By Monet Manesh
With her fire engine red hat, matching booties, and an abstract-patterned duster coat, her vibrant energy captivated the audience as she strutted to the beat of the music. The crowd sat back in their seats in awe of her confidence and power, while dozens more models- just as striking-waited in the wings for their turn in the spotlight.
This past Friday, attendees gathered in the Hughes-Trigg Auditorium to show their love and appreciation for Black culture and fashion at the annual ABS Fashion Show. Celebrating Black History Month, this fashion show displayed the multifaceted and unique aspects of Black style. Models walked the runway in corresponding looks for each theme — Black is Alternative, Black is Trendy, Black is Excellent, and Black is You — showcasing their individuality and what it means to be a part of the Black community here at SMU.
Javon Brown, co-director of programming for ABS, strongly believes in the importance of this event because of the immense impact Black fashion has had in helping to shape the world. She highlighted the massive amount of time and energy that the members of ABS put into bringing the show to life.
“I think the best part of Black fashion is that you can make it unique and expressive to you! There’s not a right or wrong way to express yourself,” Brown said. “I think that is why the fashion show is such a staple event for Black History Month, because it gives the students a safe place to be themselves and be celebrated.”
Black is Alternative
During the “Black is Alternative” portion, one model wore a monochromatic look featuring a black tank, sunglasses, cargo pants, and shoes. The next model sported a hot pink, tight-fitted shirt, paired with jeans, and accessorized her look with matching pink fuzzy boots, hair clips, and a silver star belt.
Black is Alternative exemplifies that Black style is adaptable and versatile, not limiting itself into one mold. The outfits in this section flawlessly exhibited style outside the mainstream; they all varied greatly from each other, but no outfit was “better” than the other, as each look displayed the individual model’s personality.
“Black fashion takes form in so many ways, but we try to pick categories that people can participate in that really showcase their styles and uniqueness,” Brown said.
Black is Trendy
In the “Black is Trendy” portion, one model rocked a modernized take on the Canadian Tuxedo, featuring a navy blue jean jacket, matching blue jeans, a white tank, and a studded white statement belt.
This theme showcases that Black style is fun, playful, and experimental. Trends don’t need to be too serious, and they don’t have to define your whole personality. Trends come and go, but the ability to mix up your style, while knowing who you are underneath those trends is something that remains with you forever. This section invited the audience to get more exploratory with their personal style.
“I really liked (how they were) asking the audience questions and incorporating the audience, because it shows that they were really thoughtful about the message they were trying to give with the fashion show,” Lena Remert, an attendee at the show, said.
Black is Excellent
During the “Black is excellent” portion, one model wore a suit and tie, while another model graced the runway with a black midi dress, paired with an abstract duster coat, red booties, and a red hat.
Black excellence is not just about the success of one single person. It is the shared empowerment and strength throughout the community that inspires, celebrates, and affirms one another, motivating each person to strive for success, regardless of stereotypes. Fashion is extremely empowering, and Black excellence expressed through style is a source of confidence and influence for people of color.
“I came here to support my fellow Black, excellent people because I have friends here, and they wanted to show what they’ve got, and I wanted to represent and support them,” Kyra Oladeji, another attendee, said.
Black is You
During the “Black is you” portion, models dressed in a variety of looks from a sparkly, purple chrome gown paired with dangly earrings to a baby pink ruffle dress complemented by matching pink heels.
Black is You means being yourself, being authentic, being unique, and embracing your originality. It means subverting the look of others and accepting who you are right now. It’s about embracing yourself, regardless of your flaws, and letting that shine through, whether that be through your vibrant energy, your clothing, or both.
“There were just so many excellent outfits because there’s not one way to look,” Oladeji said. “There’s so many, and they all look amazing.”
