afropunk3As a third-time Brooklyn resident, there are many reasons for always coming back to live in the borough.I get drawn to the inspirational surroundings and influential events that arise in the community. One of the events I feel is the most influential to the Brooklyn culture is the Afropunk Festival.Due to the positive effect on the young progressive community, it expanded to Paris and Atlanta last year.
 
afropunk13The original concept of the Afropunk festival was to provide African Americans a chance to shape a community amongst the ascending Caucasian punk subculture.Fast forward to the present there is a new concept for the AfroPunk festival.It targets youth from all racial backgrounds whom in the past would have been considered an outsider in high school. The change is based on the idea of being weird is now the new normal. Gap address the heightened intake of a new love for quirkiness in the mainstream culture back in 2014.The Gap campaign was called “Dress Normal.” The campaign backfired because in this day in age people don’t like the idea of being mundane.
 
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If the consumers want to shop for basics, they will eventually venture out to complete their shopping desires in retailers such as American Apparel to mix into a wardrobe filled with Urban Outfitter goodies.American Apparel promotes the look of different beauties.For example making sure at least one model with tattoos for their advertisement is critical.Tattoos in the past are known as a taboo; now is a fashion statement.Stores like American Apparel realize if they want consumers to buy into normcore they will have to adapt to the new mainstream culture.
Since I’m officially attending the festival for the first time this year, adapting to an Urban Outfitters look is ideal however why not go the extra mile and thrift.To thrift is one of the best ways to come up with various silhouettes while embracing the mainstream culture. I teamed up with Narai Wells owner of Lucille Golden Vintage and Wells Resale Co to create looks for this year
Afropunk festival.
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Wrap your way halter top DKNY wedge sandals
Look 1: It’s not called Tribal is Tapa Print

 Tribal or Ethnic is one of the most offensive fashion terms I ever heard used to describe a print.Placing a range of similar prints and defining it as one overall print is as insulting as calling all jeans, blue pants.We all know all pants are not the same hue, and all prints are not created equal.For example, the halter in the photograph is known as Tapa Print. The print originated from the Pacific Island’s Tapa cloth.A Tapa cloth is made from bark.The bark goes through a trial of being dyed, stenciled, painted, stamped, and smoked. The process is used to create geometric designs, animals forms, and patterns.The selected colors in a tapa cloth is a rustic red, coal black, and a mix of tan and brown colors. In the history of making a tapa cloth the particular colors used came from dyes of various roots and clay.
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Bill Blass denim shorts Vintage silk jacket Geoffrey Beene Shirt Ohne Titel heels Woven bag
Look 2: Mixing Prints

      A tourist favorite part visiting New York is when the sun goes into hiding, and it seems as if the electric company devoted all their overtime to light up Times Square.Is the same feeling when you go to a festival wearing a range of prints.Wearing patterns with stripes won’t be considered tacky but an honorable commitment to describing your artsy personality.Is also a fashion style that will never go out of trend.afropunk18
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Vintage print top Striped silk J.Crew shorts J. Crew slingbacks Custom wool felt bag/with pins
Look 3: Oriental Preppy

In honor of mixing prints for festival wear, Eastern influences is another print you may see floating around the crowd.The eastern trend is one of my favorite trends for SS16.Regarding fabrics, colors and cut I believe is a great versatile way to enhance your wardrobe. It’s characteristically unique cuts allow you to dress it up or down.Narai helped me paired this season trend by styling it with a lose white and blue shorts to show off you can indeed make the look casual.
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Vintage NAACP sweatshirt Bill Blass shorts Leith striped top
Look 5:Business Casual
If by a weird chance you get called into work on the festival day don’t fret just wear the button-up shirt underneath a sweatshirt, and you’re ready to go.It’s also a neat idea since you will be arriving later and you’ll be comforted during the summer breeze.

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Black fringe Cardigan    Rose Romper         Headpiece GiGi Burris Millinery      Ohne Titel Shoes
Look 5: Modern Day Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo is not only one of my biggest inspirations she is still a huge impact in the fashion scene and art culture.It makes sense that Frida, a style icon influence transcends into the sought after festival look. Her originality was daring in her time, and now you see a parade of girls wearing flowers on their head or snap chat filters. Or the flowers can be printed on their clothes like the romper pictured. I feel as our society is consistently paying tribute to Frida Kahlo’s bold character, and if you know, her story is worth paying homage to.
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21 thoughts on “A Millenial Guide On What To Wear To The Afropunk Festival”

  3. Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I have truly enjoyed surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing for your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  7. The mixed prints outfit was amazing! All the outfits were amazing. So sad I missed this shoot – you guys did an incredible job! love you babe!

    1. Soul sister you were missed in blogging land but I’m so proud of you of all your accomplishments nd welcome back there will be more shoots no worries.I’m trying to develop a blogging plan for the visionary bloggers for the whole year when I go on vacation in October to keep us going, Any ideas you have, please feel free to email me, love.Can’t wait to see your new post.

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