A few months ago, we reported that Vogue Italia was planning an issue that would entirely feature black models. The magazine is scheduled to hit newsstands next week. It features a series of beautifully-shot photographs by Steven Meisel of models including Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Naomi Campbell and Chanel Iman. In today’s New York Times, Cathy Horyn addressed the black models issue in an article on the edition. While discussing the issue with friends today, several questioned the motivation of an-all black edition and whether this would mean we wouldn’t see any more black girls in the magazine’s pages for another twelve months. Honestly, only time will tell. But reversing the all-white formula doesn’t exactly solve the problem of reflecting how our society really looks. If nothing else, it’s great to see such beautiful images of girls of color. Across the Atlantic, American Vogue was working on a smaller statement of their own. We just got the July issue in the mail today, which has Vicki Woods’ feature on the topic with the title, “Is Fashion Racist?” Our answer: um, yeah, for the most part. But hopefully, not for long.

Posted: June 19th, 2008  Category: Wardrobe  Comments: No comments#