Reading Time: 5 minutes Without a doubt, the stepper takeover of the fabulous Marriott Marquis in Downtown Atlanta Feb 22-26 heralded the return of The Heritage Ball 2024 to its hometown. Steppers were ready to return to stepping with our event hosts and friends from Good Deeds International (GDI). Believe me, steppers have been buzzing about this event all…
Reading Time: 11 minutes INSPIRED BY: A Reader comment on A 2023 WLSC Prelim video, “Wait! Is that the same guy making all those reels on Facebook? He’s smooth.” Over the last six months, new videos of fashion fantastic from Rich Jackson have been lighting up my social media and showcasing another sliver of the stepper way of life. #dapper…
Reading Time: 7 minutes Women wearing high heels on the steppers set is a tradition and a way of life in the Chicago stepping fashion culture. On social media, we have beaten the topic of women wearing combat boots on the stepper set to a pulp. Let’s flip the script and talk about the tradition of high heels. Shoes…
Reading Time: 2 minutes A moment at a Sadie Hawkin’s set and a casual conversation with a stepper friend stirred up some realizations and revelations about responses to how women dress on the set.
Reading Time: < 1 minute First, I saw his hat. A couple of years ago I saw him in a tall red hat and oversized glasses at the Heritage Ball. Immediate thought? “Who is that?!!” I did not see his full ensemble until a break between songs and steppers broke away from the dance floor. Then, after traveling a lot more to different cities for weekend events I saw him more and more. A feature post on Maurice Thomas is a great close out to LT8C’s January focus on fashion in the Chicago Style Steppin’ community.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Friends have urged me to write about this topic, but it has bothered me. Fashion and personal style is an individual expression. Far be it from me to judge how someone chooses to show or present themselves. As much as we watch and judge each others dance, we judge our looks and appearances as steppers as well. In LT8C’s month on fashion, it is apropos to discuss “fashion etiquette” so now I have decided to finally tell it!
Reading Time: 3 minutes Leisha Rutledge’s business card says “Seamstress – Tailor – Dressmaker – Designer.” Fashion is her business and the 60% of her work from the steppin’ community is growing!
Reading Time: 3 minutes Do you recognize the Chicago style steppin’ community as a union of the fashionably elite? I do. After a few weekend events in my first year steppin’, the parties put my wardrobe to good use.
Reading Time: 2 minutes When I started Chicago Style steppin’ I experienced new hair maintenance struggles. On 4-5 day event weekends, I needed a hair stylist after the first night because my ‘do’ would be ‘done’ from the welcome set and still — days to go. As much as I strived for perfect hair to stay put, survive the main event on Saturday, and be intact for Sunday’s farewell, my hair -relaxed or natural – was a struggle. For my natural sisters looking for ways to get your hair the way you want it for any day of an event weekend, it is possible. Alexis Perkins and Tyshawna Witherspoon present in their new book Kinks to Curls, how to maintain a natural lasting, curl pattern without chemicals.
Reading Time: 4 minutes When an LT8C reader reached out and asked me to offer some advice on “choosing the right shoes to step in” I sought advice from a pro – Tneshela Jones in Texas, owner of A Steppers Sole. It is important in this journey to take care of your feet and be stylish too. Tneshela’s gives her professional advice on how you can step, love your feet and be comfortable. And, if you want to make a personal shoe statement, you can do that too.