What I Wore: Andrea Iyamah at The Getty
I felt like a work of art myself when I pulled up to the Getty Center’s “Celebrating Black Visual Culture” event in this Sombra bodysuit and Ime skirt in wine from Andrea Iyamah. My friend Hayes said it best in his response to my Instagram stories post: “The STRUCTURE of this fit matching the building is??? So good???” Right?! The soft curves of the organza bodysuit and skirt paired perfectly with the famed Los Angeles building designed by architect Richard Meier, as did rocking an artsy look from a Black-owned brand and designed by a Black woman to a Black-centered art event.
Fun fact: I had ordered the set online, not realizing the bodysuit was completely transparent until I tried it on. A nude colored tank top/tube top/bralette/bra would absolutely work underneath this beauty, but because I had none of the above, I had the chance to finally try out a boob tape I’d purchased a couple years ago at Essence Festival. Also owned and operated by a Black woman (Kaelin Bass), KMBoobies offers complexion-inclusive solutions that “liberate women from the confines of traditional undergarments.” I’m happy to report that the tape was barely noticeable, non-irritating, stayed up and stuck throughout the event, and painlessly peeled off that same night.
Some backstory on the look: Last March, I’d been searching for an outfit to wear to the opening of Unearthing Black Stories, a group exhibition at the Krause Family Art Gallery in Des, Moines Iowa. I’d been invited to say a few words about the exhibition—I wrote the exhibition catalog, which you can read more about here—and wanted to show up in something Black-owned, vibrant, and dynamic to reflect the spirit of the show and the featured works of Kara Walker, Glenn Ligon, Theaster Gates, and more. Given that I only had about a week before the event, quick shipping was a must, which narrowed down my options even further.
Ultimately, I decided on two outfits, figuring at least one of them would work out: The Sacha set in pink from Hanifa and the Sombra bodysuit and Ime skirt in wine from Andrea Iyamah. Thankfully, both sets looked amazing on me. However, the Andrea Iyamah look not only required a solid color undershirt or bra (or nipple covers), which I didn’t have at my hotel, but also seemed better suited for an art gala or a similar large event calling for cocktail looks. As you all can see from the stunning photos my good friend Essence snapped at the Getty (on her iPhone nonetheless), my hunch was correct!
Bodysuit: Sombra, Andrea Iyamah
Skirt: Ime, Andrea Iyamah
Shoes: Olah Slingback Sandal, Nine West
Boob tape: KMBoobies
Lipgloss: Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream in Fruit Snackz, Fenty Beauty