Sunday, June 22, 2008

Italian Vogue Goes Black

Black Models Rule Foreign Style Mag

Photographs courtesy Italian Vogue
Last fall, Bethann Hardison, former model and model agent for top black models (think Tyson Beckford, Naomi Campbell, Veronica Webb and more ), rang the alarm about the absence of color on runways and in magazines. Then, CFDA president, Diane Von Furstenberg tried to set an example and used more than five models in her spring 2008 New York showing during Fashion Week. She reportedly sent letters requesting designers be more inclusive. Some, like Heatherette and Michael Kors, Rosa Cha and Gottex, headed. Chanel Iman the industry's current "it" girl, walked more than 17 American shows. And after articles were written, panels have been standing-room only and everyone—from fashion stylists to booking agents to designers—have collectively pointed their well-manicured fingers at each other for not making runways, advertising and fashion pages of magazines that matter more diverse, when all was said and done, it could have safely been said that, well, this is all talk. Not so, said Steven Meisel, one of the most influential photographers

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