Men of Color: Fashion, History, and Fundamentals - Hardcover

"He doesn't take fashion too seriously. He doesn't follow the rules. Whether matching from head-to-toe or sporting every color under the sun, he always seems to be having a good time.,you go, boy!" - TYRA BANKS

"From the eroticization of the big, bulky body, as represented by Heavy D or "Biggy" Smalls, to the cross-culture play of Jean-Michel Basquiat, living on the downlow yet wearing his Armani, Black male style transcends class and pulls folks in, seducing because it ain't got no boundaries. It's frontier-wear, ready for the future." - BELL HOOKS

"Sisters have always known that brothers can dress! I'm so thankful Lloyd Boston has brought it all together in Men of Color. From his expert style advice to the hundreds of beautiful photos, this is the book for every man in your life." - PATTI LABELLE

-Interviews and portraits of such notables as Samuel L. Jackson, Tyson Beckford, Jesse Jackson, Savion Glover, George Benson, Isaac Hayes, Bryant Gumbel, Billy Dee Williams, Ahmad Bashad, Reggie Miller, Cornel West, Maxwell, Wynton Marsalis, and Sean "Puffy" Combs

-Contributing essays from such fashion-industry writers as Constance C.R. White (The New York Times) and David Thigpen (Time)

-Foreword by Quincy Jones

-Introduction by Andre Leon Talley

-Straightforward advice on how to evaluate menswear, care for leather goods and accessories, incorporate ethnic elements into traditional dress, and develop individual style through use of color, pattern, and texture

-Source listing and size charts

-300 full-color photographs, both original and archival

African-American male style is a dynamic, diverse expression of what works . Men of color are trendsetters who carry tradition in their hip pockets. Black men keep style moving.

For generations of African-American men, outerwear has been a vital expression of inner development. Against the backdrop of a segmented society, men of color have held on to style as a means of self-definition and self-defense. From the oversized industrial sportswear inspired by both urban dancers and incarcerated brothers to the classic, bow tied slim suit adopted as the unofficial uniform of the Nation of Islam, the trends invariably reflect current social climates. But in spite of the "trickle-up" effect of street gear on haute couture, there remains an absence of positve images identifying men of color as influential figues in the history of fashion.

In Men of Color: Fashion, History, Fundamentals, through more than 300 photographs and interviews with such notables as Jesse Jackson, Wynton Marsalis, and Gregory Hines, author Lloyd Boston documents the effect Black men have had on all areas of fashion. The timeless elegance of Nat "King" Cole, sophistication of Sidney Poitier, colorful comfort of Bill Cosby, hip-hop panache of LL Cool J, undeniable sex appeal of Denzel Washington - each embodies the essence of Black male style. With solid advice about all aspects of grooming, from polishing shoes to purchasing a suit, Boston outlines the key elements necessary for building a fashionable, yet undeniably original, look. Both a gift book and a guidebook , Men of Color resonates with history, folk wisdom, and multicultural flair.