimmering dresses, marabou feathers, and ashiness and glam from Harlem to Paris (Silver). Nina Simone wore jaw-dropping evening gowns and striking prints that she played up with vivid sunglasses and turbans (Silver). By the late 60s, when she utilized her public stance and music to become a trailblazer in the Civil Rights movement, she dressed the part by wearing more serious maxi dresses while accessorizing with poise (Silver).

Transitioning into the 1970s, we have Diana Ross, who embodied 70s glamor. With the assistance of the acclaimed costume designer, Bob Mackie, Ross made marabou feathers, sequins, eye-catching jumpsuits, striking colors, tall bouffants, and teased-out afros her staple looks (Silver). Cicely Tyson, a model turned movie star, was another celebrity who was unafraid to aunt her natural beauty by sporting cornrows or an afro (Silver). She proved that Black women could be graceful by exing her natural beauty while wearing sophisticated dresses and out ts.

Beverly Johnson, the rst Black model to appear on the covers of American Vogue and French Elle, set the bar for future models with her chic looks and business endeavors. She's appeared in lms, wrote books, ventured into entrepreneurship, and advocated for inclusivity in the fashion industry (Silver). The following line of Black female supermodels in the 70s, 80s, and 90s were risk-taking Iman, boundary-pushing Grace Jones, fashion muse Naomi Campbell, and cool-girl Tyra Banks. They became more than just models because people became immersed in their lavish lifestyle and their dazzling, jet-setting dress sense. Like Beverly, they went beyond the cover of magazines and runways, appearing on television shows, movies, and even becoming singers; they were now pop icons.

Pop star Janet Jackson constantly looked sleek and sultry with her power suits, bralettes, satin trousers, chunky belts, crop tops, high-waisted denim, and combat boots. In the late 80s and early 90s, she often accompanied her out ts with a beret or micro-shades. She had a grungy style which was a breath of fresh air in the pop music scene. Also, in the late 80s and early 90s, hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella opened the door for the "borrowed from the boys" look, wearing oversized, graphic leather jackets as seen in their "Push-It" (1987) music video. They were known for stepping out in knee pads, kente hats, and distressed clothing. Back in the olden times, clothing became distressed due to high use, and they were an exhibition of poverty. Although like Black women usually do, Salt-N-Pepa switched the game up and turned a negative into a fashionable positive. Other stars in the 90s like TLC and Aaliyah also contributed to the tomboyish and edgy look.

TLC (Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas) were known for their tomboy wardrobe, bold use of color, and daring fashion choices. They made political statements through their music and clothing, like expressing their

sexuality and promoting safe sex by

attaching condoms to their clothing; Lisa covered her left eye with a condom, which eventually became her signature look. Aaliyah followed suit by nding the balance between having a tomboyish charm and sex appeal. In the 90s, her staple looks included men's boxers under her baggy jeans and pairing them with a baby tee, oversized tracksuits, and lustrous motocross out ts. Aaliyah's style was chill, sexy, yet classy like her songs. On the other hand, Lil' Kim bravely sported raunchy clothing and colorful wigs throughout the mid-late 90s to early 2000s to aunt her sexuality as a

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Black woman. Her provocativeness was displayed in her lyrics and her fashion sense as well. Some of Kim's most iconic out ts include the lavender, one-breasted mermaid bodysuit and the multiple monochromatic looks in the 1997 "Crush on You" music video. She in uenced women to be themselves and embrace their sexuality unapologetically. Erykah Badu also stood out amongst her peers as the girl with the boho style in the R&B/Hip-hop scene. Badu was one of the Black women who paved the way for the quirky, indie Black girl style with her admiration for towering hats, piles of jewelry, voluptuous hair, and Rastafarian colors with matching head wraps (Silver). This group of pop culture icons continued innovating the fashion world throughout the late 90s and into the early 2000s by adding a futuristic air to their styles.

Y2K is a stylistic trend covering the late 1990s and early-to-mid 2000s styles. Y2K fashion has a singular style stemming from mixing the millennium's pop culture with the most recent technological developments of that era, adding an ultramodern feel to the style. When people reference Y2K fashion, they usually credit white celebrities like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani. The erasure of Black people is

a classic case of cultural

appropriation. Society continuously erases Black women when it comes to creating pop cultural trends. Simply put — Y2K fashion is rooted in Black culture.

The trendsetters of Y2K include Missy Elliot, TLC, Aaliyah, Lil' Kim, Blaque, Destiny's Child, Beyoncé (as a solo artist), Kelis, Raven-Symoné, Kimora Lee Simmons (the founder of Baby Phat), and many more. Black female celebrities were now wearing thick and shiny materials, metallic garments, techy accessories, chunky sneakers and heels, velour tracksuits, colorful sunglasses, low rise jeans, bedazzled clothing, baguette bags, and other trends associated with Y2K. Y2K was an era of afro-futurism, inspired by former Black trends and an avant-garde touch. Some examples of the Y2K aesthetic are found in music videos like Missy Elliot's "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" (1997), TLC's "No Scrubs" (1999), Blaque's "Bring It All to Me ft. *NSYNC" (1999), and Aaliyah's "More Than A Woman" (2001).

Former First Lady Michelle Obama, also known as the First Lady of Fashion, has graced our screens with her style and elegance. When you think of the First Lady, you don't usually think of them as fashion icons. However, Michelle Obama changed the fashion game for future rst ladies and the fashion industry in general. What made Michelle Obama stand out were her strong colors and cuts, along with her lovely dresses and stylish suits (Silver). Michelle Obama made an impactful role like being the First Lady look cool.

The coolest amongst the cool is Rihanna. When you think of one of the most notable fashion icons of the last decade and today, Rihanna is de nitely on that list. Rihanna can become any aesthetic; edgy, tomboyish, girly, glamorous, or provocative. She stands out because she is always ahead of the curve and envisioning new ways to set the latest trend while aunting her wild creativity and taking risks. Artists like Janelle Monáe and Nicki Minaj have taken chances by embellishing in eccentric, "campy”, and over-the-top ensembles. They are both known for their quirky, weird, and outlandish style, especially Nicki Minaj in the early 2010s. Nicki was famous for her unique and unconventional wigs and style during that speci c period. She was criticized for her peculiar fashion sense, but today, people are giving Nicki her props because she was different and ahead of her time.

Zendaya is one of the fresh faces of fashion, and she was recently named the 2021 Fashion Icon by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). Like Rihanna, Zendaya is versatile in fashion; she can pull off any look and isn't afraid to step out of her comfort zone to make a statement. Whether it's twinning with Michael B. Jordan and wearing the same men's suit or wearing an elegant gown, her ensembles are experimental, but she dazzles the red carpet and makes it look effortless each time. Beyoncé still effortlessly represents sophistication in her extravagant clothing. She has been in the fashion game for almost three decades now, going back to the 90s. She has a way of keeping up with current fashion trends but still makes it uniquely her own. Other Black female celebrities making noise in the fashion industry are Lupita Nyong'o, FKA Twigs, Yara Shahidi, Tracee Ellis Ross, Zoë Kravitz, and many more.

Black women are a staple when it comes to the history of fashion.

Our fashion trends will stand the test of time as new trends form. We are the creators and originators, and it is time we are recognized as the primary source of inspiration in fashion. Our inventiveness is unmatched. The names mentioned above are just a few of the Black women who have helped cultivate the world of fashion. Numerous Black women have contributed their talents, just like many young Black girls today who are out there expressing themselves through their clothes.