It’s obvious that our fabulous First Lady has established herself as a contemporary fashion icon. She’s donned pieces from Alexander McQueen, Jason Wu and even Talbots. But she’s also received sprinkles of criticism for not wearing enough fashion from black designers. Though there isn’t a surplus of established black designers, there are a few labels that would suit our First Lady well.
So, in an effort to switch up FLOTUS’ closet, we have a list of our favorite black fashion designers:
Anisa Mpungwe
Hometown: Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania
Brand Established: 2008
Known For: Ready-to-wear fashion that’s frilly, landscape-inspired and neutral in color.
Where to Buy: Order from Studio (anisa@loinclothandashes.com)
Deola Sagoe
Hometown: Ondo State, Nigeria
Brand Established: 1985
Known For: Glamorous, elegant, form-fitting and colorful pieces.
Where to Buy: Deola Designs Website
Patrick Robinson
Hometown: Born in Memphis, TN. Raised in Los Angeles, CA
Brand Established: He was hired as the creative director of the Gap, Inc. in 2007, but has been in the industry since 1994.
Known For: Clean cut, solid prints made with breathable, lightweight fabric.
Where to Buy: Gap stores
Tracy Reese
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Brand Established: 1998
Known For: Floral prints, feminine, whimsical dresses and frocks.
Where to Buy: Tracy Reese Website, Anthropologie, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Scoop.
Tori-Nichel
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
Brand Established: 2006
Known For: Tailored jumpsuits, chic dresses and sultry cuts.
Where to Buy: Tori Nichel Website
Stephen Burrows
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
Brand Established: 1963
Known For: He started dressing his good friend Cher to party at Studio 54. Ever since, his designs have been known to be fun, relaxed and bold in color.
Where to Buy: Target Stores
