Style—Fashion—Dress: From Black to Post-Black

Abstract

This article examines terms that are central to critical thinking on dress associated with the African diaspora. Through a series of case studies produced and/or used in the UK, the USA, and South Africa, notably London, New York, and Soweto, the terms style, fashion, dress, black, and post-black are considered with regard to specific use, contemporary relevance, or past-present connections. Such multi-faceted links projected from the clothed black body are to be expected in diasporic practices. A key aim of this article is to expand on this and to think about these terms in relation to garments and black bodies of the African diaspora as networks of ideas and concerns.

KEYWORDS:

• style
• fashion
• dress
• African diaspora
• black
• post-black
• networks