By: Serena Edwards
Across all CUNY schools, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender alliances (LGBTA) come together to host an annual Vogue Ball near the end of the school year. This year’s theme is Black Dandyism; to understand this year’s theme, Brooklyn College’s (BC) LGBTA hosted a workshop educating students on the history of Black Dandyism and made Do-It-Yourself (DIY) ties to help prepare for the main event.
At the beginning of the event, there was a brief presentation on the impact of Black Dandyism through a cultural lens.
Black Dandyism is the fusion of African and European fashion, with many styles blending concepts from both traditions.
Connecting history to modern times, the LGBTA also discussed the Harlem Renaissance’s impact on modern dandyism.
“Men adopted ’dandy’ styles, featuring well-tailored, luxurious suits. A signature look was the zoot suit, featuring draped, long jackets with padded shoulders and high-waisted, wide-legged ‘peg’ pants. Women embraced new-lined freedoms with shorter, looser, calf-length flapper dresses, feathered headbands, and pearls,” according to the National African American History Museum (NAAHM).
Another discussion topic was fashion as a form of counter-protest towards governmental pressure, as viewed through the lens of the Civil Rights Movement. Activist groups like The Black Panther Party (BPP) were mentioned with their fashion statement and use of leather as a symbol for power. Looking at fashion from a different perspective, the presentation informed attendees on the bigger impact fashion has had in a political context.
Other topics discussed were historical movements such as the Silent Protest Parade and how fashion curated a space for the Black community.
“After a spate of brutal racial violence in the Midwest in 1917, an estimated 10,000 African Americans marched down New York’s Fifth Avenue on July 28, 1917, in the Silent Protest Parade. The first mass demonstration by Black citizens in the nation, it included large groups of Black men in suits, ties and straw hats— a vision of dignity and resilience, demanding equal rights as Americans,” the presentation stated.
Kayla McCoy, a junior double majoring in business and music studies, discussed her connection with fashion and embracing her creativity.
“[The BC LGBTA] definitely should have more events like this, where we’re kind of like, just getting our hands dirty and just being involved in creating things. Ideas I probably have. I feel like we should kind of continue doing mission-based events or crafts,” said McCoy.
She went into the reasons why she chose to attend the event.
“I chose to come to this event because I love working with my hands, and I saw ties and like making them. I love making things and crafts, and I think, yeah, that’s the way to go,” said McCoy.
Another attendee, Zach Walker, spoke on the appreciation for the teaching of the history of Dandyism.
“I feel like it’s more that it helps us as students and people understand, like we’re different things that we were interested in love come from. Like it helps us have a greater appreciation of it, knowing the history of it. I feel that this is for me,” said Walker.
Ahmed Fall, treasurer of LGBTA, spoke with the Vanguard about the vision behind the event.
“We did the event to prepare people for our ball this year […] we did another similar event for our vogue ball in 2024, with that theme being masquerade balls, in which we made masks. This time, because the theme is Black Dandyism and we’re decorating ties, but also has more of a cultural tie to the event,” said Fall.
Fall explained the cultural ties of this event to the Black community and the importance of Black Dandyism today.
“Black culture is behind dandyism, and also Black culture behind the ballroom as well. It really fits together, and being able to celebrate that through our event. And so why fashion is so important is something that we love to our community,” said Fall.
Fall further emphasized the fluidity that Black dandyism brings within fashion and ballroom culture.
“I think especially with dandyism, you can celebrate a lot of femininity, but also a lot of masculinity as well. And being able to let people express both those in that space is something that we really wanted our attendees in our community to be able to do,” said Fall.
In 2024, the Vogue ball theme was masquerade. After hosting a mask-making event before the ball in the past, Fall shared that the club plans to host events in preparation for this year’s ball.
“We definitely will have another workshop. Actually, we’re planning a clothing swap, which is another month. We do. So it’s like a thrifting event where you can trade with other people. So we’re gonna be having that before the ball as well to help people get ready.”
Fall left words of wisdom about intersectionality within the LGBTQ+ community.
“We just want to, and our club is striving to have more events where we’re like, exploring the intersections of queerness and other cultures, because queer people exist in all spaces, and we want to highlight their presence and their impact in the spaces that liberated black queer people.”
The Vogue Ball is set to take place on April 30, 2026. For information, visit the LGBTA Instagram page, @brooklyn.lgbta.