i thought about naming this post “i wish i had a fancy dress (and other dreams of a country girl.)” but that’s too damn long. you would have stopped reading at the title.
no matter the title, this vince slip dress gives me all the feels and reminds me of my childhood dreams.
i was four or five when i raided my grandma’s closet and put together a look that was pure fashion. at least it was to a five-year old obsessed with punky brewster. my oblivious uncle let me leave the house wearing mix-match clothing and a shoestring for a belt. i was happy as a clam, and it was a key moment in my identity development. the moment i understood clothes as art that could make you feel something.
at six, my favorite outfit was a matching yellow top and skirt. my favorite hairstyle was a single ponytail — to let the girls on the playground know how grown up i was. at 35, my favorite outfit is something vintage topped off with a bold lip color. my favorite hairstyle is the way it grows outta my head with as little fuss as possible — to let the world know how much i love my people.
what’s telling is i’ve always had a favorite outfit that symbolizes my stage in life.
the express jeans in college, ankh earrings during my hotep phase, or first designer handbag all bring back vivid memories. my look has always been inseparable from who i am.
i was venting to my uncle awhile ago about work stress and having to give a big presentation. without hesitation he said, “well niece, imma tell you like this: get your hair did and your nails did and kill it.” this advice was golden because of my intimate relationship with style. a relationship that spans generations.
READ: Workplace Adornment: A Rebellious Black Girl Speaks
my grandmother and her sisters were domestic workers. they mopped floors, cleaned toilets and rocked babies for white families in my small town. despite the value society put on their lives, their adornment practices were regal. their style was a “fuck you” to oppression, a reminder that white supremacy couldn’t have all of them.
in their spirt, i declare that cancer can’t have all of me. i’ll get my hair did and my nails did, and i’ll kill it. i’m living my life like it’s golden.
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all pictures taken at the quirk hotel in richmond, va. stop by to have a drink, visit the gallery or stay the night. tell them i said, “hey girl hey!”
