What Should Be In The African American Man’s Closet What should be in the modern African-American man’s closet? What are those items he must possess to have a wardrobe he is proud of? The goal of this article is to not only present a visual guide of clothing essentials, but also to help you understand the foundations of true style so you can look at something and determine if it’s in sync with who you are and your stylistic beliefs. Some may argue that dressing the black man should not be that deep but it is, because clothes are unspoken language. Every time a black man dresses up, he is sending a message about how he views the world and his place in it.
Who am I? Self-understanding is the bedrock of true style. Self-understanding is knowing your history, your values, your message and your vision. The world makes assumptions about how black men should behave, live or act and, most importantly, look. However, there are many ways to be black as there are many black people. So, binding yourself to what the world believes you should be instead of understanding who you really are will prevent you from finding your power.
How do I turn self-knowledge to style? Style is a matter of inspiration and developing an individual sense of what is elegant and wearable. So, what inspires you? Music, art, food, sports? Find a way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. Who inspires you? Look at these people, study how they put themselves together and how they have crafted a signature style. Style is also a matter of understanding the principles of good grooming and marrying it with personal inspiration. Good grooming may still be a vague term for men who just want to know what they need to have in their wardrobe. So simplifying further, style is understanding your body type and picking the right clothing to enhance it. Learn more about dressing for your body type by learning about fit, color and pattern.