![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/JCi-153.jpg\")
Guests are greeted with style at the Annual Southern Classic, celebrating Black excellence in Dallas, Texas. Credit: Courtesy The Southern Classic\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tOverview:<\/p>\n
The Southern Classic, an elegant open-air affair that merges style with substance, has become a Dallas staple. Founded by NeAndre Broussard, the event gathers over 600 Black professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs for an evening of music, fashion, and connection. This year’s theme is “Western Luxe,” paying homage to the city’s rodeo culture with a luxurious spin. The event fosters an economy of visibility, where Black-owned brands, creatives, and thought leaders thrive. By centering Black culture and excellence, the Southern Classic nurtures Black success and fosters a sense of community and belonging.<\/p>\n
The Rise of a Modern Tradition<\/p>\n
When NeAndre Broussard first imagined The Southern Classic seven years ago, he wasn\u2019t thinking about building a viral moment\u2014he was building a movement.<\/p>\n
As the founder of Black Menswear, Broussard had already become known for his powerful \u201cFlash Mob\u201d photoshoots: scenes of sharply dressed Black men flooding streets, parks, and plazas across the country in celebration of unity and self-expression. Around the same time, Dallas-based collective The Baddie Brunch was creating empowering spaces for Black women to connect and celebrate one another.<\/p>\n
Guests are greeted with style at the Annual Southern Classic, celebrating Black excellence in Dallas, Texas. Credit: Courtesy The Southern Classic\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cSo from that, we reached out and said, \u2018You know, we\u2019re doing for men what you\u2019re doing for women. Let\u2019s come together and do something special,\u2019\u201d Broussard recalls. \u201cAt that time, there weren\u2019t really a lot of spaces for upwardly mobile Black professionals to get together\u2014without it being the club or a boring networking event.\u201d<\/p>\n
That collaboration birthed The Southern Classic\u2014an elegant, open-air affair that merges style with substance. Inspired by the sophistication of New York\u2019s Polo Classic and the Southern charm of the Kentucky Derby, the event has become a Dallas staple. Each year, over 600 Black professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs gather for an evening of music, fashion, and connection at Strauss Square in the Dallas Arts District.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s What We Deserve\u201d<\/p>\n
What began as an idea for a safe space to vibe and connect has matured into a symbol of Black joy and sophistication.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really about creating what we deserve,\u201d Broussard says. \u201cA stress-free environment where we can show up as our full selves\u2014dressed to the nines, surrounded by people who reflect our excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now entering its seventh year, the Southern Classic\u2019s growth mirrors the evolution of Dallas itself\u2014a city that has become a magnet for young Black professionals seeking opportunity and culture.<\/p>\n
\u201cDallas is such a transplant city,\u201d Broussard notes. \u201cWhen I got here for college, downtown was just a freeway. Now it\u2019s booming with jobs, housing, and energy. Millennials aren\u2019t kids anymore\u2014we\u2019re grown, established, and looking for experiences that reflect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where The Southern Classic comes in. A golden-hour party running from 6 to 10 p.m., it offered just the right blend of celebration and sophistication. \u201cYou can dance, drink, network, and still be in bed by midnight,\u201d he laughs. \u201cOr hit the after-party if you\u2019re feeling it. Either way, it\u2019s a vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n
This Year\u2019s Theme: \u201cWestern Luxe\u201d<\/p>\n
Each year, The Southern Classic reinvents itself with a new aesthetic. Previous themes have included \u201cA Night in Havana\u201d and \u201cTropical Paradise.\u201d But this year\u2019s direction\u2014Western Luxe\u2014hits closer to home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Dallas, we\u2019re in the heart of Texas. We\u2019ve never leaned into that fully,\u201d Broussard says. \u201cThis year we\u2019re paying homage to where we are\u2014with a luxurious spin on rodeo culture. Think sharp suits with cowboy hats, bolo ties, and wide-brimmed slacks. It\u2019s about honoring the legacy of Black cowboy culture while elevating it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Western Luxe theme also aligns with a broader reclaiming of Southern Black narratives. It acknowledges the past while celebrating the creative, contemporary spirit that defines Dallas today.<\/p>\n
Building Community and Opportunity<\/p>\n
That message resonates deeply, especially for South Dallas readers who understand the importance of visibility, representation, and belonging. These curated experiences don\u2019t just celebrate Black success\u2014they nurture it.<\/p>\n
People come here from L.A. or New York with ideas, with energy. Having a space where they can be seen, connect, and collaborate\u2014that\u2019s invaluable.<\/p>\n
Neandre Broussard, founder of Black menswear and The southern classic<\/p>\n
It\u2019s evident that Broussard\u2019s goal is to make Dallas a destination for Black creatives and entrepreneurs from across the country. \u201cIt\u2019s always dope to see how many people travel here for the weekend,\u201d he says. \u201cSome people came to the Southern Classic for the first time\u2014and then decided to move to Dallas afterward. That\u2019s impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Southern Classic has also become fertile ground for brand partnerships and business exposure. From local startups to national names, brands that align with the event\u2019s message of empowerment find authentic engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen this new wave of entrepreneurs and influencers moving to Dallas,\u201d Broussard explained. \u201cPeople come here from L.A. or New York with ideas, with energy. Having a space where they can be seen, connect, and collaborate\u2014that\u2019s invaluable.\u201d<\/p>\n
By centering Black culture and excellence, the Southern Classic fosters an economy of visibility\u2014one where Black-owned brands, creatives, and thought leaders thrive.<\/p>\n
Consistency Is the Key<\/p>\n
Broussard attributes the Southern Classic\u2019s longevity to one principle: purposeful consistency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you know what you\u2019re doing and why you\u2019re doing it, you keep going,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople might not get it at first, but they come around. Consistency is how you go from an idea to an institution.\u201d<\/p>\n
He compared the event\u2019s trajectory to cultural fixtures like the State Fair Classic. \u201cThat\u2019s 100 years of legacy,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re only seven in, but that\u2019s the mindset\u2014longevity through consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Heart of It All<\/p>\n
Ultimately, the Southern Classic was more than a fashion-forward gathering\u2014it was a love letter to Black community, culture, and creativity in Dallas.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/307A1229.jpg\")
This weekend at the AT&T Center downtown, The Southern Classic returned. \u2014Culture met connection, and our community showed up dressed, blessed, and unapologetically fly. Credit: Courtesy The Southern Classic<\/p>\n
It\u2019s proof that joy is a form of resistance, that excellence is communal, and that when we create spaces for us, the entire city shines brighter. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about a good time,\u201d Broussard says. \u201cIt\u2019s about being seen, being heard, and knowing that this\u2014this joy, this unity, this excellence\u2014is ours.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Overview: The Southern Classic, an elegant open-air affair that merges style with substance, has become a Dallas staple.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13762,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[11410,11411,6007,11412,6008,6009,11413,102,11414,104,103,6011,64,11415,11416,223,11417,27,11418,11419,11420,11421],"class_list":["post-13761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-black-cowboy-culture","tag-black-creatives","tag-black-media","tag-black-menswear","tag-black-news","tag-black-press","tag-black-professionals","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-arts-district","tag-dallas-headlines","tag-dallas-news","tag-dallas-weekly","tag-events","tag-ikymi","tag-neandre-broussard","tag-news","tag-strauss-square","tag-texas","tag-the-baddie-brunch","tag-the-dallas-arts-district","tag-the-southern-classic","tag-western-luxe"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13761","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}