Why do some big girls rock Apple Bottoms, when they know that the booty is beyond an "apple" shape? Right?!?! OMG, why did I see 2 big girls in line at the grocery store today. Full on make-up, nails done, hair done, everything did, standing in fierce pumps. You couldn't tell them nothin'!! Did you know the rapper Nelly owns that brand? Ka-ching! Ka-ching! Money comes in one size. Okay??
From defining the lower-class blue collar industry during the 40's - to Michael Jackson ripping his open during the 90's - the white tee is one of the most powerful creations of our times. And now, even in the year 2010... the white tee still stands out as a phenomenon. An iconic fashion chameleon: always the same, but yet able to change the way you see it.
A few weeks ago, I was on the bus and I was talking with a young black guy, about 20-something and he was rocking a white tee. I asked him why so many young men are always rockin' the big baggy white tee during the summer. (I've also seen it during the winter as well!) The original stigma behind the white tee, was about being blank of power - this was due to working-class/blue collar men that first wore tees as industrial underwear back during the early 1900's. But this young man told me that it was now being used as a way of not being profiled or wrongly accused. My eyes widened. And then, for the first time, I got it.
Cop: "Mam... did you see anyone? What the guy look like?" Witness: "Well... he was a young black man, 'bout this tall, wearing baggy jeans, and a white tee." Cop: (Looking around the block) "Well... $#*! that could be anybody."
See what I'm saying?
But I also think it says a lot about how some in society view younger African-American men who they see dressed in this manner: as lower-class, uneducated, and... BLANK OF POWER.
But at the same time... don't get it twisted. Yes, the big baggy white tee is being rocked with the latest skateboard and Sean White sunglasses. Yep, white boys love the way black rappers and 'boyz n' the hood' rock the tees with the NBA logos and the latest gym shoes. You see... today the "hoop dream" is no longer a 'black thing' - and the white tee serves as a defining symbol of "brotha-hood", crossing racial, community, and class lines.
As men, we all connect to the white tee due to how it has allowed us to grow up, live our lives, and experience various situations that have involved REAL blood, sweat, and tears. And who can deny all of those late-night stains from Oreos and Thai food leftovers?
In closing... the white tee is and always will be a neutral platform for expression. No other item of apparel has made such a social, emotional, and psychological impact. It's neither evil nor good, Democratic or Republican. It's Liberal but yet, Conservative. Bi-Partisan, but yet, Independent. No matter where you at. True 'dat. _______________________________________________________
Check out 'Dem Franchize Boys' video: "In My White Tee"
Sooo... while I'm on the topic of Anna Wintour... why is it that EnVogue was never on the cover of VOGUE?? Exactly.
Right??
I know why... and you do to. Because to have put them on the cover of Vogue would have said to the fashion world and to people around the world: "Black women are EN VOGUE."
Meaning, "in fashion". That's what en vogue translates to in French. So, I get it.
I remember being in New York, August of 2008, and finally being able to get an Italian Vogue that was selling out like crazy. Remember that? It was an exclusive magazine with all the current blacks supermodels around the world. It was AMAZING. But get this... it was ITALIAN VOGUE - NOT AMERICAN VOGUE!! The issue was so successful, that they had to do a second print!! People were waiting for weeks.
As I flipped through it, I was almost in tears. I remember going out to dinner and just dazed at how fabulous everyone looked in those editorials. It showed that black women are just as bold, beautiful, and deserving of the same spotlight within entertainment, advertisement, movies, etc. and I feel as if VOGUE dropped the ball on putting EnVogue on at least one of it's covers back in the day.
EnVogue was such a bold female group. They made a name for REAL SINGING and they had great fashion sense that inspired so many designers around the world. It was like an entire group of supermodels that we all knew from the hood or around the way. EnVogue was and still is GORGEOUS and it's a damn shame that VOGUE never noticed or gave a damn enough to say: "Wow, we should feature them." I mean, come on... they are one of the top female groups of all time. They basically DEFINED the sound of Female Group 90's, but yet, they never got the due credit they deserved in the fashion industry.
From 1989 to August 2008, EnVogue sold over 24 million albums, making them the 18th most successful act of the 1990's and one of the most popular and successful female groups of all time - spending over 2,800 weeks on the Billboard charts.
Their second album, 'Funky Divas' is a bonafide classic. Those girls give you RANGE in various genres. It's like Broadway, meets Motown, meets Sunday morning, meets Rock. Amazing. Go to amazon.com or run out to Target and pick it up.
