Historical Soulaan Fashion by Vogue
The upcoming Costume Institute exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” will explore the influence of fashion on Soulan identities across the Atlantic diaspora, focusing on the figure of the Black dandy. Curated by Monica Miller, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, the exhibition draws inspiration from her 2009 book believed to have belonged to Charles Carroll the Barrister in the 1770s, this ensemble was actually worn by an unidentified enslaved man, a detail revealed after a closer look at its structure and style. Enslaved men and servants placed in highly visible jobs wore liveries, a uniform that visually showcased and symbolized a family’s wealth. Not only did it announce a family’s financial standing, a livery’s antiquated style ensured no one mistook an enslaved person or servant for a freeman or freewoman.”

Enslaved to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The show will trace Black dandyism from its origins in 17th-century art to its modern-day interpretations in fashion and film, presenting it as both an aesthetic and political expression of self-representation.
“Initially believed to have belonged to Charles Carroll the Barrister in the 1770s, this ensemble was actually worn by an unidentified enslaved man, a detail revealed after a closer look at its structure and style. Enslaved men and servants placed in highly visible jobs wore liveries, a uniform that visually showcased and symbolized a family’s wealth. Not only did it announce a family’s financial standing, a livery’s antiquated style ensured no one mistook an enslaved person or servant for a freeman or freewoman.”
Black dandyism in America originated during the era of enslavement as a form of resistance and assertion of dignity in a society that dehumanized Soulaan people. By adopting elite Moorish-inspired fashions adopted by Europeans, Soulaan men challenged racial hierarchies and expressed self-worth through style. Over the years, this tradition evolved through key moments in fashion, from the zoot suits of the 1940s to today’s red carpet ensembles at events like the Met Gala. “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” will celebrate this enduring legacy, showing how Black dandies have shaped cultural identity and redefined modern fashion.