Maya Angelou, often referred to as a Renaissance woman, was a poet, educator, playwright, actress, director, producer and civil rights activist. But beyond her many accomplishments, Angelou was known for her iconic wardrobe and style. Throughout her life, Angelou was admired for her bold and regal choices in fashion.
Angelou was known for using color as a form of communication. She wore dramatic red outfits to embody ambition, power and passion. She often used this color to express deep emotion when giving speeches and performances. Angelou also showcased her fluency in global fashion by donning full African attire, which was meant to show her pride in her heritage and culture.
One of Angelou’s most iconic wardrobe choices was a tailored ankle-length dress, often accessorized with a matching coat and hat. Angelou believed in making strong statements with her fashion, and the tailored dresses provided a sense of elegance while also conveying her strength and self-respect.
Angelou also often wore a variety of headwraps to honor her African roots. This cultural practice originated in the Caribbean and is often worn to designate a level of status, marital status and style. Angelou used the headwrap to highlight her intelligence and wisdom, which was recognized by her peers.
As an added accessory, Angelou was known for wearing multiple bangle bracelets, similar to those from West African countries. These also showed her unique style and affirmed her identity. The bracelets also had a significant meaning to Angelou, as she viewed them as a form of protection against evil.
In addition to her signature fashion pieces, Angelou frequently wore traditional pea coats and hats. These pieces were often adorned with symbols such as peace signs, stars and even a Vietnamese flag, which were seen as symbols of her commitment to speaking out about social injustices.
Overall, Maya Angelou’s wardrobe was reflective of her commitment to the global civil rights movement, the power of the African diaspora, and her commitment to her own personal values. Angelou utilized her fashion to make bold statements and express her strength, intellect and pride.
Career Influence
Maya Angelou used her wardrobe to reflect her professional accomplishments as a civil rights activist, poet, author, professor and actress. She used her fashion to symbolize the various stages of her life, from her time in Ghana to her teaching and acting career. For instance, while teaching in Ghana, she would wear a brightly-colored suit and fascinator to embrace her culture and honor her time as an educator. Angelou also wore a white doctor’s coat while delivering speeches and lectures, as a way to signify her expertise in the subject and to demonstrate her knowledge and understanding.
In her acting career, Angelou wore apparel which represented her talent and highlighted her achievements. She was known for her bold choice of costume and particularly embraced eccentric pieces from the floor length gowns to the colorful hats. Her sense of style displayed her elegance and captivated audiences, whist simultaneously announcing her growing list of accomplishments.
Angelou’s fashion consistently remained true to her beliefs and she used it in a way to communicate her values and positions. Furthermore, her wardrobe served as a platform for her to express her creativity, striving for status and her commitment to aiding the cause of civil rights.
Although Angelou is no longer with us, her unique sense of fashion will remain a source of inspiration, particularly to those who continue the struggle for justice, equality, and peace.
Style Transformations
Throughout her lifetime, Maya Angelou’s style underwent a series of transformations and she embraced a variety of styles from casual to eveningwear, African to American, and vintage to modern. Angelou used her style to call attention to her voice, her work, and her activism.
Angelou wore a mix of traditional and modern African designs throughout her life to reflect upon her cultural heritage. The styles that she chose demonstrated her connection to her African roots and her commitment to honor her heritage. Angelou’s decision to wear African prints and bold, beautiful colors demonstrated her deep appreciation for her culture and served as a way to visually represent her identity to others.
Angelou also dressed in a variety of traditional eveningwear to signify the importance of commemoration. She attended events in the finest evening gowns and adorned it with jewelry, buttons, bags and hats. Angelou often attended events honoring her work and accomplishments and looked incredibly stylish while doing it.
Angelou also embraced vintage pieces as a way of honoring the past and connecting with her ancestors. She wore vintage pieces to highlight her connection to the civil rights movement and draw attention to the values associated with the movement. This vintage style was a way for Angelou to honor her ancestors and legacy.
Angelou also embraced a wide range of contemporary fashion, often tailored to a modern, timeless style. She contemporary look consisted of flattering pencil skirts, blazers and top latched boots. This style exemplified the type of everyday elegance that characterized Angelou.
With this style, Angelou was able to express her brilliance while ensuring that her presence was appreciated and noticed. Overall, Maya Angelou used fashion to honor her past, present, and future, and as an expression of her strength and African-American culture.
Creative Expression
In addition to her iconic wardrobe, Maya Angelou also used her clothing to express her creativity. She wore unique pieces and often accessorized with the smallest details. This included hats, gloves, jewelry, and even unique pins.
Angelou used accessories to make a statement and stand out from the crowd. She frequently wore headpieces to serve as a homage to African culture and signal her pride in her heritage. She also wore pins, brooches, and even pins with slogans to express her views on a range of topics.
Beyond her wardrobe, Angelou was widely admired for her impeccable makeup and signature red lipstick. She applied her makeup with intention and purpose. She used her makeup as a way to communicate her strength and femininity while also drawing attention to her presence.
Angelou also was often known for wearing large, statement jewelry pieces. This served as a symbol of her success and self-respect. She often paired the jewelry with vivid patterns and bright colors, demonstrating her affinity for color and statement.
Overall, Angelou used her fashion to enhance her voice and to express her beliefs, values, and accomplishments. She was well-known for her iconic style and was often quoted as saying “I’m not a fashion plate”. Angelou used fashion as a way to highlight her intelligence and make a powerful statement that could often not be expressed in words.
Antidote to Oppression
Throughout her lifetime, Maya Angelou used fashion as a form of protest to the various oppressions that she experienced. Angelou used her wardrobe to reject racism and sexism by wearing items that highlighted her heritage and femininity. For Angelou, her fashion was a way of celebrating her African ancestry and expressing her identity while simultaneously demonstrating her resistance to racism and sexism.
Angelou also used her fashion to protest violence and injustice. She often wore culturally-inspired pieces and pins with slogans of protest. She was a firm believer in the power of nonviolence, and often sought out ways to challenge and resist societal norms. Through her fashion, she aimed to embody and promote peace, love, and understanding.
Angelou also sought out ways to support her beliefs and often used her wardrobe to make a statement. She was often seen wearing African-inspired clothes and pieces of jewelry with symbolic meaning. She used her fashion to draw attention to her work and to communicate her ideas, beliefs and convictions.
Angelou’s devotion to her beliefs and fashion set a powerful example to those around her. Her approach to fashion embodied confidence, courage, and creativity. She used her wardrobe to express her commitment to justice, freedom and equality, while serving as a powerful antagonist to racism, sexism and all forms of oppression.
Lasting Legacy
The legacy of Maya Angelou and her unique style will remain a source of inspiration to future generations and those who can appreciate fashion as an expression of identity and political and social attitudes. Her wardrobe combined African, modern and traditional styles, to communicate her commitment to her culture, her convictions, and her personal values.
Angelou’s look challenged societal norms and displayed a powerful message of resistance and strength. Her style was a representation of her beliefs, views and accomplishments. Angelou had a unique way of intersecting her commitment to activism with her style and she was able to demonstrate this through her wardrobe.
The power of Angelou’s fashion stands out today, particularly for those who are still devoted to protesting for justice, equality and peace. She used her fashion to convey her message and to make a powerful statement on the world’s stage. Angelou’s style remains a symbol of resilience and female empowerment.
Maya Angelou’s iconic style, her dedication to her culture and her commitment to peace and justice will remain a shining example of triumph, resilience, beauty and courage. Her wardrobe was a platform that spoke of her battles with oppression, and in turn sent a message of strength, feminism, pride and intelligence.
