The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute is currently featuring "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," which delves into the historical and contemporary significance of Black dandyism. Running through October, the exhibition showcases various artworks and garments from as far back as the 1700s to modern times. It examines how Black fashion has served both as a tool of oppression and a means of liberation. Through the insights of curator Monica L. Miller and commentary from museum executives, the show emphasizes how Black dandies have historically challenged societal norms regarding class, gender, and race in fashion.
"It highlights the power of style to transform one's identity and challenge existing hierarchies, and by doing that, unlocking possibilities," said Max Hollein.
"Not only is the dandy somebody who pushes boundaries and particularly in relationship to class, gender, sometimes sexuality,... but then, when you think about the dandy as racialized as Black, he's also pushing boundaries of what might seem acceptable," Monica L. Miller states.
The exhibition uses garments, paintings, video and more from the 1700s to today to look at how Black style has been used both to keep people subjugated and to help them be more free.
Samuel Boakye, whose clothing line, Kwasi Paul, draws from his family's native Ghana, expresses, "I wanted to commemorate his swag," referring to his father's style.
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