The Best of the September 2015 Issues: Atong Arjok for MORE Magazine

Scarlet Fever: Photographer Paul Jung captures the beauty of model Atong Arjok wearing one of Falls most vivid colors, the color red in its various shades.

Red, crimson, ruby...certainly looks good on her!

Photography by Paul Jung

Styling by Jonny Lichtenstein

It Girl: Actress Lupita Nyong'o For VOGUE January 2014

Talk about something that got my heart racing this morning. I couldn't click on the link fast enough on my digital issue of VOGUE after seeing Lupita's photo. Not that she needs a VOGUE cover for validation, but gracing the cover would have been super nice instead of the cover subject they used, but again, I digress.

Beautiful In J. Mendel: Actress Lupita Nyong'o

Beautifully Captured By: Christian MacDonald

VOGUE NOVEMBER 2013 | Actress Lupita Nyong'o

Some things are just worth the wait and this is one of them...

Actress Lupita Nyong'o for VOGUE 2013

She Looks Absolutely Stunning In This Zac Posen Gown!!!


Photo:Christian MacDonald

Le Look Du Jour: Solange Knowles @ Tod’s and Vogue Celebrate the Launch of Claiborne Swanson Frank’s: American Beauty

Solange and Claiborne Swanson Frank




















Solange was printastic in this sheer and off white number at the book release party of Claiborne Swanson's American Beauty in which she is also one of the subjects and kept them on their toes while serving as the DJ.

Photos:BFA

Le Look Du Jour: Jewelry Designer Monique Péan

Chic Happens In Animal Prints

Gorgeous stones and eco-friendly designs may be the hallmarks of jewelry designer Monique Péan, but her style game is always on point!


Photos:Getty Images

'Fro's' We Love: Andy Allo For VOGUE APRIL 2012

After looking at most of the April issues of American fashion magazines there wasn't anything worth writing about, but after spotting singer Andy Allo on the back page of VOGUE Index she was the only worth mentioning. I love her music. I love her style. I love her beauty and love her Afro!


A better photo from Andy Allo's Facebook page.

Style File: Designer Stella Jean

As I've stated in a previous post that every season I find a new fashion favorite in the latest street style photos and this time I've found several stylish and inspiring women. The latest one to catch my eye is a Rome based designer of Haitian and Italian background named Stella Jean. Stella was the featured in VOGUE Italia's "Who's Is On Next?" as one designer to watch.

Fashion Designer Stella Jean

All I can say is that her collection left me speechless! Sure, some of you may say that it's nothing new since she uses African wax-prints, but I beg to differ. Her designs are gorgeous and I'd love to get my hands on a few of her pieces!

"Stella wearing a look from her 2012 S/S Collection"




Check out her website here and be inspired to support her campaign to help Haitian relief efforts.

                                               
That coat has my name all over it and see where to shop here!

Photo:Why Moda/Vogue Italia/Stella Jean

A Glamtastic Flashback Captured By Irving Penn for VOGUE Italia 1980

I can honestly say that these women were an inspiration to me because I was a teen when they were at the height of their modeling careers and everything wasn't hyped up by Popular Culture  like the way it is now and I haven't just discovered them. In retrospect, I was influenced by a diverse group of women of African descent and not by one example of what Black Beauty is and was.

My Inspirations: Peggy Dillard-Toone, Jennifer Brice and Romney Williams captured by Irving Penn.

I can count several of these women who inspired me to look my absolute best from my own stylish Mama, her glamorous friends and the women who I saw in the earlier issues of ESSENCE magazine and then after the Black Is Beautiful movement of the late '60s and '70s when they first started appearing in the mainstream publications.

Jennifer, Tracey, Romney and unknown.

Tracey, Peggy, Jennifer and Romney

Marcia Turnier, Marcia McBroom, Barbara Smith, Romney Williams, Billie Blair, Amina Warsuma, Charlene Dash, Jennifer Brice, Bethann Hardison, Tamara Dobson, Tracey "Africa" Norman, Jany Tomba, Naomi Sims....the list is endless. I thank them and my Mom for instilling in me such a strong sense of self.

I've  known that Black Is Beautiful all of my life! I'm not blinded by self-hatred which doesn't allow me to see my own beauty and that of our people and that's the only validation that I need!

Photos: Irving Pennmoney

Defining Fabulous: Model and Educator Roanne Nestbitt

While some models have been lauded as legendary and ground breaking, little is known or is hardly ever written about those who have lapsed into relative obscurity with little or no fanfare. They were the firsts when many didn't recognize them as being firsts in regards to Herstory. I've been interested to learn as much as I can about Roanne Nesbitt after learning about her modeling career in Paris during the `60s and `70s and seeing her photos in vintage American and French fashion publications and archives.

Many have only learned of Roanne because of her iconic photograph (see below) that was photographed for LIFE magazine by the legendary Yale Joel. Roanne began her career in modeling in her home town of Chicago, Illinois where she came from a very prominent family of educators and activists.

I honestly believe that Roanne was one of the models who modeled for Paco Rabannes controversial first showing here in the USA. Roanne modeled both extensively in NYC and in Paris for André Courrèges and other Paris based designers before returning back to the USA and continuing her teaching career to empower youngsters in inner-city Chicago in hopes of a better life.

Sadly, Roanne died tragically at the hands of her estranged husband in 1973 at the age of  26 after being stabbed to death. I'm sure her imagery is on the negatives of several well known photographers from here to France, but we'll never know.

Roanne Nesbit and Carol LaBrie shot by Gianni Penati for VOGUE. 

Roanne in ad from the '70s.

For L'Officiel 1969 shot by Patrick Bertrand.

From VOGUE Paris 

Photos: Ciao Vogue| My Own Archives|L'Officiel

Defining Fabulous: Peggy Dillard-Toone

Super Model Peggy Dillard-Toone

These days the web is full of 'natural hair' gurus for the less experienced to follow. My inspirations were numerous and I must say that Peggy Dillard-Toone was numero uno when it came to experimenting with my tresses. When ESSENCE would feature her hairstyle how-toos...I was copying her looks and wearing them to class the next day. Thank yo Peggy for being an inspiration and a trailblazer.

Margherita Missoni For Target

While looking through the August issue of VOGUE I came across this editorial featuring Margherita Missoni and as I read on I noticed that most of the pieces that were featured were from her families upcoming line for TARGET. (Slick move VOGUE) There were rugs, linen, tableware and even a bike that costs $400.00 in the editorial.

What do you think, is it going to be a winner?

Haute Hats!!!

The Editorial...

...the inspiration. Pamela Joyner looks fabulous as always.

The "hauter" the better, hats have always been a staple for the stylish woman.

Photo: VOGUE Italia

Score! Naomi Campbell for VOGUE Japan

"Globe-Trotting Naomi Campbell"

Who cares if the American based fashion magazines no longer feature models on their covers? I don't care any more because I've spoken with my dollars by no longer buying them nor subscribing to them anymore. April marked the end of several magazine subscriptions and I will not be renewing them. Naomi Campbell is one bad, Chica!

*Thank you Beauty Is Diverse For The Info.

Georgie Baddiel Captures the Sophistication of the City and More!

Super Model Georgie Baddiel for Elle Magazine.

As I've said earlier on Twitter, I've been waiting patiently for my September issues to arrive in the mail

and so far, no such luck other than a Ebony magazine. So what's a woman to do? Head to the nearest book store to glance through as many as I could... which is what I did.

Even though I don't subscribe to Elle anymore so while flipping through it I saw this fabulous photo spread of Georgie Baddiel and had to have it. Yep, I broke down and spent a few coins on Elle even when I said I would never do it again.

Here are a few pictures from her ten-page fashion editorial shot by Laurie Bartley. Simply Beautiful!

 

 

And they have the audacity to say that models of color don't sell magazines, please give me a break!

       BTW, Halle Berry is on the cover of the September issue of VOGUE! Check it out!

                                        Halle looks gorgeous channeling '1920s fashion in this photo.