00:00She works hard for the money, so hard for the money.
00:07Hey guys, what's up? It's me, Empress, and I am 31 years old.
00:11But today, I'm going to dress like a woman in her 20s from the 1970s.
00:16I would describe my personal style as urban, chic, with a little bit of pizzazz.
00:21But no matter what, I have to have on a pair of sparkly earrings and some silk.
00:26What I love most about women who dressed in the 1970s was that women owned their sexuality.
00:32They were bold, they were fearless, there were colors and prints and fur and glitter.
00:37I love my style icons like Diana Ross, Pam Grier. They were badass.
00:43They rocked their afros, they rocked their bow bottoms, and they rocked themselves.
00:47It was a time for them to stand out and be proud.
00:50And years later, in 2018, black women are doing the exact same thing.
00:56Overall, clothing-wise, in the 1970s, women wore clothing that was free-flowing.
01:01Women were banning their bras and just going around with clothes that fit their bodies in the way that they
01:07wanted to look.
01:08Their fashion statements were all about being free.
01:11The thing I am most nervous about is that I am going to not wear a bra.
01:17But I'm going to challenge myself to stand in my power, my beauty, and only the bountifulness of my boobs.
01:25I am ready.
01:27Oh my god, baby got a fur.
01:31Yes.
01:32What are these?
01:33Bell bottoms?
01:34This is a look.
01:35What else you got for me?
01:38She got a bra!
01:39I'm about to look like young Michael Jackson up in here.
01:42I'm about to channel my inner Foxy Brown.
01:45This is happening.
01:46This is black coffee coming to you straight from Refinery29.
01:50Alright, 2018 Empress, you look great.
01:54However, it is time to transform into the 1970s Empress.
01:58Time to put on your ass low and go to the disco, child.
02:02Look at me.
02:03I feel so confident.
02:05I feel like Donna Summers or like Diana Ross.
02:09Look at these titties.
02:10Yes.
02:11And my fro.
02:13Y'all see this fro?
02:14I feel so powerful with this big ass hair.
02:17Put my pic right here where it belongs.
02:19And it is 2018.
02:20Please don't touch my hair.
02:22The only thing that makes me a little uncomfortable is that it's going to draw a lot of attention.
02:27And then just having my boobs here out in present without a bra, without the restrictions that I usually would
02:32have on.
02:33I know for sure I'll probably get a lot of stares in this area, but I'll just stand like this
02:39so they can take it in.
02:40Ready to kick some ass.
02:42Who you talking to, jive turkey?
02:46My whole team, it's like 20 people on my team.
02:49They're all in our Wednesday meeting.
02:51And I'm going to go in there and sit down and just float.
02:56I'm doing it in my head, I'm doing it in my head.
02:57Let's go!
03:00I'm shooting it, I'm doing it!
03:02Wow!
03:04Wow!
03:05Thank you!
03:07Thank you!
03:08So we're proud!
03:10Thank you!
03:12Thank you!
03:16You look incredible...
03:19Now I'm just trying to stick it to the man.
03:22I'm dead.
03:24I've decided that I'm only dead.
03:26I just want to live my life like I'm a woman of the 1970s.
03:31I'm not going to wear a bra anymore.
03:32Yes, girl!
03:34I love this.
03:38You look so fierce.
03:39Thanks, Ellie.
03:40I'm obsessed with this.
03:42I think that all women should dress up like they're from the 70s because I'm not wearing a bra.
03:48Doesn't it feel great?
03:49It feels so good.
03:50So, you know it's New York and I'm out here with my fur.
03:55And let's see how people think.
03:59Everyone is just looking at me and smiling.
04:01I think it's because I'm giving them so much life with the glitter and just reminding them of how fun
04:06the 70s was.
04:25All right, guys.
04:27The thing is that I feel wonderful and I know I'm shining bright, but God damn it to be a
04:32woman of the 70s.
04:33It's hot.
04:34Like this afro is hot.
04:36This fur is hot.
04:38I'm sweating chocolate chips on the inside.
04:40I just spent the entire day embodying a woman from the 1970s and it was mind blowing.
04:50It felt like armor.
04:52It felt like freedom.
04:52It just reminded me that when you feel powerful and you feel bold and you feel sexy, other people will
04:58see you just as that.
05:01I felt so free with my boobs that I actually think I might not wear a bra ever again.
05:08I am rocking my natural hair.
05:10I mean, this is an afro of course, but it just reminds me of how much I want to continue
05:15to rock my natural hair and continue to be bold with it.
05:19The best part about today was tackling my insecurities head on.
05:22I thought that people were just not going to like this look and that I would feel belittled by wearing
05:29this and or like a clown.
05:30And I didn't.
05:31People were clapping for me and cheering for me, wanting to take pictures with me.
05:35And I saw a sense of pride in the black women who walked past me with the afro.
05:41Just like, yes, girl, rock it and make it bigger.
05:44I would do a whole week of 70s look if you gave me glitter and streamers.
05:50I would do a Soul Train line.
05:52I feel so grateful for the women of the 1970s.
05:55Because of them, I'm able to say I am black and I'm proud.
05:59My hair is nappy and I'm happy.
06:02And this is my beauty and I can stand powerfully and rock it.
06:06So more life, more power, more love, more boldness, more 70s.
06:12And in that order.
