i'm not sure anyone does these anymore but here is my interpretation of the MET gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, with the dress code Tailored To You, a celebration of Black Dandyism
personal style icons/inspirations that i referenced from last night's looks include: Lupita Nyong'o, Lauryn Hill, Angela Basset, Cardi B, Doechii, Barry Keoghan, Sabrina Carpenter, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Ruth E. Carter
read: Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity by Dr. Monica Miller
for my inspirations:
wisteria/lilac purple tones to tailor to me/my tastes specifically, and to honor the more unconventional color choices in suits in Black fashion, as Dandyism has a tenet of taking up space, being visible, and showing up
tinted purple shades to tie into the suit colors
suit has facets of both womenswear and the zoot suit popularized by Black men; open, asymmetrical suit top as popular with Black women, open-breasted specifically to acknowledge femininity, and the zoot suit pants (high-waisted, loose-fitting trousers but tightly cuffed trousers) has a rich history of resistance to oppression (see the zoot suit riots of the 1940s) and celebrating Black wealth, and later popularized by other marginalized groups in the US. the overall tailored silhouette plays with gendered expectations, tying my nonbinary identity & sense of self and the way black dandyism pushes back on social, gender, and sexuality expectations
bow tie collar to call in again the imagery of a suit, but with an alternative twist
dogwood lapel pins with pearl chains to symbolize both the opulence of Dandyism and the heritage nod; another tenet is the tying of heritage into fashion and dogwood is the state flower of my home state
plaid cuffs, umbrella and the underside of the suit train are a nod to the mixing of fabrics in Dandyism to create a new sense of style while maintaining a well-dressed appearance, mixing creativity and self-expression with classical styles, as well as another nod to heritage, as plaid is popular in the Appalachian tradition & the Scots who settled in the Appalachians
umbrella is a dual function as a cane & fashion accessory; parisols & umbrellas are a motif in black Dandyism, as well as walking canes, and as a chronically ill person I've used/use both
gold accents to balance with the purple tones and another nod to opulence and the claim to wealth & prosperity that Dandyism represents
