This post wants to be about the lack of recognition and due respect paid to black style icons throughout history. It wants to be about that struggle being the least of their worries in their own time. It wants to be about a great many things: feminism and how it’s different when you’re black, beauty and how it’s viewed differently when you’re black, style and how often it’s copied without credit when you’re black.

BUT

That shit brings me down! Sometimes, even in my own heart and mind, I just want it to be simple! A simple post, conversation, thought, feeling about this person of color and how looking at them

MAKES ME FEEL GOOD!!!

Let’s look at Eartha.

LOOK AT HER!!

She is fucking stunning!

And she knows it.

Look at that rare, girlish smile!!

And look, LOOOOOOK at her MOOOOOVE!!

Look at the POWER!!

There are millions of images like these from old Hollywood, but not so many of its African American stars.

Being fitted.

Getting pretty.

Embracing style and motherhood, with equal aplomb.

She appeared to be so unapologetic about being her full self! So proud and regal (which some might feel she shouldn’t have because of her very humble beginnings, and that is a massive understatement, but this post is not about that)!! So, SO talented and passionate!

And beautiful!!

Especially as she aged.

I hope to see her name and likeness in more vintage style reports around the blogisphere.

She was there.

And she looked fucking awesome.