This here baba fashion, it’s somethin’ else, ain’t it? Back in my day, we just wore what we had. Now, these young folks, they got all these fancy clothes. This Harlem, that’s where it’s all happenin’, they say. Lots of style, this Harlem fashion.

They got all these colors and patterns, make your head spin! And the shoes? Lord have mercy, the shoes! High heels, sneakers, boots… you name it. I remember when a good pair of sturdy shoes was all you needed. These days they say it is all about street style fashion. Not sure what that means, but I guess it means you wear what you like.
They call it Harlem outfit, like it’s some kinda special thing. We just called ’em clothes. But these Harlem folks, they know how to put things together. Make it look all nice and fancy. I seen pictures, mind you. Lots of folks wearing their Sunday best, even on a Tuesday. This Harlem Renaissance, that was somethin’.
Folks had real style back then. This baba fashion Harlem, it’s kinda like that, I reckon. People wearin’ what makes ’em feel good. Bright colors, fancy hats, the whole nine yards. Just like them folks in the old pictures, all dressed up and lookin’ sharp. They say it is about showing who you are with your clothes.
- Bright colors, you see.
- Big hats, sometimes.
- Fancy shoes, all kinds.
- Lookin’ good, feelin’ good.
That’s what it’s all about, ain’t it? Wearin’ what makes you happy. This Harlem style, it ain’t just about the clothes. It’s about how you carry yourself. Head held high, walkin’ with a little pep in your step. They say young people get ideas from something called TikTok. I don’t know what that is, but it sure made style outfit popular.
I seen some of these young folks, wearin’ them baggy pants and them shirts with all them pictures on ’em. Reminds me of them patchwork quilts we used to make. Takin’ little bits of this and that, makin’ somethin’ new. That’s kinda like this baba fashion Harlem, I guess. Takin’ old styles, makin’ ’em new again.

They say the street is where you see the real fashion. That is this street style fashion. Not them fancy stores, but right out there on the sidewalk. People just bein’ themselves, wearin’ what they like. I reckon that’s somethin’ we can all learn from. Don’t matter if it’s Harlem or any other place. It is important to be yourself.
This Harlem outfit, it’s more than just clothes. It’s a way of life, they say. Expressin’ yourself, showin’ the world who you are. I guess we all do that, in our own way. Maybe not with all them fancy colors and patterns, but in our own way. We all got our own style, don’t we?
I remember my mama, she always said, “It ain’t about the clothes, it’s about the person wearin’ ’em.” And I reckon she was right. You can wear the fanciest dress in the world, but if you ain’t got that sparkle in your eye, it don’t mean nothin’. This baba fashion, it’s about that sparkle. That’s what I think, anyway. It is about having your own style. Your own Harlem style.
These young folks today, they got it good. All these choices, all these styles. Back in my day, we made do with what we had. But you know what? We still looked good. We had our own style, our own way of doin’ things. And that’s what matters, ain’t it? Bein’ yourself, no matter what you’re wearin’.
So this baba fashion Harlem, it’s just another way of sayin’ be yourself. Wear what makes you happy, what makes you feel good. And don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. That’s the real secret to style, I reckon. Just be you. That is the true Harlem Renaissance. They say it is not just about clothes but about who you are and how you feel. I guess I agree with that.
