What's up, Kings and Queens?! Welcome to Story Behind the Look! I hope you had a great weekend and are well! Today, I would like to introduce you to my childhood friend, Jamil Blackmon, as he share his story. Jamil and I have been friends since the 4th grade and we are still very close to this day. June of this year, I visited him in North Carolina for Juneteenth! While in Charlotte, I took Jamil on his first thrifting experience! I had so much fun hanging out with him and watching him thrift in Goodwill for the very first time...but I wont tell the story, he will!! Read below, words from Jamil.
"I’ve always considered myself a laid back dude and never wanted to step outside of my comfort zone. When it came to dressing, my motto was less is more. Jeans and a t-shirt became my everyday uniform before talking with Vintage Black Girl. I informed her that I always wanted to be a little more daring when it came to how I dressed but wasn’t fully aware of how to do so. After speaking with her about my options and how to express my creative side when it came to my wardrobe, I felt more confident in my ability to go against the grain. The looks she provided for me were not initially what I would wear but after seeing myself, I felt more confident and started tapping into what I always felt I should be...and that is confident! It was a great experience thrifting with Erica and I actually loved the outfit she put together"
Social media: (Instagram) dose_of_jay (Twitter) jayricardo17
Styling Jamil, was great! Initially, he did not find anything while thrifting but I found something for him. The shirt Jamil is wearing in the picture below was thrifted! I purchased this shirt for $7. He wasn't to fond of it but once I put the whole outfit together, he loved it! I paired it nicely together with some camouflage pants and dark blue vans. I wanted the outfit to pop...stand out. But most importantly, I wanted Jamil to feel comfortable and confident. I thought it would be a great idea to top the outfit off with this orange baseball cap. Bring a little personality to the fit, as well as the gold watch and necklace. I wanted Jamil to still have a sense of himself with the accessories considering the shirt was out of his element. It was perfect! Once he put everything on, he was feeling the shirt and the outfit! This was my first time actually styling someone and we had so much fun doing it. Thank you friend for trusting me!
There you have it folks, "Story Behind the Look". I hope Jamil's story inspired you all to lean into your discomfort and step out of the box. Not just with fashion but with all aspects of your life. Dare to be different, have confidence and never stop being your true authentic self. Peace and blessings SBL family.
-Vintage Black Girl
