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I love to read and have been reading since I was potty trained. I grew up at a time of Scholastic book fairs and I started off reading the same books girls my age were reading- The BabySitter's Club, Sweet Valley High, Judy Blume and even some Nancy Drew... But at some point around the age of nine or ten, two things happened- I somehow discovered "Pimp" by Iceberg Slim and I snuck and read my mother's copy of "Waiting to Exhale" by Terri McMillan. I wanted to read the Terri McMillan because the cover art featured the abstract black faces with vibrant geometric shapes for clothes and hats. I still don't remember who introduced me to Iceberg, but I spent a lot of time in libraries when I was in elementary so who knows- I probably discovered it myself.
Black Fashion and Style Books
It doesn't matter how I got put on, but once I finished those two books I discovered a whole new love for reading and writing. "Pimp" was written in a pre- hip hop purple prose that I could understand and although I was far removed from the scenarios that happened in the book, all the words and characters seemed to jump out at me, violently grab me and held me hostage into their world. "Waiting to Exhale" was familiar as well- it felt like overhearing gossip at the family reunions or from the children's table during holidays, whispers and codes spoken in hair salons that I was too young to understand but used context clues to figure out. If Pimp was hip hop, then Waiting to Exhale was a smooth mix of R&B and jazz- which I wasn't ready for but I could appreciate cause of how grown up it all was. Anyway it opened me up to the "Black World" section as they call our space in libraries and bookstores and now that's all I do in my downtime is read books of all types- chick lit, street lit, bios and autobiographies of my favorite rappers and entertainers, certain self help books, something related to history, books on fashion and style and whatever else has a good cover and catches my eye.
I love reading about fashion and style and I have read all about high fashion designers, popular wardrobe stylists and such, but I could not find many about Black people and our contributions to the industry which was frustrating as hell. So I came up with this list of Black fashion and style related books for us, by us, about us because I could not find one when I was looking. Some of them are old and outdated, at least one was published just last month, but they are here and I will keep adding more as I discover them. I've read about half of the list and I have my eyes on several that I will include in my book wish list. Which titles have you read?
Icons
Fancy Party Gowns: The Story of Fashion Designer Ann Cole Lowe by Deborah Blumenthal A.L.T.: A Memoir by Andre Leon Talley The Face that Changed it All by Beverly Johnson Walking with the Muses: Am Memoir by Pat Cleveland Threads of Time, The Fabric of History: Profiles of African American Dressmakers and Designers from 1850 to Present by Rosemary Reed Miller Skin Deep: Inside the World of Black Fashion Models by Barbara Summers Something to Prove A Biography of Ann Lowe America's Forgotten Designer by Julia Faye Dockery Smith
For the Culture
The Birth of Cool: Style Narratives of the African Diaspora by Carol Tulloch African Catwalk by Per-Anders-Pettersson Haute Africa: People. Photography. Fashion by Christophe de Jaegher and Ramona van Gansbeke Fashion Illustration Africa by Tapiwa Matsinde Liberated Threads: Black Women, Style, and the Global Politics of Soul by Tanisha C Ford Fashion Africa by Jaqueline Shaw Africa Rising: Fashion, Design and Lifestyle from Africa by Clara Le Fort New African Fashion by Helen Jennings Africa is in Style by Berenice Geoffroy-Schneiter
Vintage Style
The Battle of Versailles by Robin Givhan The Way We Wore: Black Style Then by Michael McCullom Vintage Black Glamour Nichelle Gainer Back in the Days by Jamel Shabazz Stylin: African American Expressive Culture, from It's Beginning to the Zoot Suit by Shane White Vintage Black Glamour: Gentlemen's Quarters by Nichelle Gainer
Image Makers
How to Slay: Inspiration from the Queens and Kings of Black Style by Constance White Soul Style: Black Women Redefining the Color of Fashion by Duane Thomas Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity by Monica L Miller Lo-Life: An American Classic by Jackson Blount and George "Rack-Lo" Billips Black Style by Carol Tulloch Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the Present by Deborah Willis Shirt Kings: Pioneers of Hip Hop Fashion by Edwin Phade Sacasa and Alan Ket Mariduena Dandy Lion: The Black Dandy and Street Style by Shantrelle P. Lewis Free Stylin': How Hip Hop Changed the Fashion Industry (Hip Hop in America) by Elena Romero Stylenoir: The First How to Guide to Fashion Written with Black Women In Mind by Constance White The Style Checklist: The Ultimate Wardrobe Essentials for You by Lloyd Boston Effortless Style by June Ambrose Everyday Beauty (Double Exposure) by Robin Givhan
Miscellaneous
The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever by Teri Agins Hijacking the Runway by Teri Agins The Perfect Find by Tia Williams The Accidental Diva by Tia Williams So- which books will you put on your reading list? Leave your answers in the comments below!
14 Comments
12/23/2018 05:49:43 pm
If you are going to enter the world of black fashion, you're going to realize that it's totally different from what the mainstream fashion is making. It's not because there is a discrimination, but black have their own appeal when it comes to fashion, and the more unique the outfit, the more they shine the most. I already read this book written by Robin Givhan and you would be very impressed by his writing style, there's no reason not to love him. I can't say that I know a lot about fashion, but the older I get, the more interested I become in fashion as an art form. So, I'll definitely check out some of these books. The vintage style list looks particularly interesting from a historical perspective. Thanks for compiling this! 11/22/2020 10:35:35 am
2/22/2021 04:08:10 am
2/26/2021 10:25:15 pm
3/20/2021 04:35:53 am
Thank you. I mean if someone wants to buy brand names let them, but why must they always brag and put down the generic brands for supposedly being of “lower quality.” I’m not one to have the latest and greatest electronics. All that matters for me is that it works, I never really cared for the HDTV’s, the high definition stereos and the like.
4/28/2021 09:32:50 am
I wanted to have a title as a designer, but it is so hard to finish a piece. You have to dedicate an effort in time in making one. I hope that I can have the talent as same as yours. 5/14/2021 01:10:58 am
Thanks for your post. I’ve been thinking about writing a very comparable post over the last couple of weeks, I’ll probably keep it short and sweet and link to this instead if thats cool. Thanks. 8/17/2021 10:39:31 pm
8/29/2021 05:14:57 am
9/15/2021 08:25:13 am
You just need to browse all clothing racks because there are many clothes that you will love. They have clothes that are being sold in malls, but they sell it for a cheaper price! 9/23/2021 07:19:10 am
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