Film and television have always had a huge influence on fashion and how women express their style. But it has been challenging for plus size women to express their true sense of fashion and emulate the looks that inspired them from the big screen due to lack of clothing options. But in honor of Black History Month, we are paying homage to some of the most iconic styles in film and TV that centered on black characters and the black experience by recreating the looks on curvy figures. We sat down with our community member Sherra Danielle who jumped at the chance to recreate these looks about why it was so important to her.
Was the 90’s a special decade in fashion for you? Why?
The 90s was a special decade for me in fashion because that is when I defined my love of fashion. I grew up in a small town and there were not many options for a plus size teenager that wanted to be fashionable. Therefore, I had to get creative with my clothes and I got a lot of inspiration from the characters I saw on tv and in movies.
What do you think was so special about this decade in fashion that has inspired such nostalgia for the past couple of years?
I think it was a period of self expression and using your fashion to make a statement. A lot of entertainers in the 90’s used fashion to make statements, like when TLC wore condoms to bring awareness to safe sex or when Black Entertainers wore the HBCU Sweatshirts to bring awareness to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It was a decade that defined a generation. I think it brings back nostalgia to not only Gen Z but to Millenials and Gen-Xers that lived in that decade as kids and teens.
“I always wanted overalls as a teenager but they were always ill-fitted. However, the Slink line was a pleasant surprise because I actually felt sexy in the overalls which I never would’ve thought possible growing up.”
What made you admire these characters in the 90’s?
I admired Moesha the most because at the time it aired I was the same age as Moesha/Brandy. So a lot of the issues she faced were things I was dealing with as a young African American teenager at the time. Plus it meant everything to see someone represent me on the screen that wasn’t just a friend of the show but actually a main character. For Justice (Poetic Justice) it was Janet Jackson so what was there not to admire about her as well as how strong the character was. The character Sinclair James on Living Single was one of the few plus size women on television by fashion standards that you got to see be fashionable. While the character was Queen Latifah’s country cousin they made sure she always had cute clothes that weren’t frumpy. I admired that she stayed true to herself despite living in NYC with her more citified friends.
Which character style was your favorite to recreate? Why?
I loved recreating them all but my favorite would be the Moesha it took me back to a time when there weren’t many options for plus size women and being able to now shop Dia & Co so easily to recreate all these looks because the 90s style has come back and I now have plenty of options made me love how this look turned out. I have to be honest I wasn’t sure how the coverall was going to fit because as a teenager I always shied away from them because they made me feel bigger. However, being able to put on a coverall now and actually look in the mirror and feel good with how I looked felt good. You don’t realize how your self-image changes when you have more options in clothes that make you feel good about your body.
What does it mean to you to have clothing options that allow you to recreate the looks that inspire you? And how has Dia & Co helped to make that possible?
It means a lot to me to be able to shop freely without concerns of not being able to recreate a look because it’s not available in my size. When shopping for my looks Dia & Co offered many great options and allowed me to actually find outfits for multiple characters. What I really loved is that Dia & Co clothes are made for plus size women. Therefore, my clothes fit so well I didn’t feel frumpy recreating these looks. Especially the Moesha and Sinclair look. I always wanted overalls as a teenager but they were always ill-fitted. However, the Slink line was a pleasant surprise because I actually felt sexy in the overalls which I never would’ve thought possible growing up. I truly enjoyed being a part of this Black History Month’s 90s recreate campaign.
