From Wacky to Wonderful

Our Most Unusual Fashion Choices

I’m bringing you something different here, something special. Instead of getting into creative writing I’m going to share a little about fashion and culture. My next book, due out this winter, is nonfiction and titled STEPPING OUT: 50+ Years of Unapologetic African American Style (Clarkson Potter/Publishers). I worked with an amazing photographer on this book and had so much fun writing it. I’ve always loved fashion and this was an opportunity to dig deep into the trenches.

So I thought, why not keep writing about fashion even beyond the book? There’s so much fascinating material. But I knew I didn’t want to write the usual–Wear This, Not That–kind of fashion blog. Instead, I wanted to do something that explores the unique, unexpected yet glorious fashion choices we make. 

Like flip flops. Did you know that they’ve been around for thousands and thousands of years? Ancient Egyptians wore them to keep their feet cool and dry in the hot, muggy climate near the Nile. Of course they were not made of rubber–that didn’t come along until much, much later–they were made from plant fibers.

And earrings! Whoever thought to poke a hole in their ear and stick something pretty in it? Brilliant. Now many women won’t leave the house without them.

We see and wear these creative, inventive clothing items everyday. Yet we know so little about the when, how, and why of it all. That’s what I’ll delve into in Spicy Adornment: The Wild, Wacky and Wonderful Things We Wear. 

xoxo,
Connie

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