That Hair Thing

You can't look at images of black models in fashion magazines without noticing that there seems to be a fear of kinky black hair in the industry. Unless it is played for laughs, like in Moschino's recent advertisement, naturally kinky hair on a model is a no no. I recall reading an interview with Veronica Webb where she mentioned that she got individual braids once and her bookings stopped almost immediately. She had to run and take them out to keep working.

In fashion there are three acceptable ways for black models to wear their hair: shaved close to the scalp so as not to offend, weaved up, or relaxed (preferably with extensions to add length.) I've read the stories countless times told by models who have had their hair destroyed by stylists who don't know what to do with it. Even Naomi, who is the queen of the flawless weave, has been sporting a fragile looking hairline these days.

That's why I love baby-faced model Wakeema Hollis who is one of the few regularly working black models who sports natural hair longer than an inch. Occasionally TPTB slap a wig or extensions on her but her hair (along with those lips and long graceful neck) have become her signature. Interestingly, she is also in that Moschino ad wearing an afro wig. Go figure.

sources: simplylovely/TFS, models.com, Myspace, WhyNot

Vogue Italia is a hot seller according to WWD

from Women's Wear Daily

HOT ISSUE: While tech heads on Friday lined up at the Apple store to buy the latest iPhone, fashionistas evidently hurried to newsstands across New York City to get their hands on the July Italian Vogue featuring all black models. By 10 a.m., Universal News on 58th Street and Eighth Avenue, near the Hearst Tower, had already sold 50 copies, with 50 more left in stock. Hudson News in Grand Central Station sold 20 copies by 11 a.m., with another 30 left to sell. By noon, Universal News on 56th Street and Lexington Avenue had sold its last issue, and the one on 14th Street near Sixth Avenue had sold over 100 copies, with a few more left to move.

Condé Nast prepped accordingly for the increased consumer curiosity surrounding the themed issue, where Steven Meisel shot the likes of Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Jourdan Dunn, Liya Kebede, Veronica Webb and upcoming names like Sessilee Lopez and Toccara Jones. A spokeswoman for Condé said the company increased newsstand distribution of the special issue by 40 percent in the U.S., and will reallocate Italian copies earmarked for returns to the U.S. The company will also print another 10,000 copies to meet the demand for the issue. "Franca Sozzani is a brilliant editor whose courage and originality never cease to astonish. Working in collaboration with Steven Meisel she has produced a groundbreaking issue, which in a small way, changes the world. I am very proud of it," said Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast International. Ironically, Vogue Italia wasn't available at the two places most likely to carry the issue — the Hudson News at Condé Nast's headquarters at 4 Times Square and the newsstand at Condé's satellite offices at 750 Third Avenue did not carry the issue on Friday. Store clerks at both locations expected to have copies by Monday.

Joy Bryant

Joy Bryant is another actress who's style I really admire. No matter how elegant the clothing she wears is, she always keeps the hair and makeup relatively simple. She is proof that skeletal stylist Rachel Zoe actually has some talent at putting outfits together. I was actually surprised when I read Zoe's book and found out that they work together almost exclusively. I suppose it helps that Bryant is a former model and know how to wear the clothing  without looking like just another hanger. In my fantasies, she will play me in Make Fetch Happen: The Movie. The above article is from an old issue of Vogue (Nov. 2003 IIRC) and the photos below were all gleaned from The Fashion Spot.

Kelly Rowland & Jennifer Hudson @ the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball

Kelly is wearing Ralph Lauren Spring '08 and JHud is wearing a slightly modified version of this Escada Fall/Winter '08 dress. I don't think the dresses look bad on either runway model but that bright yellow really pops against Kelly's skintone and thanks to her newly enhanced figure, she fills it out more. I like the print of Jennifer's dress and I think that halter neckline compliments her vast boobage. 

Source: Style.com, LSA and Photobucket

On the Newsstand: Domino Magazine August 2008

These days I anticipate the new issue of Domino magazine way more than the new Vogue. That said, the last few issues have been kind of hard to tell apart. I love environmentally friendly furniture too but how many times do I need to see "recycled" pieces of furniture priced in the thousands of dollars? I was surprised and pleased when the new (August) issue arrived in my mailbox this afternoon because 1) the issue is partially devoted to decorating on a realistic budget and 2) there was an honest to God woman of color on the cover! Upon closer inspection I realized that it was none other than Mara Brock Akil, the producer of two shows I really enjoy, the dearly departed Girlfriends and The Game. As you probably know Mara and Shonda Rhimes are the only Black women producing multiple shows for the networks. While I never really got Grey's (I just can't stand the main character,) I was surprised by how much I am loving The Game, even though I hate football. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Akil will get to try her hand at producing a drama soon. In the meantime, here are the photos of her home and gorgeous family. There definitely some design inspiration there:

I also got my Entertainment Weekly (July 18th issue) and if you're interested there is a brief commentary titled: "It's Time to Put Black Actresses in Hollywood Blockbusters" by Maureaux Watson. I couldn't agree more. I think it's very strange that Will Smith is the biggest movie star in the world yet studios are hesitant to cast a black woman as his love interest in all those blockbuster movies.

ETA: The trailer for "Medicine for Melancholy" -- a film I would definitely leave my house to see. Plus Kavbojka Klub's take on it & Invisible Woman's review of the film.

New Grace Jones Video - Corporate Cannibal

I just love her.

Arlenis for Lancome?

According to the rumor mill @ Fashionista, Arlenis Sosa Peña will be the new face at Lancome. The beautiful 19 year old Dominican is fresh off the heels of her appearances this month in both Italian and American Vogue and was said to have garnered a lot of attention at this year's Costume Gala at the Met. If the rumor is true, I hope she has a lot of success with the brand and I really look forward to seeing those ads. I can't believe that she's been modeling for such a short period of time.

Photo credit: Arlenis photographed by Jason Kibbler for Interview Magazine/scanned by Dieselmax

Is Colures Magazine an answered prayer?

The short answer is YES!

Like a few of you I've been stalking magazine stands waiting in vain to get my own copy of Vogue Italia. While hanging out at the bookstore last weekend I noticed that they were carrying Colures Magazine. I'd first heard about it from a poster on Racialicious but stopped short or ordering a few copies because the price was a bit steep at $20 an isse (the magazine in printed in the UK.)

Barnes & Noble had it for $7.99 so I scooped it up (along with the new issue of BITCH) immediately. I half way expected it to read like another UK magazine Black Pride that I've picked up on occassion but found Colures to be more of what I was looking for in a black fashion and lifestyle magazine. Really, it is worth every penny. The extremely high quality magazine looks and feels like Flaunt or Black Book but for brown people. It's printed on heavy magazine stock and the overwhelming majority of the content is original (photo spreads included.)

What caught my eye immediately is that in spite of an article with Kelly Rowland of Destiny's Child, the cover features the gorgeous model Jessica White who appears in a sultry multipage spread that would put Essence Magazine to shame. Visually, the magazine is very appealling. One complaint I always had about the dearly departed Suede Magazine was that the layout was often cluttered like someone in the editing department had gone mad with clipart application. Not so here where the lines are very clean and eyecatching. There are a few celebrity features but the magazine isn't overtaken with them which for me is a plus. I hate reading a fashion magazine and seeing pictures or references that I read on the Internet months before. 

The overall editorial content is very strong with articles on everything from bridal lingerie and bell hooks, to travel, food intolerance and of course fashion - pages and pages of it. I loved the profile on Sandra Teichman which proved that someone can be beautiful and have a career that doesn't involve taking a puppy shopping in your oversized handgbag. Which isn't to say that there isn't also a page or two devoted to those bags and where to get them. 

Really it's that good, not perfect, but as close as any effort in recent memory has come.

One somewhat disturbing note is that aside from a few haircare and travel ads, there isn't a lot of advertising. In spite of the high price tag clothing worn by Jessica and some of the other models, none of those designers bought any space which is troublesome in a magazine of this quality...because it sure as hell wasn't produced on the cheap. 

I really implore you to call around and see if your local bookstore carries the title and please buy it. I would hate to see something like this not get a chance to really find its voice or its audience.

You can also order from the Colures website here.

Alek Wek from Eluxury Catalog

I have a drawer full of pages that I've ripped out of magazines and catalogs over the years. These are of Alek Wek from an old Eluxury catalog.

Rihanna Covers InStyle

Which is more peculiar, the expression on her face on this cover or the her expression and pose on the June issue of ELLE? Don't these photo editors know that the beauty of digital photography is that you can take hundreds of photos and then use the BEST one for the cover? Also, what's with the overload of tag-lines these days?