Afro-Latin American fashion has been influenced by their music and style from their ancestors. Nowadays, it’s been used for typical dances all over Latin-America. Some of the distinctive costumes, or garments are the blowy blouses, the long or short skirts of different colors, the headbands that cover women’s hair, and the distinctive jewelry worn by them. For men, pants and shirts were their usual clothes. The way Afro-Latin Americans dressed were very similar with other countries during century XIX; such countries are Brazil, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, etc. Some maintained the clothes inherited by their African ancestors and they are still used for dances. Unfortunately, those are no longer used by the Afro-Latin American descends since their fashion has become more Eurocentric. However, it is important to mention that African fashion has contributed to the inspiration of designers in a way of incorporating a variety of color in their designs.
Last year, Edwing D’Angelo, an African-American Colombian designer showed his collection inspired in multicolored African elements used in tuxedos, bathing suits, and dresses for men and women’s clothing. He infused his Afro-Colombian heritage and the European fashion market with the modern clothes used nowadays. However, not everybody can afford his clothing, only the NYC elite could. This also happened in the late 1880’s to early 1930’s where the black middle class in Latin America wanted to differentiate themselves from Africa so that they can embrace their societies of origin in Latin America. The “black elites” tried in many ways to be like the “white elites” by dressing, dancing, and having social clubs like them. They did it so that they can be accepted and respected by the white population.
Cecilia Morales
References: Afro-Latin America (George Reid Andrews), http://www.nbc.com/Latino
AfroCarib 