Creating fashion savvy allows you to stand out from the crowd. To do so takes a combination of confidence, and knowledge of colors, lengths, and styles that are most flattering. We all have our favorite go to styles that take us through seasonal changes.
New fashion trends are always on the horizon and as Black women get our due diligence in on the shopping platform. There are tons of resources with many of us turning pages of our go-to sources like Essence, and Ebony to help determine what’s in and what is definitely out.
On-line shopping provides yet another tool to keep fashion conscious sisters in the know. With the number of black designers on the rise we have even more options.
They can use our support. It takes hard work and marketing to gain the pulse on what will sell. For professional women desiring African-themed clothing 2014 is a good year to check out the fashions that are created with us in mind.
There are options that include casual care-free looks, office wear, and timeless, dazzling chic and stylish formal wear. Weddings and graduations abound this season and there is no reason to worry that your outfit will be duplicated. Not if you take advantage of creations made with sisters in mind.
Part of the magic in owning curves is finding cuts that flatter and Black women can carry it off without missing a beat.
Are there colors or patterns that you shy away from? Is it because you never liked them as a child and they were a part of your closet staple? Or has the opinion of others made you dress more for other people than for yourself?
Folks that study the psychology of women say, that we dress for each other and not for ourselves. It’s true that we may make flattering comments towards others about their wardrobe and with a tinge of the green eyed monster lurking about. At the same time, you have a sense of when a compliment is sincere. Hearing, “Ooh girl, that is a bad dress!” is usually something that comes from a heartfelt place. The same people who believe that women are always looking to one up each other also say, that we dress for men. My question is if we’re dressing for other women and men, just when does our “feel and look good for ourselves” enter the picture?
The answer: When we own our stuff. This simply means wearing and dressing for what feels good, on and to us. No one can take anything away from you if you don’t give up your power. If your mama liked pastels and you kind of dig them too, then wear them with the same flair mama did when she was having a good time laughing and loving the family. You know the photo with her classic smile. On the other hand, if orange makes you think of Kool-aid and you never liked the sugary concoction, don’t wear it. The point is, to do you and to feel good about your fashion choices.
Even Essence magazine and the nine-thousand television shows that feature fashion can’t create your unique style. They can offer suggestions and ideas, and you may take bits and pieces from what they are showing. That’s all good. Go beyond that and you may end up with cookie cutter styles that everyone from your office peer to the teen girl next door.
Back to the designers that are putting out unique and beautiful styles just for us. Try an African inspired piece at a time and see how it works for you. Work it into pieces you already have if going for an entire line at once is a bit much. Give them a chance, my bet is you fall in love.