If you aren’t a regular on “Beywatch,” you probably missed last weekend’s shocking revelation that she does indeed have her own edges, as revealed by both her mother and herself. Admittedly, we’re quite not sure why that’s news, since not only have we seen them before, but wigs are pretty much the best protective style we know—but more on that later.
While the Hive was losing its collective mind over the Queen’s follicular triumphs, we were swooning over her strategically shredded T-shirt—knotted just so, of course—which she paired with a high-waisted pencil skirt and transparent heels. Frankly, it’s the Resort 2018 look we’ve been waiting for, just in time for the season. (Because we resort, too. Just ask Travel Noire.)
But while you can cop Bey’s Vogue logo shirt, the distressing does not come with. So, since we’re heading into a couple of long holiday weekends, we think it might be a good time to try a little do-it-yourself, courtesy of YouTube:
That said, while we’re at it, we can think of a few other ways to say it with our chests. Vogue may be Bey’s brand—she has graced its cover four times, after all—but we can think of a few black-owned brands we’d like to get ripped with. So before you break out the bleach, consider painting your canvas black.
To mimic Bey’s look with a wicked twist, the “Dotarde” tee ($20) from hip-hop-beloved brand FWMJ trumps all else (pun intended). But we really fell for the gorgeous floral design of “To Be Black and Conscious in America” ($20). It’s equal parts femme and fury, paraphrasing James Baldwin’s famous quote: “To be black and conscious in America is to be in a constant state of rage.”
If you proudly rep as an HBCU alum (and why wouldn’t you?), this “Supremely Black Educated” tee from Sweet Knowledge Clothing Co. ($30) will get your point across loud and clear, without you even having to utter a word. And with a little distressing? It’ll just look well-loved.
“Stay Woke” was undoubtedly the refrain of 2017, and we’re not quite ready to leave it behind. Thankfully, Melanin Apparel has commemorated this classic phrase in a tee ($28) of equally classic style ... and doesn’t one classic deserve another? On that note, you could also just let ’em know you’re an “Electric Lady” ($28).
This design from Habitually Fly is well-known for a reason—and should you actually make it to a tropical resort this season (or to the South), “That Melanin Though” ($30) may just be a self-fulfilling prophecy ... just be sure to make enough holes to let the sunshine in.