Are Black women constantly obsessing about the Male Gaze and the White Gaze? No. We are not a monolith and don’t all share the same exact anxieties, if any at all, about our appearances. But just know that when you encounter a Black girl or woman stressing about her outfit and hairstyle for a school or work event, there’s levels to this shit!

Black self-expression and self-perception have always been tools of liberation. When deciding on my Juneteenth outfit, I aimed to evoke enthusiasm, optimism, and joy. I wanted to be bold, loud in a celebratory way, to take up space. Enter: The Tango Midi Dyana dress from Sabby Lou Knit.

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.