As part of the “Save the Culture” series, Howard University’s editorial team explored 20 Black fashion moments that changed everything. Black fashion and beauty are not simply “looks”; they are records of how the Black community lives — their fights, their wins, their joy. Braids, lettuce hems, sneakers, nails: each holds a story. And even when due credit was not given, Black style kept setting how America got dressed — from the runway to the boardroom, from the choir stand to the sidewalk, and now across our social media feeds. We built this list with kahlanabarfield (B.A. ’04), Howard alumna, fashion and beauty editor, TV correspondent, and creative/brand consultant, and Dr. Elka Marie Stevens, associate professor of visual culture and studio art at Howard, Fashion Design program coordinator, and curator of the Fashion, Textiles and Accessories Collection. You’ll find categories, individuals, items, and movements that together capture the richness of Black creativity (link in ...