Magazine Covers & Editorials
This section explores the visual legacy of Black dandyism through iconic magazine covers and editorials. From vintage issues of Ebony to high-fashion moments in Vogue, these images capture how Black style, elegance, and resistance have always been in conversation. Each cover is a statement. Each editorial tells a story.
Ebony Magazine, April 1966
Cover Star: Sammy Davis Jr.
Photographer: Unlisted (Johnson Publishing Company often used in-house photographers)
Issue Date: April 1966
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company
Editor-in-Chief: Ebony founder John H. Johnson
Language: English
Format: Print magazine
Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 10.75 inches
Price at Publication: $0.50 USD
Notable Content:
This issue names Sammy Davis Jr. “The Busiest Man in Show Business” and explores his impact on entertainment, fashion, and culture. Other stories include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s organizing in the North and a feature on Robert C. Weaver, the first Black person to hold a U.S. cabinet position.
Visual Description:
The cover shows Sammy Davis Jr. mid-stride in a sharply tailored blue suit, complete with a skinny tie, black dress shoes, and pinky rings. His style, stance, and smile reflect the ease and excellence he brought to every performance, and show how dandyism isn't just about clothes, it's about charisma and control.
Cultural Impact:
Sammy Davis Jr. was the blueprint. Long before fashion was a hashtag, he was mixing Hollywood flash with Harlem elegance. His swag was effortless, political, and always precise, reminding us that to be a Black dandy in the 60s was more than stylish, it was radical.
Ebony Magazine, July 1975
Cover Stars: The Temptations
Photographer: Unlisted (likely in-house by Johnson Publishing Company)
Issue Date: July 1975
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company
Editor-in-Chief: John H. Johnson
Language: English
Format: Print magazine
Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 10.75 inches
Price at Publication: $1.00 USD
Notable Content:
This issue features a vibrant cover story on The Temptations, one of Motown’s most iconic groups, as they evolve their style and sound in the mid-70s. Other headlines cover Alabama’s Black oil boom, hypnosis therapy, and reflections on masculinity.
Visual Description:
The Temptations are pictured in coordinated emerald green suits with exaggerated white piping, silky cravats, plaid vests, and crisp white loafers. Each member brings a different pose and attitude, combining unity, glamour, and that signature clean dandy sharpness rooted in Black performance traditions.
Cultural Impact:
This is Black dandyism in full effect. The Temptations weren’t just about vocals. They were about presentation, polish, and power. From their matching suits to their cool choreography, this look is a reminder that style has always been central to how Black musicians shaped culture.
Vogue Paris, August 1988
Cover Model: Naomi Campbell
Photographer: Patrick Demarchelier
Issue Date: August 1988
Issue Number: 688
Publisher: Condé Nast France
Language: French
Format: Print, glossy magazine
Dimensions: Approximately 9 x 12 inches
Page Count: Typically around 200 pages
Notable Content: This issue is historically significant as it features Naomi Campbell as the first Black model to grace the cover of Vogue Paris, marking a pivotal moment in fashion history.
Visual Description:
The cover showcases Naomi Campbell in a poised and elegant stance, wearing a tailored navy ensemble complemented by a stylish hat adorned with a feather. Her confident gaze and the sophisticated styling embody the essence of Black dandyism, merging classic fashion elements with a bold, modern twist.
Cultural Impact:
This cover was major. Naomi made history as the first Black woman on the cover of Vogue Paris. This wasn’t just fashion, it was a full-on cultural shift. Seeing a dark-skinned Black girl serving elegance and power on a global stage was a game-changer.
Ebony Magazine, May 1994
Cover Star: Toni Braxton
Photographer: Unlisted (likely in-house at Johnson Publishing Company)
Issue Date: May 1994
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company
Editor-in-Chief: Lerone Bennett Jr.
Language: English
Format: Print magazine
Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 10.75 inches
ISSN: 0012-9011
Notable Content:
This issue features an in-depth cover story on Toni Braxton, then a breakout star navigating fame, media scrutiny, and personal growth. Inside: “100 Most Influential Black Americans,” a reflection on the Cosbys’ 30th anniversary, and a feature on Spike Lee’s evolving personal and professional life.
Visual Description:
Toni Braxton stuns in a deep wine-colored military-style suit, accented with gold statement buttons and a Versace-inspired tie printed with baroque medallions. Her slick short hair, confident stance, and Chanel chain belt give strong Black dandy energy, mixing luxury, gender play, and sharp tailoring into a look that still resonates decades later.
Cultural Impact:
This wasn’t just a fashion slay, it was strategic messaging. Toni gave soft masculinity meets high glam, proving that Black women can rewrite the rules of style without saying a word. It’s powerful, it’s luxe, and it’s unapologetically her. This is Black dandyism at its finest, on a national stage.
Ebony Magazine, August 1972 – Page 26
Publisher: Johnson Publishing Company
Editor-in-Chief: John H. Johnson
Language: English
Format: Print magazine
Page Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 10.75 inches
Page Number: 26
Content Description:
This page features a split layout. The top half is dedicated to the Ebony Book Shelf, highlighting new and notable Black literature releases. Books featured include biographies, anthologies, and political commentaries by and about figures such as Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Bayard Rustin, and James Baldwin. The bottom half is a full-page advertisement for Eleganza, a fashion brand catering to Black men. The ad promotes sharply tailored long coat suits, wide-leg slacks, bold buckle trousers, and dramatic platform heels. It markets the brand as “the boldest collection of dashing apparel and dramatic imported footwear anywhere.” The models wear distinctly flamboyant and stylish outfits, echoing the aesthetics of Black dandyism and 1970s street fashion.
Visual Description:
Two men pose confidently in sharply tailored outfits, one in a long trench-style coat with white piping, and another in a flared pant ensemble with a wide belt and decorative shirt. Featured products include 3-inch platform shoes and bold, heeled leather footwear. The visual is crisp, glamorous, and deeply rooted in 1970s Black fashion culture.
Cultural Impact:
This page is a snapshot of the radical self-expression that defined Black style in the 1970s. Eleganza wasn’t just about clothes, it was about owning your look, taking up space, and turning heads. Paired with a list of Black radical literature above, this layout reflects a key moment where fashion and political consciousness walked hand in hand.
Elle Canada, February 2013
Cover Star: Janelle Monáe
Photographer: Max Abadian
Issue Date: February 2013
Publisher: Transcontinental Media
Language: English
Format: Print, glossy magazine
Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 10.5 inches
Page Count: Approximately 160 pages
Notable Content:
This issue features a bold fashion editorial and interview with Janelle Monáe, highlighting her music career, personal style, and influence on contemporary culture.
Visual Description:
Janelle Monáe stands front and center in a sharp black-and-white look: white collared shirt, black tie, high-waisted pants, and suspenders. Her classic pompadour and red lip complete the look, radiating polish and power. The image is high contrast and high impact, crisp, stylish, and undeniably dandy.
Cultural Impact:
Janelle Monáe didn’t just bring dandyism back, she redefined it. On this cover, she’s serving tailored excellence while completely subverting gender norms. This was the moment she took the style conversations from niche to mainstream. For so many young Black femmes, she became the blueprint: proof that bowties, bold suits, and soft masculinity could be powerful, playful, and hella beautiful.