fashion
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Mahogany (1975): Cult Movie of the Week
Sometimes a post idea for Darkjive happens organically: the intersection of various occurrences in my life make it clear that I MUST post about something in particular. In this case, “Mahogany” started out as a request from a reader who thought that, because it was primarily shot here in Chicago, the lack of a post…
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Gouster or Ivy Leaguer?
Today, it’s a question of whether your pants are sagging or not (as far as I’m concerned). In the Sixties, on the South and West Sides of Chicago, the male clothing signifier was whether you were a Gouster or an Ivy Leaguer. A former co-worker who I guess would be classified as a Gouster now, but was an…
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Bon Bon Vie: good good life…
The line is designed by Shari Neal, who explained to Afrobella: “I always wanted to design tee shirts, but I just never sat down to do it until fairly recently. In the past I had done tee shirt designs for other people and I finally decided to do something for myself. The name of the company comes…
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Eunice Johnson: Wrought a Roadshow of Dreams
Eunice Johnson (1916-2010), widow of Ebony/Jet Publisher John H. Johnson, was more than Black Media’s First Lady. As Creator and Director of the Ebony Fashion Fair (an all black roadshow of haute couture), she paved the way for generations of black models from Beverly Johnson and Naomi Sims to Naomi Campbell. In fact, Richard Roundtree (“Shaft”) was a…
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Arise Up!
Picture world renowned photographers flown into Nigeria, photo shoots featuring African supermodels all over the world. I’m not talking about the now fabled All-Black Italian Vogue. “Arise” is that magazine: published in London by THISDAY, it’s a survey of Contemporary African Fashion & Pop Culture. A window into a world we don’t see in full color,…
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Jive on Icon: Naomi Sims
It was 1967. While “Black is Beautiful” sounded a vigorous call to confront and love our authentic African selves, Naomi became “the first black woman accepted as a beauty in her own right,” as she was later described. Her image of authoritative ebony inspired all women of color to pride. Never had a model so dark-skinned…
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The Look Spring 2009: Disco meets Deco French Riviera
I’m looking forward to spring, if only to feel the sun on my shoulders. For a some of the looks I am itching to recreate (or at least scope) click here some highlights: Tracy Reese’s collection has me laced all up in it…. Disco meets Deco French Riviera is a pervasive look, alongside a lot…
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the Brooklyn Circus
So, I am in in love with a carney The Brooklyn Circus. Great boutique in the NYC. But was I excited to discover that said fly-ass boutique has an outpost here in Chicago! The BKC has got great urban clothing that is for folks doing holy work (i.e.: not so-fly-you-can’t-get-your-hands-dirty). They say on their site,…