This week we are going to talk about African-American pioneers in style. Some of which you may know,and others you may never have heard of. Though many people clam to have what is commonly know  today as “Swagger” these men in history have truly showed everyone “No one on the corner has swagger like us!” So with out further adieu we start off with …….

Johnny Hodges
1906-1970
Alto saxophonist, Duke Ellington Orchestra

“You can tell he was in Duke Ellington’s band—meaning that he was an extremely well-dressed gentleman. But at the same time, Johnny was something of a rogue, and much more of a dandy than Duke himself. Check out the hat, and the bold, super-luxe suit… I think you could say Johnny was a counterpoint to Duke’s more subdued brand of elegance

Dick Gregory
b. 1932
Stand-up comedian; civil rights activist

“He was a brilliant comedian, but I think of him more as an icon of 1950s and ’60s American style—the width of his tie and lapels and the cut of his suit jacket are all very much of that era… which also means they’re very now. And today, as an older gentleman, he’s a pro at pattern mixing.”

Richard Roundtree
b. 1942
Actor (best known for the Shaft movie series)

“It’s the all-leather look—leather jacket, leather pants, leather driving gloves—and it says, I’m stylish, and don’t mess with me. That Black Panther vibe, a little bit. Some people take issue with blaxploitation stereotypes, but it was what it was—and many were proud to have an African-American playing an action hero who kicked butt and at the same time looked great.”

Marvin Gaye
1939-1984
Singer and songwriter

“Everyone’s wearing denim shirts these days, and I like to think Marvin has something to do with that. This is a true workwear look he’s pulling off here—vintage Americana, the stuff everyone’s wild for now. He made denim-on-denim cool for us… and I love the way he contrasts it with the red knit hat.”

Sidney Poitier
b. 1927
Actor, director, writer

“Seeing A Raisin in the Sun, with Sidney as Walter Lee Younger, was a pivotal style moment for us—he was just such a sharp individual. The way he’d tuck his polo shirts into his trousers…sharp. His style was about simplicity, and keeping things clean-cut. And he could pull off an amazing slim suit. I think he was the first black actor who made people think, Wow, this guy is no joke.”

Huey P. Newton
1942-1989
Co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party

“Huey was a rebel in his own right. He and the Black Panthers did all-black-everything way before Jay-Z. They made a hard-hitting style statement without trying too hard, through subversive little twists on the classics: like this white button-down-collar shirt peeking out from under a high-cut black leather blazer.”

Otis Redding
1941-1967
Singer

“You see photos of Otis, and he was just always so stylish; even if you don’t know who he is, you see a photo of him and think, there had to be something to this guy. I love the silhouette here. A double-breasted shawl blazer with a turtleneck underneath, and that overcoat. It looks like he just put on what he had and went with it. And a turtleneck—it’s a piece you either love or hate. Our next blog post is going to be about turtlenecks.”

Sammy Davis Jr.
1925-1990 
Singer, dancer, TV and movie star

“A sharp-dressed Rat Pack member, and an all-around stand-up guy. The first African-American to grace GQ’s cover. He wore the kind of stuff we’d wear today: slim ties, tailored suit jackets, tapered pants. I love how unguarded and irreverent he is here, tap dancing on his hotel-room table, in a high-cropped one-button gray flannel suit and Beatle boots. He was never afraid to step outside of the box and do things his own way.”

Sam Cooke
1931-1964 
Singer, songwriter, record producer,and record label mogul.

“The who invented soul,and as the first African-American artist to own his own publishing rights as well as his own record label (well before Berry Gordy) Sam Cooke is by far the most stylish on this list, he was in his time the most influential when it came to music as well as style. When he cut his process of and went natural all the men did the same. With his sharp style everyone wanted to tour with him including The Beatles while Rod Steward wanted to be him”