Reminiscing about Fashion in Washington (published WTTG Fox 5 on 11.6.2007)

On Saturday, November 3, 2007, the Historical Society of Washington, DC held its 34th Annual Washington Studies Reception at the Carnegie Library. Session 33 entitled, DC Style: A Salute to the Reporters Who Chronicled Real Washington Society & Fashion featured panelists Roscoe Dellums, Eve Ferguson, Allie Latimer and Helen Moody who reminisenced about fashion and society in WDC from 1960-1990.

Attorney Roscoe Dellums, one of the original creators of the famed Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) fashion show recalled the glory days when the CBC Spouses produced elaborate fashion presentations during Caucus weekend that featured the top African American models of the day, including Naomi Sims, Beverly Johnson and Audrey Smaltz.

In the 1960’s, Washington was a very different city than it is today. Brown v. Board of Education had yet to be fully enforced so many African American women still lived and worked in two separated and segregated worlds: one white and one black. Fashion for these women was, according to Attorney Allie Latimer, dictated by occupation. Because black women were seen before they were heard, fashion and impeccable dressing, became the great equalizer. The right suit from Garkinkel’s, hair coiffure from the Cardozo Sisters and shoes from Landsburgh helped to level the playing field.

But, even after integration, blacks were not always welcome in the Washington area department stores. Helen Moody, personal shopper extraordinaire and former Saks Fifth Avenue model retold how Saks department store was duped into hosting a fashion show for black women featuring black models in 1973. It happened during a store transition. One manager who was leaving Saks Fifth Avenue signed off on the event without much scrutiny. The new manager decided to “make it work” and spent a considerable amount of money producing a spirited and energetic show that resonated with the black shoppers. After the event, Saks Fifth Avenue merchandise and charge cards flew out of the store making the black women a much sought after customer.

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s students at Howard University, aka Saw U continued to use fashion to signify a state of mind. Fashion Journalist Eve Ferguson recollected her time spent preparing to make a daily appearance on the Yard. Her attire, largely dictated by each day’s scheduled activities, consisted of either Sassoon or Guess jeans with sequined tube tops or Dashikis and kente cloth. Black power and disco fever each had a uniform that were unmistakable and rarely interchangeable.

But regardless of the era-from Black Broadway to the elegant parties held in private homes of the black bourgeoisie, “black folks know how to put it together” and continue to use fashion to make statements about their community and themselves.