The Black Fashion Society at the University of Mississippi has been redefining fashion standards through its growing campus presence. Combining models’ individual flair with school-uniform fashion in their recent photoshoot, “Gentlemen White,” members of the BFS do not shy away from expressing themselves authentically.
Senior public health major Jatoni Donelson serves as both the president and photographer for the BFS.
According to Donelson, BFS is more than just a student group. It is a community that fosters self-expression, inclusivity and empowerment among its members.
“The inspiration (for the photoshoot) was actually from one of the members. She sent it to me last semester,” Donelson said. “And because I’m juggling two roles as president and photographer, my goal is to try and have photoshoots so the Instagram can stay active and have content to post in between shoots.”
Marje McGregory, a freshman integrated marketing and communications major, has been a member of the BFS throughout this year. Reflecting on his experience, McGregory emphasized the role of the organization in creating a haven for members to express themselves. But the organization has not always been in the spotlight on campus.
“Because we are a Black organization, I feel like sometimes we’re kind of pushed to the end,” McGregory said. “A lot of times, especially in the media today with fashion, you have to look a certain way, but in the Black Fashion Society, you can come as you are and experiment.”
For Mesha Brown, a senior African American studies and business major, the BFS is a safe place for Black expression.
“I feel like it’s a very safe space. Our organization is different. We’re able to amplify Black expression into something that is entertaining, and you can see we put a lot of work into it,” Brown said.
Donelson shared that the organization’s growing numbers pose new difficulties for photoshoot logistics, especially when it comes to featuring individual models’ styles.
“The past two semesters, the organization basically rebranded. Usually our shoots would be about five to 10 people. Last semester, the first shoot after the rebrand, I had 30 plus people. It’s a struggle to capture individuality with such large numbers,” Donelson said.
Despite these challenges, the BFS has seen members go on to walk in New York Fashion Week and Los Angeles Fashion Week, demonstrating the organization’s impact on personal confidence and modeling skills.
As the BFS continues to grow, Donelson envisions a future in which members take their involvement more seriously and eventually turn their college experiences into careers.
“I want it to be something that people take seriously to actually make a career out of, and it would be more than just something they did for fun in college. It could be something they grow from and say, ‘This is where I started, here,’” Donelson said.
The BFS is currently gearing up for a Valentine’s Day shoot featuring pink and red themes. The organization encourages members to bring their own unique styles to create a supportive environment for students to experiment with fashion.
“I always tell members to do something bold with your outfit, because I want it to be an open space where you don’t feel like you have to dress in a way that’ll be accepted by society,” Donelson said. “Be able to express yourself through your outfit.”
