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

This article examines terms that are central to critical thinking on dress associated with the African diaspora. Through a series of case studies on an accessory and garments produced and/or used in England, the United States 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 connections projected from the clothed black body is to be expected in such diasporic practices. A key aim of this essay 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.