"Shut your mouth!" "You look cleaner than the board of health!" "You are so fly!" "Okay, I see you!"
These are all compliments to style our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, cousins, and friends often articulate to send a signal of approval for a polished, perfected, and deliciously swag-a-licious look. Some of us grew up in a time when leaving home without the proper attire was completely unacceptable. That swagger carries on and the Ralph Lauren Polo brand recently took notice.
On the website announcing the Polo by Ralph Lauren Exclusively For Morehouse College and Spelman College, Ralph Lauren said, “Our portrait of American style, and our vision of the American dream, would be incomplete without Black experiences like this.”
This collection is really a final word in style. Like Lauren says, without the Black experience, American style would be without seasoning. Okay, he didn't say all that, but that's our interpretation. The vintage collection captures Black college-style from the 1920s to the 1950s and is a reminder of the indelible elegance that Black students incorporated into their ability to study alongside one another, and excel, yet never compromising the values of presentability. The collection was entirely conceptualized and designed by Morehouse and Spelman alumni at Ralph Lauren, marking it the first time this design house has produced a line and campaign featuring an all-Black suite of creators.
The entire collection is a tribute to the history of Black college attire and a nod to the future where Black swag can no longer be overlooked as an essential bit of flavor in American style. Period!
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