Anne Cole Lowe

Image Source Page: http://www.la2day.com/fashion/the_history_of_black_fashion

Ann Cole Lowe was the earliest African American designer in 1950 to be part of the New York fashion establishment.  Married in 1912 at age 14, she would later have a few of her own couture salons in Tampa, Florida and New York.  Much like myself, she was the daughter and granddaughter of designer (me=seamstresses) ball gown makers, and grew up amongst quality fabrics and highly skilled workmanship. 

She worked for big named stores and salons such at Chez Sonia, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Madeleine Couture.  In 1946 she designed the dress Olivia de Havilland wore to accept the Academy Award for Best Actress for To Each His Own, but the name on the dress was Sonia Rosenberg.  This event was one moment that drove her entrepreneurial spirit.

   

Image Source: http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/collection_database/the_costume_institute/wedding_dress_anne_lowe//objectview.aspx?OID=80005316&collID=8&dd1=8

Five of her gowns are now in the permanent collection of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum in New York.  Others can be found in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and the Black Fashion Museum in Harlem (now closed).

She is most notably known for the wedding dress she designed for Jacqueline Bouvier who married J.F.K.  She also had clients from families such as Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Du Pont, and Roosevelt.

Image Source Page: http://orangemercury.blogspot.com/2009/09/african-american-history-jackies.html

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Sources:

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Lowe
2. http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0300093314&id=0nxzw0wdIREC&pg=RA4-PA128&lpg=RA4-PA128&ots=uzTEFgRoNA&dq=Ann+Lowe&sig=aXLj2XnfxfPF-CtgIGfIaf_MCVI#v=onepage&q=Ann%20Lowe&f=false
3. http://www.indelibles.com/anne-cole.htm

 

Elizabeth Heckley

This was a newly found legacy for me.  I had never heard the story of Elizabeth Keckley before last week, and after further research am very thankful that learning of ones past can be so fulfilling and energizes my own life’s goals (if you focus on the good). 

Image Source Page: http://kissingkitty.com/kissingkitty/MORE.html

Elizabeth Keckley was born a slave, and began work as a nursemaid at age 5. Was put on loan to family members of the master, upon which she was raped and beaten repeatedly.  My favorite part of her life is her being beat by two different men, in an attempt to break her pride, until they were exhausted. Eventually both men gave up, and one even cried and asked for forgiveness.  LOL, I can only think of the remake with Madea as the lead.  This is a story we’ve been told over and over again with many different faces and names.  However, the most inspiring stories from slavery are the ones where, no matter what, success was destined.

Keckley, with apparent superb design and seamstress skills, at the age of 34 was able to buy her and her son’s freedom for $1,200.00 in 1855 (2 years of getting the master to agree and set a price; 3 years of gathering the funds).  After she paid back the patrons who gave her money for her freedom, she later would go on to meet and interview with the First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s wife, and become her modiste and confidant. During her White House years, she made the inaugural dress and many others Mary Lincoln was photographed in.  The cherry on top is Elizabeth Keckley would also found an organization to support freed slaves.  It just doesn’t get better than that! 

Image Source Page:

 http://www.wornthrough.com/2009/03/25/national-museum-of-american-historyabe-lincoln/

I am very inspired in my life to achieve each and every dream I have.  If she could reach the optimum level of effectiveness, efficiency, and success in fashion during the most evil of times in American History with all the vile episodes that her childhood and young adult life could stand, so can I, so can you too!



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Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Keckly

Patrick Kelly

Patrick Kelly was a Paris-based women’s wear designer and founder of fashion house Patrick Kelly Paris.  Kelly was highly successful in the U.S. during the 1980’s and I remember my Grandmother, a master seamstress, simply in awe of his work every time she saw it. 

Image Source Page: http://beautyandthestreet.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-history-spotlight-patrick-kelly.html

Kelly was the first American & the first African American to be admitted as a member of the Chambre syndicale du prêt-à-porter des couturiers et des créateurs de mode (French Federation of Fashion and of Ready-to-Wear of Couturiers and Fashion Designers)            

           

Image Source Page: http://forums.thefashionspot.com/f116/1954-1990-patrick-kelly-61044.html

Image Source Page: http://www.debbiedecoudreaux.com/images/Debbie%20de%20Coudreaux%20Web%20Gallery/pages/Patrick% 20Kelly%20Flaminco%20dress2.htm

Image Source Page: http://fashion.blogdig.net/archives/articles/August2007/21/Harlem_Renaissance_Fashion_Show.html



Kelly's designs were sold in upscale retailers including Henri Bendel, Bergdorf Goodman, and Bloomingdale’s.  I don't see or hear of any African American designers bringing forth this optimum level of creativity and shear brilliance these days.  It seems as if most are doing what is expected, and not taking chances.  I'll keep researching till I find them though.

 Image Source Page: http://african-americanfashion.blogspot.com/

Resource:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Kelly_(fashion_designer)

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http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/exhibitions/626/Patrick_Kelly%3A_A_Retrospective/image/354/Patrick_Kelly%3A_A_Retrospective._%7C04172004_-_09052004%7C._Installation_view.

African American Designer Willi Smith

Image Source Page: http://cgi.ebay.com/WILLI-SMITH-MOHAIR-LLAMA-WOOL-MANS-GRAY-COAT-JACKET-L-/250583789438?pt=US_CSA_MC_Outerwear

I remember in the 80’s when Willi Wear had a section in every Rich’s and Macy’s department store right along with the likes of Ralph Lauren and other notable labels.  He had the hottest men’s fashions around, and any guy who wanted to look cool had clothes made by Willi Smith. 

Image Source Page: http://fashionrevolutionaires.onsugar.com/Black-Beauty-Style-History-Fashion-Willi-Smith-7258597

I don’t hear anyone mentioning Willi Smith these days, but I firmly believe it was he that truly set off the African American clothing design labels that you see today.  He was the first to make it a plausible thought that we could design, create, and distribute clothing to the masses with excellence.

Image Source Page: http://www.bigbendcares.org/vaq/pages/smithw.shtml

Willi Wear was launched in 1976, when Carl Williams and Daymond G. John, founders of Karl Kani and FUBU, were only 8 and 9 years old respectively.  This was an enormous feat at that time, and just happens to be the same year Black History Month was first celebrated.  RIP Willi Smith 1948-1987.  I wonder what he would have to say about African American labels available today?

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Sources & Images:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willi_Smith

http://www.bigbendcares.org/vaq/pages/smithw.shtml

http://fashionrevolutionaires.onsugar.com/Black-Beauty-Style-History-Fashion-Willi-Smith-7258597

If you don’t know who Andrè Leon Talley is, then you don’t know fashion, and you definitely don’t know Black fashion.  As former editor-at-large for American Vogue he has been a leader in fashion for decades and influences what you and I wear whether you know the name or not. 

 

Image Source Page: http://clutchmagonline.com/fashion/the-man-the-myth-the-legend-andre-leon-talley/

Talley was recently a judge on America’s Next Top Model, and was very out spoken as always.  We hate it when he’s right, and we love it when he’s right(o_o)! 

Image Source Page: http://www.passport2fabulous.com/2010/09/new-americas-next-top-model-september-2010/

Talley is also a great supporter of Ebony Fashion Fair, high lighted in last weeks blogs.  Here he is photographed with Woopi and Linda Johnson-Rice, daughter of Eunice Johnson, at a tribute to Eunice W. Johnson the founder of Ebony Fashion Fair.

  

Image Source Page: http://www.metmuseum.org/about/audience_development/photos/72157623249211306

 

If you’re a tween looking to learn fashion, get to know him.

 Image Source Page: http://www.stylecaster.com/news/7961/derek-blasberg-pens-style-book-and-6-more-stylish-men-we-rely-on



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"The Godfather of Urban Fashion" Karl Kani

Karl Kani AKA “The Originator” AKA “The King of Black” launched his brand in 1989.  My back story here is that in 1993 at a junior college biology class;o}, I first noticed my now husband dressed head to toe in Karl Kani, LOL.  Who new?  Well 18 years, a marriage, and 3 babies later, I’m buying my son Karl Kani sneakers, and fussing at him for not tying the laces. 

http://karlkani.com/

Image Source Page: http://highbridnation.com/2008/03/18/karl-kani-to-drop-2-new-fashion-lines/



Karl Kani is responsible for uniting hip-hop and fashion and moving it into the viable multi-billion dollar retail apparel segment that it is today.  If you hate sagg’n jeans, then blame him, since it was Karl who took the Brooklyn trend and put it on runways 1^st.  Not exactly sure if he knew it would lead to the pants on the ground frenzy though(o_o) 

Image Source Page: http://www.topstreetwear.com/system/search/product.asp?id=13293



“The God Father of Urban Fashion” definitely deserves his place on the Black History in Fashion list!

Image Source Page: http://helzyxo.blogspot.com/2009/10/in-love-with-karl-kani.html

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African American Stylist Mario Wilson's Portfolio Reloaded

ü      Out this stylist’s portfolio http://www.kenbarboza.com/stylists/mario_wilson/mario_wilson_frame.html

I wanna b like him when I grow up! 

    

Keep in mind the photos in his portfolio are targeted to adults, but this gives you a nice look at what stylist's can do as a career option.

Image Source Page: http://www.kenbarboza.com/stylists/mario_wilson/bio.html

This was posted a couple of months ago, but worth reposting during Black History month due to his prolific styling qualities.  Tweens if you’re looking to be a stylist, this is what it’s all about.  You may want to volunteer, help out, get a part-time job at a store and work as much as possible on displays to gain experience.

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