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August 24, 2015

The Best Looks From Afropunk’s Fancy Dress Ball

By Carroll Taveras

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Photo: Caroll Taveras

Every year, the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn presents a welcome alternative to tired festival style. It’s not strictly a jorts-free space, but with a crowd that self-defines as nonconformist, even the jorts tend to be styled in mind-expanding ways.

This year, the 11-year-old festival added a fancy dress ball to the weekend’s lineup of concerts and parties, giving participants yet another reason to break out their finest. Featuring performances by Grace Jones, Cakes da Killa, Mike Q, and Bill Coleman, the event raised money for the AFROPUNK Global Initiative, which promotes diversity in the arts and media. Click through the slideshow for some of the best looks, including sweeping gowns, printed suits, electric-blue lips, and one enormous veiled hat. 

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1 / 25 Photos
Reign Apiim  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Wangechi Mutu, Laurie Cumbo  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Fanta Celah  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Curtis Bryant  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Farah Yusuf  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Lorraine Bigler  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Jus B. Hawk  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Young Paris, Ntangou, Badila-Kwabena  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Cakes da Killa  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Poundo Gomis  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Phillip Michael Payton  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Madden Lopez, Sabine Lopez  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Rodrerick Frazier  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Linden Elstran  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Kamilah White  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Xuly Bet  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Zerina Akers  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Mateo Manny  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Sarah Jannat Sabiti  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Damon Gabriel  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Duane Grazi White  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Mister Witherspoon  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Sean Davis, Siri Rishi  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Vogueing Contest Judges  Photo: Caroll Taveras
Amayo, Jen Mazer  Photo: Caroll Taveras
1 / 25

Tags:

  • afropunk
  • grace jones
  • scene stealers
  • photos
  • street style
  • festival style
  • More

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