An associate professor of Africana Studies and History explores the meaning of fashion in her own life and its relationship to the larger aesthetic trends of Black culture—Afros and dashikis, the go-go boots and hotpants of the sixties, hip-hop's baggy jeans and bamboo earrings, and the #BlackLivesMatter-inspired hoodies of today.
Ford’s recollections of living in a segregated Midwestern neighborhood comprise the strongest passages, employing her family, friends, and community as examples of transitions in black style ... A winning look at black girl fashion and a solid addition for all collections.
...[a] thoughtful memoir ... Ford sprinkles in the history and politics of the styles she highlights as well as a deep affection for her mother, the first style icon she knew. Her knowledge of fashion and her love for the women who influenced her style makes this appealing for anyone who’s ever loved a piece of clothing.
A professor and pop-culture observer finds insight behind the statement, 'clothes are never just garments' ... An entertaining coming-of-age memoir from 'a proud dashiki daughter, dressed in my own dreams.'
