Honorary Style: Vintage Black Style

We continue our series "Honorary Style", in order to celebrate Black history month. When looking back in time Black women have had captivating and classic style. Black women of the past worked their style and made it their own. Maybe this is why some of the best pieces can be found in your grandmother's closet! Vintage black style was simple yet certain items became signature style marks for the time periods in which these women lived in. We can always mark the 60's with the poodle skirt and the 19th century can be marked by huge elaborate long skirts with a very contoured structure.

The Black family is extremely important when looking back at vintage Black style. Not only did mom dress up on Sunday but so did dad, the kids and everyone else. Family photos were more planned and posed back then, than the family photos in which we take now. Sunday's has remained the fashion day for the African American family. Not only family but the Church was also an important influence to vintage Black style. Many households wore their best attire on Sunday. Huge church hats became the signature fashion statement in many southern Black churches and this trend still continues now.

Modesty was an essential element of vintage Black style. Long flowing skirts were worn in and out the house. These fashion trends still are prevalent in today's Black fashion. Vintage Black style serves as the inspiration for many fashion editorials and fashion trends that we see now. Classic gloves, pin curled hair, tucked in blouses are all trends reflecting vintage Black style that we still do now.

The legacy continues...







photos via 4UNOW, PixGood, Google, Followpics