Fashion Friday: Black Girls on White Pages

Joan Smalls for Gucci

Malaika Firth for Burberry

Binx Walton for Chanel

Interestingly, years ago I unsubscribed to several magazines as a teenager because I grew weary of the constant page turning and rarely seeing myself represented. Cover to cover I would search for a glimpse of shaded pigmentation in the pages of Elle, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, and the lists goes on. Now that I can more easily get my fashion-fix online, my heart leaped when I came across Essence's, "Black Models in Fall 2014 Ad Campaigns". Writer Dominique Hobdy-Olibrice highlighted, 'A round-up of models of the moment in September fashion magazines'. Personally I couldn't look at the photos fast enough or intensely enough, nostalgically remembering my teenage years when I thought that I might one day have a chance to grace the runways of well, anywhere. Roundups like these highlighting the presence of Black models in ad campaigns make me so proud that we take the time as women, particularly as Black women to honor and recognize each others' achievements and beauty. 

Yaya Dacosta for Tom Ford. Yaya will soon be playing the legendary Whitney Houston in a made-for-TV movie on Lifetime.

Veteran, Liya Kebede for Louis Vuitton

Binx Walton for Coach

Jourdan Dunn, Kayla Scott, Ysaunny Brito and Binx Walton for Balmain

Ysaunny Brito for Neil Barrett

Malaika Firth for Tommy Hilfiger

Joan Smalls For Missoni

I do not claim ownership to the above images.

Fashion Friday: Diversity is Beautiful. Diversity is Global.

 

As the fashion world braces itself for the inception of yet another New York Fashion Week, I would be remiss not to mention a glorious occurrence that took place last year in Milan.

Phillipp Plein's spring 2014 show in Milan

'Pushing the limits and transcending convention' is something of a mantra for many people in the usually white-washed world of fashion. Ask German fashion designer Phillipp Plein. After casting an entire Milan runway show featuring only models of color, Phillipp Plein followed suit with his spring/summer ad campaign that included a series of Black beauties dressed in all-white. 

Phillip Plein Fall/Winter 2014 Ad Campaign

Plein is no stranger to controversy as he had male models during a show in Milan in January of 2013 walk the runway holding fake machine guns.

Plein's spring 2013 show in Milan

 "My message is about breaking down barriers and breaking the rules. Doing the unexpected and shaking people from their complacence, forcing people to face the future where old prejudices have no place. For example, the public expects to see pallid girls in high heels walking my show and I give them a fleet of black beauties in flats! Not to mention the opening act featuring one of the hottest rappers on the horizon, Iggy Azalea, who also happens to be white in a black dominated hip hop world.”-Phillipp Plein

Like many others including Bethann Hardison and the Diversity Coalition who called out top designers and fashion houses who are notorious for using no or only one model of color in shows, I will be excitedly watching hoping that the world of fashion continues to makes strides in the direction of diversification. If for no other reason, follow the rule-breaking mentality of Phillipp Plein to include models of color just to piss a few people off! 

I do not claim ownership to the above images.

Fashion Friday: The Apple Collection

We all know whether you have an Android or an iPhone that Apple is an incredible company that forced technological growth and change, birthed from the genius mind of Steve Jobs. However, it isn't common knowledge that in 1986 Apple Inc. created a clothing line called, "The Apple Collection," of course. One of the ways Apple imagined to market itself into a lifestyle brand was to dress people in head-to-toe apparel with Apple insignias. Take a look at some of the awesome or horribly bad clothing, depending on your perspective.

My guess is that in 1986 these clothes were cool and styled to perfection. Looking back into this digital time capsule made me think how future generations would critique the fashion of today and the early 2000s. I can only imagine the perplexed looks and unanswerable questions that will be asked when pictures are shown of what many thought was fashionable. I can't imagine what people will think wondering why shaggy, baggy pants were a stylish trend. I doubt the future onlookers will instantaneously realize that that was a form of rebellion. Or that nearly every generation embraces some type of martyrized form of self-expression, feeling the need to fight against social norms thereby making them revolutionists. If only this were an actual original thought. 

I do not claim ownership to the above images.

Broadway’s First Black Cinderella

Keke Palmer has a charismatic personality that makes it easy to see why her fans love her. She’s never been afraid to let fans have a glimpse into her life. Her Instagram posts and videos are hilarious. Follow her @kekepalmer to see for yourself. She is what industry insiders like to call a triple threat; she acts, sings and dances. Making her even more multi-dimensional, Keke now has a talk show on BET called Just Keke-making her the youngest talk show host in history. With all her great movies, a few albums and a talk show, Keke is set to add yet another amazing accomplishment to her repertoire. 

On September 9^th she is slated to be the first African American Cinderella to be featured on Broadway. 2014 has been a very successful and history making year for Ms. Palmer. What an achievement for this incredibly talented 21-year-old who has a smile that parallels a supernova. Congratulations Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer! You deserve every bit of your hard earned success! I’m excited to see what’s next for this shooting star.

This clip of Keke on the Queen Latifah show is a perfect example of her vibrant personality. I've posted this clip before, but it never gets old. 

For an even more monumental turn of events. Sherri Shepard will play the role of Cinderella's evil stepmother, making her the first African American to play this role on Broadway as well. This isn't the first time Keke and Sherri have had co-starring roles together. Shepherd played Palmer’s on-screen mother in the 2012 Lifetime movie Abducted: The Carlina White Story. It's no wonder Actors Equity honored the Broadway musical with the Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway award in 2013.

Congratulations ladies!

Amazing job on the @bleubombshell shoot

Photographer: @L10_Lax

Stylists: @apuje and @icontips

Makeup and producer: @ajcrimson

Hair: @daricojackson

I do not claim ownership to the above images.