Once upon a time, black girls (specifically, black girls from the hood) were the only ones rocking oversized hoops, shiny gold nameplates, and printed headscarves for bold fashion statements. Those staples were a part of the culture. They were rooted in the melanin. However, in recent years, these staples have been swallowed by mainstream fashion. Many non-black celebrities (@ the Kardashians) have attempted to recreate the aesthetic created by black women who were previously looked down upon for their style. So as an ode to those who started the trends hollywood is usurping, here are 10 black girl staples that became mainstream.
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“Boxer braids” AKA Cornrows
Ladies, we all remember the uproar created by Kim Kardashian and her “boxer braids.” The real name for the style, as she probably knows from all of the black girl fury in her DMs, is cornrows. Black girls have been wearing them for years with little to no appreciation from the larger society. On an African American woman, they are deemed unprofessional and of course, ghetto. But when Kim tried it, it was new and fashionable. And it even has a new name.
(left: google.com, right: google.com)
2. Salon Nails
There was a time when girls from around the way were the only ones regularly scheduling salon appointments and exiting the scene with extra long stiletto or coffin shaped acrylics. The extra embellishments like gold piercings, rhinestones, and wild colors were a black girl’s pride and joy. The nails were deemed too long, too “loud,” and too ghetto. Now, no matter what race you are, if you don’t have a salon perfected coffin or at least short acrylic nails, you feel naked. It’s interesting that women are religiously hitting the salon now for “ghetto” styles (that conveniently, aren’t ghetto anymore) and excitedly posting them on their instagram stories.
(left: pinterest.com, right: glaminati.com)
3. Space buns
Cornrows aren’t the only style that have been culturally appropriated and then surprisingly, appreciated. People have recently begun loving “space buns,” a style that requires making a middle part and putting your hair in two buns. This isn’t anything new. Little girls and women have been wearing puffs this way for a long time now.
(left: pinterest.com, right: thefashionspot.com)
4. Nameplate Jewelry
Hairstyles aren’t the only thing being mimicked. Some people think nameplate jewelry got its popularity from Carrie Bradshaw’s gold “Carrie” necklace. But nameplate jewelry got its roots from 70’s New York style, graffiti, and hip hop culture. A big chain spelling out your man’s name in a funky font or hoop earrings with your name stretched across the center were everyday styles.
(left: pinterest.com, right: google.com)
5. Statement Earrings
Whether the earrings have name embellishment or not, black girls have been known to rock statement earrings. Doorknockers, bamboo, and simple gold finish have all become popular although they were already hip hop culture staples. It’s being marketed by fashion gurus as a way to “spruce up a boring look” or “switch things up.”
(twitter.com)
5. Bantu knots
Bantu knots have just recently hit social media and the runways but their origins go all the way back to Africa. The word “bantu” means people. The original creators and wearers of the bantu knot were the Zulu people. Black girls continued using the twisting/knotting technique as an overnight curl-maker but many women wore it out to make a statement.
(left: www.google.com, right: www.google.com)
6. Baby Hairs
Eco styler. Toothbrush. Scarf. You already know what’s going on. We’re laying the edges, ladies. And so is everyone else. Baby hairs have always been a part of hip-hop culture and black fashion. Unique to the black woman’s grade of hair, other women are struggling to mimic the look but boy, are they trying.
(right: pinterest.com, left: thefreepeopleproject.com)
7. Gold All In My Mouth
Tooth gems have recently become popular. They are small gems that come in many shapes and colors placed on the surface of the tooth – a poor recreation of the grills or gold teeth black women would rock in their own neighborhoods. However, this is not to say that grills haven’t made it into mainstream media as well (see below image).
9. Streetwear
The baggy pants with the heels. The Louis Vuitton headscarf tied back. The durag with jeans. The bubble coat. The Jordans with the dress. Black girls have been doing it for years and now it’s the most popular way to dress. Streetwear has taken precedence over boho chic, grunge, and preppy styles. With the rise of brands like Nike, Adidas, and Champion, the black girl streetwear aesthetic has become everyone’s favorite look.
(right: thedailydot.com, left: pinterest.com)
10. Countless other things
I couldn’t end this any other way. Black women are trendsetters. People spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery to achieve the black woman’s features including thick lips and an hourglass shape. Even the black woman’s tongue has been mimicked. Affectionately calling each other the B word, “yaaaaasas!” screaming “GIIIIRLLLLLL,” and “whewww chileeeee” were a black woman’s trademarks. Now, they’re on the lips of white women, hispanics, and asians. You can even find them spelled out on twitter.
So here’s to the women who started it all. Their slick baby hairs, manicured nails, and cornrows did not get the respect they deserved. Now that everyone is making hood style their own, the least we can do is give credit where credit is due – to black women. The real trendsetters.