Style
The Evolution of the Harlem style
The beginning of Harlem fashion
You may be familiar with the Harlem Renaissance of the 20th century, spanning between the years 1920s to the 1940s, symbolizing black fashion and economic equality. This period saw the mainstream emergence of black fashion, further propelled by the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. When we think of Harlem fashion, images of Afros, mom jeans, hoop earrings, crop tops, all-black attire, or even big fur coats often come to mind, along with 80s style. However, we often overlook the profound impact that the Harlem style has had on American culture and mainstream culture that persists even today.
The movement
The New York Post article, “How a Harlem Fashion Show Started the ‘Black is Beautiful’ Movement” by Raquel Laneri, introduces us to the beginning of Harlem fashion in 1962. A group of African jazz art society and studio artists hosted a show called “Naturally ’62” at Harlem’s Purple Manor, featuring black Americans who were considered “unprofessional” due to their skin tone or hair texture. These “nonprofessionals” proudly highlighted their dark skin and natural, curly hair, becoming known as the Grandassa models. This groundbreaking event conveyed a powerful message to black Americans and mainstream society: that black people are beautiful, and that black Americans should be embracing one’s natural heritage. Thus, the “Black is Beautiful” movement was born, influencing magazines, modeling careers, and pop culture, leaving a lasting impact still visible today.
The vision
The impact of Harlem fashion on mainstream culture is very clear today, notably through figures like Dapper Dan. Dapper Dan played a pivotal role in the Harlem Renaissance and style, transforming designer brands clothes like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Tommy Hilfiger into custom-made garments at his shop. He turned high-end designer brands into streetwear fashion, a trend that is still popular today. Despite facing challenges, such as many closures of his shop in the 1990s due to the appropriation of designer logos, Dapper Dan’s influence survived. In 2017, Gucci collaborated with him, highlighting how high-end fashion brands can embrace Black culture. Similarly, Beyoncé’s “Apeshit” album and music video highlighted how high-end fashion brands can cater to Black society’s preferences. Dapper Dan’s story exemplifies how creativity and talent can thrive, even with limited resources, making a significant fashion statement for Black America.
Today times
with social media platforms growing from Facebook to TikTok, reveal the cycle of fashion trends, reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance era from the 1940s to the 1960s. Content creators today are crafting their fashion lines and statements, mirroring the creativity and innovation of that era. Thus, from the Harlem Renaissance to the “Black is Beautiful” movement, the Harlem style continues to make fashion statements that reflect our society’s ongoing evolution, and during 2020, we saw how content creators were making fashion statements and trends to show where society stands in the period, similarly to what the Harlem renaissance did.
The typical Instagram Harlem aesthetic picture
Teyana Taylor
The typical Harlem aesthetic photos usually consist of two or three elements. Firstly, there’s often a Times Square skyline or a graffiti background. Secondly, the clothing typically involves baggy pants paired with a baggy t-shirt, joggers with a white tank top or sports bra, and Timberland boots. Alternatively, for a throwback to the 1980s or 1970s era, you might see people dressed in suits and ties with afros or slicked-back hairstyles. Lastly, the third main focus is the pose, where individuals are either sitting down in a squat or a regular position or standing straight up with their shoulders leaned back slightly. You can see this from The famous and talented musician, model, and artist Teyana Taylor embraced the Harlem style through her songs and Instagram pictures, through this style you can see that she takes a lot of inspiration from Harlem considering that’s where she grew up at.
