Thursday January 5, 12 - 1 pm: Furs and fashion, black women and gay men, style and identity

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Midday 01.05.2012 1st HOUR American Culture.mp3

Sheri Parks, Midday's American culture commentator, takes a look at how luxury and style are embraced by two groups: black women and gay men. Despite a lackluster economy, members of the black community  -- its middle-class women, in particular -- aspire to own furs and expensive jewelry. Gay men are often recognized for their meticulous, dapper and eye-catching apparel. Sheri Parks has some keen observations to share about conspicuous consumption and flamboyant style, both used to communicate very different messages. How cultures use style as code, with guests: David Swartz, who is the fifth generation of his family at Baltimore's Mano Swartz Furs, and Shaun Cole, Course Director for Masters in History and Culture of Fashion and Masters in Fashion Curation at the London College of Fashion.