Sartorial Vision.
Dive into the "Body Politics of Fashion and Gender," revisiting a Filipino icon, the Terno, and Save the Date for "Brooklyn Talks: The Sartorial Vision of Michelle Obama"!
This week at the Database…
FRD Research Assistant Kai Marcel sheds continuous light on the nuances of fashion and gender (and race), guest contributor Camay Abraham shares with us why the terno is an object that matters to her, and I have a shameless plug for an event that I will be featured in next month.
Last week, you may have found an additional newsletter from us in your inbox. Every other Friday, you will receive our dedicated “In the News” report, written by the brilliant Anu Lingala and edited by our equally brilliant Content Editor, Anthony Palliparambil, Jr.. “In the News” was created a few months ago to fill a gap that I noticed at the database – we provided our readers countless resources and historical pieces, but we didn’t have an editorial offering that addressed what’s happening in the headlines today. Enter Anu Lingala, who was already publishing a newsletter of her own at Revisionary Space. Anu and FRD joined forces, designing a critical news report with a twist: with each news section you read, we take it one step further by linking today’s headlines with resources in our Library that provides context and a deeper analysis. The result is a rigorous and educational news digest that helps our readers become more informed.
This is our first personalized newsletter in a while, which follows our (much needed) two-week team holiday and the fundraiser that we held at the end of July. The database would not be in operation without you, and despite falling a bit short of our $10k goal, you collectively contributed over $7k! Those funds help cover everything from our legal fees (for contracts, website compliance, etc.) to paying our team members for all of the research, editing and publishing that they do. We can’t thank you enough, and we have some exciting new developments in the months to come. Stay tuned.
– Kim Jenkins, Founder
From the Library
The Body Politics of Fashion and Gender
This week’s roundup explores the complex relationship between fashion, race, the body, and gender (both identity and expression). These five sources help chart the long history of trans and cisgender people alike, using the knowledges inherent to fashion to negotiate the body politics of gender and identity.
– Kai Marcel, Research Assistant
‘The Library’ and the ‘Reading List’ is where we collect and organize countless educational sources all in one place. Referenced by educators, students, fashion enthusiasts and curious minds, this multi-faceted repository provides an expanding selection of tools for learning about all matters connected to fashion, appearance, power and the impact of ‘race.’
Objects That Matter
The Terno
In 1965 the terno was brought into the public eye when Imelda Marcos, the first lady and wife of President Ferdinand Marcos, came to power. [...] She and her husband stole billions of the country’s funds for themselves and after the revolution in 1986, women stopped wearing the terno as it became stigmatized as “dictator chic” for its association with the Marcos regime.
– Camay Abraham, Guest Contributor
'Objects That Matter' gathers numerous fashion objects outside of the Western lens and provides a brief history, showing why they matter, as many of these items have been widely appropriated or referenced.
The Calendar
Brooklyn Talks: The Sartorial Vision of Michelle Obama
From Inauguration Day to her official portrait by Amy Sherald (on view as part of the special exhibition The Obama Portraits Tour), First Lady Michelle Obama powerfully expressed the values and vision of the Obama White House through her sartorial choices. Explore the former First Lady’s culture-shifting style with image strategist Meredith Koop—who has been Michelle Obama’s stylist since 2010, in the White House and for subsequent appearances—and fashion historian Kimberly M. Jenkins, Assistant Professor of Fashion Studies, Ryerson University, and principal researcher for The Fashion and Race Database. The two discuss some of Michelle Obama’s key looks, starting with her official portrait, and explore the intersection between fashion and politics on September 2, 2021 at 7pm EST.
A global network of events, conversations and opportunities will continue to evolve the discourse on fashion and race. ‘The Calendar’ remains on the pulse and keeps you looped in.
That’s it for now. Please stay safe and we’ll see you next week.
Yours in service and solidarity,
The Fashion and Race Database Team
Daniela Hernandez, Media Editor
Anthony Palliparambil, Jr., Content Editor
Kimberly Jenkins, Founder