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Today's WTF? Moment
I saw this over at ONTD_fashinfags today. Apparently it is an outake video from a Vogue shoot from back in November 2006. I'd really like to know who on that shoot thought it would be a kick to put the three white models (Lily Donaldson, Hilary Rhoda, and Gemma Ward) in blackface and afro wigs and have them dance around in fur singing Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" into banana microphones. I can't believe I just typed that sentence. Maybe all of you have seen this already written about the a few years back but it sure is new to me.
Sasha....I Mean Beyonce in Armani Prive S/S 08
I am in full support of Beyonce wearing clothing not designed by her mother. She's been mixing it up lately sporting a few looks by more avant-garde designers like Gareth Pugh. She doesn't always pull it off but it's still fun to watch her try. Here she is in a more accessible Armani Prive top. What do you think?
S: Style.com and ONTD
S: Style.com and ONTD
Oluchi in Vogue
After a brief absence it seems Oluchi is back. From the cover of POP Magazine and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show to opening her own modeling agency in South Africa, the 6'1" Nigerian stunner is keeping very busy. I was happy to see her back on multiple pages of the December issue of Vogue (the one with Jennifer Aniston on the cover) alone and with her son Ugo.
Vogue is still far from perfect but even I will admit that some effort has been made to diversify the magazines lately. There have been several profiles in the past few months on black women like Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett, socialite Maggie Betts, and Dr. Iffie Aitkenhead. It certainly has made the magazine a more enjoyable read.
Arlenis and Indian model Lakshmi Menon also have portraits in the "Shine a Light" statement jewelry edit but so far, actual multi-page spreads are still reserved for Vogue regulars like Coco Rocha and Raquel Zimmermann.
S: scanned by Luxx/TFS and me from 12/08 Vogue
Actress Serena Reeder - Lucky Brand Jeans
Lucky Brand Jeans' current ad campaign features eight "real people" who the brand believes personifies luck and serendipity.
Each of the participants has a page on the official Lucky site with a photo gallery, biography and downloads. Bucket List actress Serena Reeder is the black girl in the bunch. In her video she talks about her "lucky break" audition for a movie.
She's a very pretty young lady but the hippy drippy fringe vest they put her in is something I cannot abide.
Chanel Iman - POP Magazine 20th Anniversary Issue - Josh Olins
Who says black girls can only model animal pelts? Chanel Iman shows that she can rock an ostrich just as easily as wears the cheetah. My first thoughts when seeing her wee boobies in some of these shots was 'how old is this girl again?' and 'where's her mama?' In case you're curious too, she'll be 19 at the end of the month.
S: Northern Star/TFS
Naomi Covers Russian Vogue - December 2008
Outside it's diamonds and fur, inside Mert & Marcus go for a "wilder" look.
source: ferry coal/TFS
Herve Leger Must be Stopped!
Herve Leger designed one hell of a little sexy dress didn't he? I mean it is rare that one garment could look this hot and flatter a multitude of body types but please ladies, for the sake of the children, please stop wearing these bandage dresses on the red carpet! It's right up there with Hypercolor clothing, the "grunge" look, Hammer pants, acid washed jeans and white men being the President of the United States of America...played out.
I know you love them but it's time to put them back in the closet. If you don't let go of this trend, it will never have a resurgence ten years from now.
Pics: Lipstick Alley
Nina Keita - J Crew Online
Michelle Obama is often spotted wearing clothing by retailers such as The Gap, H&M, and J. Crew. J Crew went so far as to build a special page on their website highlighting the new First Lady's pics.
I admit to being a J. Crew junkie. I'm always stalking to website and stores looking for deals on sweaters, pants and flats. One thing I've always kinda disliked about the company is the fact that they rarely use black models. When they do use non-White models, the models (particularly the females) are usually of the "ethnically ambiguous" variety.
I was surprised today when I logged onto the site and saw pictures of dark skinned beauty Nina Keita in the "new arrivals" section.
I wonder if it's just coincidence of part of a larger Obama effect. Probably the former but you can't stop a girl from dreaming.
Yasmin Warsame in Winter Banana Republic Ad Campaign
Beautiful Somalian model Yasmin Warsame is the sole brown face in the latest series of Banana Republic ads. In them she's paired with a white male model which marks the first time I can recall seeing an interracial romance themed ad from BR. It's kind of interesting to me that the last time Gap Inc. (owner of BR and Old Navy) did this kind of high profile ad it was also with an African female model (Nina Keita) paired with a white male model. I'll be honest, this kind of ad always gets my attention but I'm curious about what you think? Is it progress or more tokenism?
Chanel Iman - Harper's Bazaar - 12/08
Chanel Iman has a very nice multipage spread in the current issue of Harper's Bazaar. It's the largest spread devoted to a black model that I can recall seeing in quite awhile. Too bad the stylist couldn't suppress the urge to put her in a Dolce & Gabbana animal print dress for one of the shots. In any case, I think she looks great.
S: scanned by fer19dog
Angela Bassett for Olay Quench Body Lotion
I'm beginning to think that cocoa butter must be the "other" creamy crack when it comes to black women. The battle against ashy starts pretty early on. I still remember my mother rubbing down my legs with Vaseline before leaving the house to keep that rolling in powdered donuts look at bay.
It seems now that, in response to the sales of rival Vaseline's cocoa butter skin care line, Olay has extended the Quench moisturizer line to include cocoa butter enthusiasts.
Beautiful and ageless Angela Bassett is the spokesmodel. I just hope this formulation doesn't have those tiny light reflecting particles, I hate the way that glittery stuff looks on my dark skin.
ETA: So I picked a bottle of this up at Target yesterday and it does contain those pesky little sparkles, though they are not as noticeable as they are in the original formulation. The scent different too, sweeter probably because of the cocoa butter. I've always really liked this lotion so now that it is not as glittery, it will probably become a staple.
Essence: Another Month, Another Dull Cover
So Will and Jada will be on the cover of the December issue of Essence Magazine. He's the biggest movie star in the world and she is his lovely and incredibly stylish actress wife. What's not to love, right?
I think they're a great couple too and I love seeing them walking hand in hand on the red carpet but c'mon, Essence! Is this the best you can do?
I've written before about how the magazine likes to play it safe and boring month after month but I was keeping my fingers crossed that with all the electricity buzzing in the air lately, that Essence would shake things up a bit.
A Barack and Michelle (or even just Michelle) cover would have been the obvious choice but if Donna Brazile (one of Essence's "Most Inspiring" people,) Condi Rice or Obama senior campaign advisor Valerie Jarrett was on the cover, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.
Looking at this cover, I feel like I already know how the interview with Will and Jada will read and I know for sure that any beauty, health or money advice article will be a carbon copy of what was in the magazine last month.
Maybe at the very least they could take a cue from People Magazine and start running multiple pics on the cover.
Last gripe: the cover banner with "win a $100 gift card"? $100? Damn, the recession really has hit the magazine industry hard.
S: LSA
The Williams Sisters in Vogue
Andre Leon Talley has been seen all over the place with his new BFF, Venus Williams. The athlete has popped up more than once on his page in Vogue Magazine (though not in an editorial, one would have to pick up Harper's Bazaar to see that.)
While one cannot deny that both sisters have been looking more stylish lately but who knows if ALT is behind it. He worked some serious magic when he started working with Renee Zellweger but his helpful hints didn't do a lot of Jennifer Hudson or Mariah Carey.
Vogue Praises Arlenis' Curves
At de la Renta’s collection…she scored top honors: opening and closing the show in a color-block maillot and a strapless silver evening dress...both of which showed off her jaw-dropping curves (yes, curves!) to spectacular effect.
Arlenis Sosa. Lovely girl. Slim but relatively healthy looking figure. I don't know anyone who would accuse the girl of being full-figured but I had to look again after reading this piece in Vogue Magazine. Everyone knows that the fashion industry is a tad masochistic when it comes to women's bodies so I wonder if their praise of her "breathtaking" curves is really a backhanded compliment. We've already read fashion insider's complaints about black model's bodies so this comment just ads fuel to the fire. To me, Vogue is saying "Arlenis may hot be right now but lets be clear, she's not like our "regular" models!" I just hope that Arlenis (who appears to be very careful with what she eats) doesn't read this the same way and try to get that "unhealthy but employed" look.
Wow.
This is how my soul feels.
I still can't believe it. I thought for sure that the other side would find some way to disenfranchise enough voters to drag this contest out for a few more days.
Last night I told my husband that I wouldn't believe that the results were real until The Obamas put in a change of address card at the post office. The victory didn't sink in until McCain's concession speech (which I thought was very gracious.) Maybe the old guy can go back to being himself now.
What I really love is that in spite of all the seriously nasty accusations being thrown at Obama by his detractors, the American people still elected him by a landslide.
I love my country.
Source: Jezebel
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