Style is not just the clothes on our backs-it is self-expression, representation, and transformation.
As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he looked to for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is
working to change that-because clothes are never just clothes. Men's heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQ+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.
About the Author
Christian Allaire is an Ojibwe writer who grew up on the Nipissing First Nation reserve in Ontario, Canada. His writing has appeared in ELLE, FLARE, and VOGUE, among other outlets. He is based in New York City.
Power of Style Profiles and Contributions:
Alim Latif, shoe designer, London, England
Anita Fields, Osage and Muscogee (Creek) artist, Tulsa, OK
Anita Riggs, aka Tranquil Ashes, cosplayer, Baltimore, MD
Bethany Yellowtail, Crow and Northern Cheyenne designer, Los Angeles, CA
Billy Porter, actor, NYC, NY
Casey Nichole, cosplayer, Cleveland, OH
Chelene Knight, owner of Learn Writing Essentials and Breathing Space Creative, Vancouver, BC
Durrant Santeng, longtime wearer of braids and other natural styles, Brooklyn, NYC, NY
Elaine Mokk, YouTuber who posts videos about her ongoing struggle with acne, Toronto, ON
Halima Aden, Somali-American model, NYC, NY
Halisma Hossinzehi, henna artist, East Gwillimbury, ON
Haatepah Clearbear, model/Kumeyaay, Pai Pai, Chicimeca-Guamare, Los Angeles, CA
Henry Bae, shoe designer, NYC, NY
Ivan Lam, makeup YouTuber, Los Angeles, CA
Jackie Aina, Nigerian-American beauty YouTuber, Los Angeles, CA
James Jones, Cree dancer and performer, Edmonton, AB
Jamie Okuma, Indigenous fashion artist, Pauma Valley, CA
Jennifer Bear Medicine, Indigenous makeup artist based on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, MT
Justine Carreon, Elle.com editor, NYC, NY
Kaptain76, aka Kap, plus-size cosplayer, Southern CA
Leah Vernon, Muslim fashion influencer, a model, and author, NYC, NY
Melanie Elturk, hijab fashion designer, NYC, NY
Modupe Oloruntoba, writer and editor based in Johannesburg, South Africa
Nyma Tang, beauty influencer, Dallas, TX
Olloum, sportswear hijab label, founded in Scotland
Philip Bread, model/Comanche, Kiowa, and Blackfoot, Santa Fe, NM
Quanah Style, Vancouver-based Cree queen, Vancouver, BC
Shaobo Han, shoe designer, NYC, NY
Shirley Melendez, aka Surely Shirley, plus-size Latinx cosplayer, Palm Beach, FL
TudungPeople, sportswear hijab label, Malaysia
Introduction
Sewing Tradition: Through making (and wearing!) ribbonwork, the Indigenous community is keeping their culture's unique traditions alive.
Level-Up: Today's cosplayers are disrupting the art form, promoting self-confidence, acceptance, and body positivity along the way.
Standing Tall: By rocking high heels, men are walking tall-using footwear to advocate for the acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.
Head-Strong: Muslim women are embracing hijabs-but they're doing so on their
own terms. They're celebrating their culture by embracing modest
fashion in new, unexpected, and very stylish ways.
Mighty Makeup: Makeup can be used as a tool for creativity. But it's not only about getting
glam: beauty junkies are channeling their cultures into their looks, using
their face as a canvas for self-expression and pride.
