For decades, the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park has served as an informal gathering ground for Philadelphia’s Black community. It's a place to picnic, party, connect, and be seen, with the city’s most beautiful view of Philly serving as a backdrop. It became more than a park; it was a social stage where style, presence, originality, and presentation mattered. Dressing to impress wasn’t simple vanity— it was pride, identity, and a way of presenting the next iteration of what the community considered the peak of Philly style. Credit: Donte Neal for The Philly Download
Editor's Note: This social-first series features four illustrations, published in recent weeks on The Philly Download's Instagram. Artist Donte Neal brought much care and detail to this series, including a tribute to the hair magazine International Solid Gold, which featured the work of Cyndi Lane, a blood relative of his. This series was a collection of homages, shining a particular light on trends that blossomed in the 1980s and 1990s. Donte's work reminds us: Black folk don't just make history; we wear history too. There's so many stories to be told and lineages to be seen in the ways we have adorned ourselves.
Over the years, Philadelphia barbers have been at the forefront of shaping the barbering standards within the Black community and the world at large. The Philly Fade, distinguished by its smooth gradation, precise dye lines, and razor-sharp shape-up, continues to represent both technical mastery and cultural pride. Credit: Donte Neal for The Philly DownloadMuslim communities have long shaped Philadelphia’s fashion culture in ways that are both visible and deeply rooted. From the sharp, sculpted “Philly beard,” grounded in Sunnah practice, to modest fashion styled with luxury and streetwear, faith and fly coexist in the city’s aesthetic. What are religious expressions for many have also become recognizable markers of Philly identity, traveling from mosques and barbershops into the broader culture. In true Philadelphia fashion, modesty isn’t a limitation; it’s a framework for confidence, creativity, and presence. Credit: Donte Neal for The Philly DownloadBefore the internet flattened distance and made every city visible, style and fashion largely stayed regional. National Solid Gold Magazine (aka International Solid Gold) was already circulating through Philadelphia’s salons and barbershops, becoming a true staple of the city’s fashion culture in print. Its pages celebrated bold, colorful, and innovative Black hairstyles that inspired local stylists to craft custom looks tailored to each client who sat in their chair. Founder, CEO, and lead photographer Carlos Payne, alongside hair and make-up technician Cyndi Lane, created real opportunities for salons, stylists, barbers, and barbershops across Philadelphia and the greater Delaware Valley by featuring them in each volume. By traveling the country to sell magazines while producing and appearing in hair shows, they carried Philly style from city to city, spreading trends nationwide long before the internet made it easy. Credit: Donte Neal for the Philly Download
