As much as I love a frilly blouse, camisole or corset, I usually feel most comfortable in a T-shirt (basic, I know!), especially one that’s graphic, since it can still say something despite being one of the most simple silhouettes. That love of patterns has spilled over across my wardrobe, which is why Sheila Rashid’s printed crop jacket has become the latest piece I can’t stop thinking about.
With the breathable and boxy fit I prefer, it’s plastered with a photo matrix of Black women’s hairdos from the ’90s. It reminds me of trips to the store when I was younger in Chicago, searching the aisles for curly-coily hair products and being met with portraits of women modeling the final looks on the boxes; or to walks past salons with grids of all the styling options available, from finger waves to side-parts to slick updos.
Rashid is also based in Chicago. With a knack for creating clothing that serves as a canvas for conversation about identity, she’s dressed celebrities like Zendaya and Chance the Rapper. And she made a true conversation-starter with this one (which, by the way, has matching denim pants). Beyond just, “hey, that’s a cool jacket,” it’s also a beautiful ode to Black women’s hair as laws are still being passed to ensure stylists are equipped with textured hair education, and to protect against race-based hair discrimination.
Sheila Rashid 90s Hairstyles Crop Jacket, $300, available here
