Description
Book Synopsis: Slaves to Fashion is a pioneering cultural history of the black dandy, from his emergence in Enlightenment England to his contemporary incarnations in the cosmopolitan art worlds of London and New York. It is populated by sartorial impresarios such as Julius Soubise, a freed slave who sometimes wore diamond-buckled, red-heeled shoes as he circulated through the social scene of eighteenth-century London, and Yinka Shonibare, a prominent Afro-British artist who not only styles himself as a fop but also creates ironic commentaries on black dandyism in his work.
Interpreting performances and representations of black dandyism in particular cultural settings and literary and visual texts, Monica L. Miller emphasizes the importance of sartorial style to black identity formation in the Atlantic diaspora. Dandyism was initially imposed on black men in eighteenth-century England, as the Atlantic slave trade and an emerging culture of conspicuous consumption generated a vogue in dandified black servants. “Luxury slaves” tweaked and reworked their uniforms, and were soon known for their sartorial novelty and sometimes flamboyant personalities.
Tracing the history of the black dandy forward to contemporary celebrity incarnations such as Andre 3000 and Sean Combs, Miller explains how black people became arbiters of style and how they have historically used the dandy’s signature tools—clothing, gesture, and wit—to break down limiting identity markers and propose new ways of fashioning political and social possibility in the black Atlantic world. With an aplomb worthy of her iconographic subject, she considers the black dandy in relation to nineteenth-century American literature and drama, W. E. B. Du Bois’s reflections on black masculinity and cultural nationalism, the modernist aesthetics of the Harlem Renaissance, and representations of black cosmopolitanism in contemporary visual art.
Details
Are you ready to embrace the power of style and make a bold statement? Introducing Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. This groundbreaking book takes you on a journey through the history of the black dandy, from its roots in Enlightenment England to its modern-day revival in the vibrant art scenes of London and New York.
Immerse yourself in the stories of sartorial trailblazers like Julius Soubise, a freed slave who defied conventions with his diamond-buckled, red-heeled shoes. Discover how contemporary Afro-British artist Yinka Shonibare uses his own dandy style to challenge societal norms and provoke thought. Through meticulous analysis of cultural settings, literary works, and visual representations, Monica L. Miller unveils the profound impact of sartorial style on black identity formation in the Atlantic diaspora.
Travel back in time to the eighteenth-century when dandyism was imposed upon black men as a result of the Atlantic slave trade and the rise of conspicuous consumption. "Luxury slaves" emerged, transforming their uniforms into symbols of individuality and self-expression. This book traces the evolution of black dandyism through the ages, featuring icons like Andre 3000 and Sean Combs, who have carried the torch of style and elevated it to new heights.
Slaves to Fashion not only explores the history and evolution of the black dandy but also delves into its powerful socio-political implications. Miller reveals how black individuals have used dandyism's signature tools – clothing, gesture, and wit – as weapons to challenge and surpass societal limitations. Prepare to be captivated by the intersection of style and activism, as the black dandy paves the way for new narratives of politics and social possibility in the black Atlantic world.
Uncover the influence of the black dandy on nineteenth-century American literature and drama, and discover W. E. B. Du Bois's profound insights into black masculinity and cultural nationalism. Immerse yourself in the vibrant aesthetics of the Harlem Renaissance and explore how contemporary visual art celebrates black cosmopolitanism. Slaves to Fashion is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the intersections of fashion, identity, and social change.
Ready to revolutionize your understanding of fashion, culture, and identity? Click here to embrace the power of the black dandy!
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