When I was growing up my mother used to make me spend hours with her walking through clothing racks at the mall or at various other boutiques where she liked to shop in my hometown of Greensboro, NC. When I would get tired or ask why we had to stay at the store all day, she would always have a funny little comeback that would give me something to think about. One of her favorite lines was, “Munje when I’m in the store nobody can call me and then call somebody else and say, ‘well Mariama told me…’.” The idea that shopping was an escape from gossip would always make me laugh.
As I grew older, I came to appreciate and embrace my mom’s love of fashion and I often reflect on the valuable style lessons that she gave me. There was one boutique that she would always insist that we go check when there was a special occasion coming up. All of the ladies who worked there knew her by name, and if she said she wanted something, they would put it away for her and in what seemed like no time it would be hanging in her closet. I vividly remember telling her that I had found a dress for the Twirp dance (a high school social where the girl is supposed to ask the guy to the dance) that I liked at Macy’s. She humored me and we went to go see the dress, she even let me try it on. Then she insisted that we couldn’t buy that dress until we went to go check her boutique first to see what they might have there. “Munje, you don’t want to go somewhere and see yourself,” she said, which was her way of saying that everyone shops at Macy’s and that someone else would likely also buy the dress that I liked and wear it to the dance. So we went, and I found the most stunning, beaded floral dress that I’d ever seen. It was so different from anything that I had seen prior and there was only one in stock and it wasn’t even in my size. I can’t remember what the price was, but I do remember looking at the price tag and thinking that it was way out of budget. Anyway, I told my mom that I loved it but it was too expensive and that we should go back to Macy’s. My mom nodded, made a secret agreement with the boutique ladies to buy to dress and have it altered to my size, and by the time that the dance came, it was hanging in my closet.
Lesson number 1, my mom was the best human that I have ever known.
Lesson number 2, as my mom often told me, you can’t shop where everyone else shops and expect to show up to an event looking unique. Find yourself a few exclusive boutiques, or small designers that carry or make limited pieces, so that you can be the only woman at the party in that standout dress. Trust me, I learned from the best.
Below, I am pictured in the Mixxy Wrap Skirt, which was made exclusively for Posh Africana by Unknown Brand NG. There are a few available for purchase here in limited sizes. Top Zara (Old), Shoes Guess (Really Old), Bag Zashadu (old style)
