Harlem Nights

This weekend I had the pleasure of pulling for a video shoot for Howard Universities Bison Ball dance, which is a big event at my school towards the end of the school year. This was by far my favorite styling experience ever!! The theme was Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's, which we know was the black excellence era with literature, poetry, dance, music and fashion! I got to be extremely free with picking clothes and accessories, I took inspiration from one of my favorite classic Eddie Murphy movies, Harlem Nights. 

If you haven't seen this movie, check it out, but if you have the comical, scheme filled, stylish flick is classic for its time period and the dapper styles of the men with their classy, clean suits (white & black mainly), their bow ties, big hats and scarfs, were so influential because that was classic for their time period and you just don't see that today! The women were glamorous, Jasmine Guy played the leading lady and she was draped in fine furs, sexy silk dresses, high gloves and pearls galore! 

The shoot featured two gentlemen and two ladies, I pulled for them at the thrift store, and thank God it its Halloween season because I found every prop I visioned!

For the ladies I went for the glamorous look and sensual, sexy style. I wanted a long fitted white dress, I knew that from the start, and I got it! I channeled Billie Holiday with the accessories, the long velvet gloves, with the pearls outside of them, a feathered wrap and a lace and feathered head pieces. Topped it off with a skinny cigar, because it was pretty cool for ladies to smoke back then. This was my funnest look because it was really channeling the time period and it was like styling for the actual movies and times back then. This look screamed singer and actress of this time and I was in love! 

The second look for the girls was a more everyday glam look, I gave her a black dress which had somewhat of glitter details and sheer around the chest area, and the bottom of the dress, it came knee length. I LOVE THIS DRESS! I knew I wanted a white fur, and I found it! The thrift came through for me! I added a flower to her hair because this also was a popular trend in the 20's for women, and gave her a beautiful red circle small coin purse. 

For the gentlemen I wanted smooth, slick and to show the differences in their fashion during this time from today. My favorite piece was the black trench coat, I loved finding this because men wore trench coats over their shoulders during this time and it was just so clean to me! I went with two different styles, the man in charge (Eddie Murphy) and his bad boy side kick (Richard Pryor). These looks were challenging due to men's sizing as far as suits but it all came together. One of the gentlemen was my favorites because he could be imitated today and still fit the times. The conductor hat, suspenders, ankle length wool pants with designer socks showing and a cream button up with a designed tie.

Just wanted to share this cool experience with my readers, once the video is complete I'll be sure to post! Enjoy the pics for now!

STYLISH CHRONICLES BY JETT!

PEACE!