Julian Randall

Material Narratives of Black Fashion and Interiors Reflected in this set of objects and images are stories of Black dress—our dressed bodies and homes. They bear witness to social relations, to material exchange, to national identity, to time, and even to taste. Their histories tell of the cultural in the personal. Indeed, they represent lives in and with objects worn and unworn. There is a unity in the pictures where clothing is central. Sammy Davis Jr.’s pin-striped suit and tap shoes bespeak the spectacularity of his dress and person. The photograph of him in a cardigan and white button-up shirt shows his conservative side. Sammy Davis Jr. and the late Allen Leon Blaylock Jr., my "Uncle Dinky," shared standout sensibilities in style. In one image, Uncle Dinky is wearing formal attire: a black suit jacket contrasted with light pink and cream clothing underneath. In another, on Thanksgiving Day, he strikes a "cool pose" in one of those suave grandfatherly outfits I most remember him for. The composition of the Black interior is comparatively ambiguous, and except for quilts, the functional objects that enter the home can be a wonderful mystery. Aside from their human associations, which this collection revealed, their stylings are left to the imagination. Bio Julian Randall is a writer and consultant from Dallas, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. from Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University; his research examined Black American men’s lived experiences of dress. Julian has published essays, reviews, and columns in GQ, Family Style, The Business of Fashion, The Creative Pragmatist, and Critical Studies in Men’s Fashion. He was also a contributing writer for ESSENCE, covering style and cultural trends. As a commentator, Julian has shared his perspectives on fashion with such outlets as BRICKS, Sludge, Iolla, and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode.