An impressive array of topics, including body type and gender in cosplay; modest style and hijabs; natural, braided, and Native hair; henna art; heeled shoes for men; makeup for Black skin and more are included in a volume that embraces inclusivity and acceptance. The Ojibwe author introduces the book by describing the ribbon shirt his mom and aunts made for him and then moves to work of other Indigenous fashion designers. Short blocks of text highlight quotes from individuals featured in each section and photographs are included on almost every page in this highly visual volume. Occasional definitions (e.g., “Gender-bend vs. Crossplay”) and commentary (“Burkinis vs. Bikinis: Why Not Both?”) are clearly indicated with the effective use of background and font color, although consistent captions of photographs would have been useful. Illustrations expand on some of the topics (e.g., “Braid Styles” and “A Beginner’s Guide to Walking in Heels”).
(Age 12 and older)

Style is not just the clothes on our backs—it is self-expression, representation, and transformation.

As a fashion-obsessed Ojibwe teen, Christian Allaire rarely saw anyone that looked like him in the magazines or movies he sought out for inspiration. Now the Fashion and Style Writer for Vogue, he is working to change that—because clothes are never just clothes. Men’s heels are a statement of pride in the face of LGTBQ+ discrimination, while ribbon shirts honor Indigenous ancestors and keep culture alive. Allaire takes the reader through boldly designed chapters to discuss additional topics like cosplay, make up, hijabs, and hair, probing the connections between fashion and history, culture, politics, and social justice.

*A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection