Le Look Du Jour: Ajak Deng and Nykhor Paul for Louis Vuitton Spring 2013

The Campaign Featuring Ajak and Nykhor: I edited the original photo to highlight these two beautiful women as captured by Steven Meisel.

Were these designs from the 1960's inspiration for Marc Jacobs 60's inspired collection for Louis Vuitton and his own namesake collection??

Louis Vuitton Spring 2013 Collection


Marc Jacobs Spring 2013

Donyale Luna

I've seen a lot of collections that are eerily similar to several previous collections that I've seen in the VOGUE and L'Officiel archives and I've been dying to do a blog post about them because there seems to be a lot of copying going on. On a better note: The designers who presented 60's inspired silhouettes had better collections out all of those who didn't anyway.

Photos: Steven Meisel/Louis Vuitton/Google

Need To Hear: Josephine Oniyama

Looking for something worth listening to instead of whats on the radio these days? Something original? Well, let me introduce you to Manchester, England based singer Josephine Oniyama. Josephine is not a "Pop Tart" as are most of the singers out there today, she sings from the soul and that's what we need to hear more of these days. Josephine's new album "Portrait" will be released on 16 Oct 12 on iTunes and amazon.com, singles are available now.

What we need more of are lyrics with a message, with feeling and song along with beautiful music. Hopefully this beautiful woman won't get obscured by the over hyped singers out today who don't have any real talent, but just the right look and a gimmick.

Josephine Oniyama is a beautiful Afrolista.

To learn about Josephine Oniyama click here and here. Follow her on You Tube.





Photos: Josephine Oniyama

Actress Viola Davis for InStyle Magazine October 2012

The beautiful Viola Davis sets the tone for glamour with hints of sexiness in her latest editorial for InStyle Magazine/Oct 2012 photographed by Dusan Reljin.

I most definitely love this quote from Viola.

Photos: Dusan Reljin/Blackberry

One To Watch: Actress Kelly McCreary of Emily Owens, M.D.

Here's a new actress that we'll see this fall and her name is Kelly McCreary.  McCreary is cast as the character Dr. Tyra Granger on the new show.

Kelly, along with actress Aja Naomi King will be featured on The CW series Emily Owens, M.D. Emily Owens, M.D. premieres Tuesday, Oct. 16 on the network.





Kelly has played on Broadway and has had several roles on television and in movies. Kudos to both ladies on their new roles in an era where negativity is now the norm. It's great to see two women playing professional roles on television for a change which is also our reality.

Photos: The CW

Jill Scott for the October Issue of ESSENCE Magazine

 I know I've written about this several times, but I have finally realized that the-powers-that-be at ESSENCE Magazine/Time Warner Communications are going to do as they please and me as a subscriber has no voice as to whom they place on their covers.

Jill Scott graces the October issue of ESSENCE Magazine, yet once again in this gorgeous photo rocking her "new look." I like Jill and I love her music, but come on...another cover?

What about Esperanza Splading, Solange Knowles, Estelle, other celebrities, or even some of the top models?

In all honesty, I'm just tired of seeing the same old people on the cover month after month while lesser known women/celebrities aren't getting any recognition. When my copy arrives in the mail there are times that I don't even take the time to read it because I've tossed it on the table because I'm pissed about the repetitive covers. I know of several women and I'm sure most of you do too of women who would make great cover subjects but just don't get the chance.

We're in a culture that is obsessed with youth and women and body types and looking cool and hip and selling clothes and products. And the basic tenets of the music don't align themselves very well with those requirements. It's a pity that if someone who has a really profoundly potent art to share chooses not to or doesn't fit into this very thin slice of what's desirable and marketable, chances are the public will never get a chance to hear what they're doing. ~Esperanza Spalding 

Esperanza said it best and not only does this apply to music, it applies to beauty, to those actresses and the women in the community who shine every day regardless but just don't get the opportunity. That's why I'll continue to blog and write about those beautiful and talented Afro-Women you don't see inside or on the covers of our magazines due to their so called lack of popularity.

It's that serious, because they are also projecting an image of what is desirable and acceptable to the masses.

Solange Knowles For ELLE South Africa

The fabulous Solange Knowles will be featured in the November issue of ELLE Magazine South Africa in a stunning editorial shot by renowned photographer Justin Polkey. The editorial will seriously blow our minds and I've got my fingers crossed that she will be on the coveted cover. Kudos to ELLE South Africa on the fashionable coupe.






Follow ELLE South Africa for more here and here.

Photo: ELLE SA/Justin Polkey/E. Alexander/Gallo Images

Julia Sarr-Jamois For J. Crew

I Saw It In A September Issue: The fabulous Julia Sarr-Jamois has scored another rocking campaign and this time she fronts for J. Crew.

Julia is Frotastic!

To find out more check out J. Crew's exciting new collection for Fall.

What's Haute Now: Singer Lianne La Havas for InStyle UK August 2012

I've seen most of the September issues of fashion magazines...bleh! Nothing spectacular, except for Janelle's new ad campaign for Cover Girl Cosmetics and I also spotted Solange in an ad in VOGUE'S humongous September issue.

Any way, I was checking out InStyle U.K. which I'm glad I did take a look inside because I saw this gorgeous spread featuring one of my new favorite artists, singer Liane La Havas in a gorgeous pictorial shot by Damon Baker and styled by Natalie Hartley. Liane has had quite a few pictorials as of lately and I couldn't be more prouder of this beautiful songbird.

Britain does have major talent, but for some folks we wouldn't even know it because they never hardly ever write about them because they're too busy chasing several no talent Americans.

Photos: Damon Baker and Divalocity's Handy Camera.

Solange Knowles For the September Issue of Elle Magazine and Madewell's F/W 2012 Campaign

The September issues are coming out and as usual, they're heavier than ever with several new ad campaigns, fall advertisements and editorials. I have yet to see Vogue's, but Elle Magazine didn't disappoint with stunning editorial's featuring Jeneil Williams and several other models and a cool editorial featuring Solange at her Brooklyn home. 

After posting these photos, I guarantee that the actual ones shot for the magazine will be posted right after these.


Solange's home certainly is a total reflection of her.
 

I must say Solange is literally on a roll, especially since she is the new face of Madewell's FW 2012-13 Ad Campign which has every one buzzing.

Looks like it will be a great collection so check it out at Madewell.com for more info.

Photo/video courtesy of Madewell.

New Music From Negra Li: Tudo De Novo

Tudo De Novo/"All New" is Negra Li's second solo album.

Here's a sampling: 

Negra Li's CD is available on Amazon.









Photos: Negra Li Oficial

Le Look Du Jour: Le Look Du Jour: Atong Arjok for The Edge by Richard Machado for FASHIONTREND 28. Photo Richard Machado

The Beautiful Atong Arjok for The Edge by Richard Machado for FASHIONTREND 28. 

Styling ALINE PIMENTEL @ AGENT OLIVER
Makeup DEBORAH ALTIZIO @ AGENT OLIVER USING CHRISTIAN DIOR COSMETICS
Source

Media Mogul Oprah Winfrey Goes Au Naturel For The September Issue of O The Oprah Magazine

Oprah sports her massive Afro on the cover of O The Oprah Magazine's September issue 


“They say a little change never hurt anybody. In fact, I believe that’s an understatement: I’ve found that a little change make a world of difference, and I’m always amazed by how easy it is to brighten things up with a little tweak. (Like, say, wearing your hair au naturel, as I did on this month’s cover.) ~Oprah Winfrey .

Once I saw the cover I smiled from ear to ear. As a woman who has been au naturel for four decades it's refreshing to see more and more women embrace their natural hair texture and wear it with confidence. Sure, some of you will say it's so superficial, but I deal in the superficial and I also "deal-n-truth" on my own terms.

A lot of women look up to celebrities for inspiration and for some kind of validation in the choices that they make when it comes to their appearance, sorry, but that's not my thing. If I like your style, I like your style and I will always have my own personal style and not copy anyone else's.

I've read several blogs dedicated to natural hair who confirm this statement when some write that they'd like to see more prominent women wear their hair in it's natural state in hopes that it would be more acceptable for them to wear a natural hairstyle with confidence and be readily accepted from their peers and co-workers. The problem doesn't lie with your peers or co-workers, the problem is basically an individual problem that goes much deeper than that.

The real problem is that the psychological damage that so many women suffer from will not change a thing until they learn to embrace what they were born with before they look to a society who they think will accept them. The problem actually lies within before another human being will accept you and no one will accept you until you accept yourselves. Stop looking for external forces to accept you and begin to accept yourselves just the way you are. I don't base my life on what other people think of me and women just don't understand how freeing it is to be free from the opinions of others.



Oprah looks beautiful either way she chooses to wear her hair. Rock On Oprah!

One To Watch: Model Philomena Kwao

July is my vacation month and I haven't been posting much to this blog, but I've been on Tumblr and Pinterest everyday. Anyhoo, I've discovered another beauty, plus several other international style icons from all over the world who I'll introduce to you at a later date. I want to introduce you to Philomena if you haven't seen or heard of her.

Philomena for Cosmopolitan Magazine May 2012.

The beautiful Philomena Kwao lives in London and is of Ghanaian heritage and is signed with Models 1 Management. Some have tried to label her as plus-size, I say that she is stunning, so bump a label. Philomena has appeared in Cosmopolitan U.K. and Pride Magazine in fashion and beauty editorials that have wowed fashion audiences around the globe. Look for more on this beautiful woman because she is definitely one to keep your eyes on.


Philomena is Beautiful!




Philomena for Pride Magazine.

Photos: Models1