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Celebrities are speaking out about their connection to Black Dandyism ahead of this year's Met Gala.
This year, the Met Gala is set to highlight Black menswear with its exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The exhibit is inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book, “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity." The Met previously said the exhibit “presents a cultural and historical examination of Black style from the 18th century to today through the lens of dandyism.”
The latest edition of GQ gave fans a first look at what's to come on May 5 when Hollywood stars and fashion designers collaborate to bring Black dandyism to life.
“The way I came into dandyism is through this process of transformation. I’m from the poorest neighborhood in Harlem, right by the banks of the Harlem River. Everybody in my little enclave was all poor. We had rats and roaches. Goodwill was our Macy’s. Whenever I was lucky and fortunate enough to have something to wear, I went to 125th Street. Nobody went there who wasn’t dressed. At 125th Street, nobody knew I had rats, nobody knew I had roaches, and that for me was the birth of dandyism because I saw the power of transformation that could take place with your clothes," Dapper Dan said of his connection to the theme ahead of the show.
Ayo Edebiri said she's embracing dandyism through her Nigerian background.
“I’m half Nigerian. There’s nothing more dandy than an African man dressed to the nines, really showing out, going to a party or a wedding.” Edebiri explained.
“Black dandyism is essentially a bucking of systems, a bucking of oppression, and saying we are inherently beautiful," Danielle Deadwyler said.
Janelle Monáe, known for donning tailored suits, explained how her style connects to dandyism.
“I consider myself a free-a** motherf***er. And when I’m in my suit, that is exactly how I feel. I feel like I am showing you a new way to think about clothing and to think about values and to think about what you stand for, what you don’t stand for, and the kind of person you want to represent as you walk this earth," Monáe said.
“In my day-to-day life, dandyism looks like the nonbinary, somewhere between the masc and the feminine, somewhere between the solar and the lunar.” Janicza Bravo said.
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