Shelby Ivey Christie has made waves in the fashion world. Now, the Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree has set her sights on publishing.
Shelby Ivey Christie is a woman with a fashion CV as long as your arm: Vogue, W Magazine, InStyle, Amazon Fashion, L'Oréal — heck, there are a few major brands out there she hasn’t worked with.
Now, the fashion and costume historian is dipping her toe into the publishing world. Her new publishing house, Haute Heritage Publishing, is dedicated to examining fashion through the lens of race, class, and culture — particularly the many contributions of often overlooked black fashion trailblazers.
“Our mission goes beyond creating beautiful books,” says Christie. "We're preserving and celebrating Black fashion history while inspiring the next generation of fashion professionals.”
Their first release for young readers, Black Fashion Legends, is a stylishly illustrated and smartly written educational tool that celebrates iconic figures such as June Ambrose (who also wrote the foreword), Dapper Dan, Naomi Campbell, Ruth E. Carter, and Christopher John Rogers. From Anne Lowe to Virgil Abloh, Kwame Brathwaite to Zelda Wynn Valdes, the book takes readers on an inspiring journey from A to Z, introducing the next generation to those who have shaped fashion history.
The book arrives at a particularly opportune moment, not only because, as Christie explains, it is coming “...at a time when many books examining race, class, and culture are being banned across the country,” but also because the next Met Gala theme was just announced to be Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. To me, this seems like the perfect opportunity for stylists to reference their Black Fashion Legends book and flashcard deck. I asked Christie about her feelings on the theme and if there were any references she hoped to see on the carpet that night.
“I'm incredibly excited about this theme,” Christie states. “It's particularly meaningful to see the Met Gala celebrating Black contributions to fashion in such a significant way. I hope to see references to pioneers like Dapper Dan, whose innovative approach to tailoring and luxury redefined street style, and Stephen Burrows, who revolutionized the way we think about color and movement in fashion. It would also be powerful to see homages to Elizabeth Keckley, who was not only Mary Todd Lincoln's dressmaker but a groundbreaking entrepreneur who bought her freedom through her tailoring skills. These figures, all featured in our book, have left an indelible mark on fashion history that deserves to be celebrated on fashion's biggest night. I’d also love to see some regionality represented like Buffs & Furs from Detroit [and] Zoot suits from Harlem & LA.”
Come that heavily anticipated first Monday in May, I know we’ll all be watching at home, waiting to see which stylists and celebrities did their homework on the theme. But you, dear reader, don’t need to be caught unaware! Black Fashion Legends is now available for purchase at most major book retailers, Amazon, and on Haute Heritage Publishing’s website. So, study up! 🌀
Kaitlin Owens is the Archival Fashion Editor at HALOSCOPE and the Editor-in-Chief of Dilettante. For a closer look at her work, please visit her website.