ELLE Magazine: Amber Rose

I wish these were styled by someone other than Kanye. Maybe a regular stylist wouldn't have been so booty centric. I do love the jeweled hood shot however.

2008 Worst Selling Women's Magazines: Not a Black Face in the Bunch

Vogue
Best-Selling Cover: Keira Knightley (559,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Rachel Weisz (276,000 copies). Gwyneth Paltrow was a close second with 310-350,000 copies.

Vanity Fair
Best-Selling Cover: Angelina Jolie (504,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Katherine Heigl (314,000 copies)

Elle
Best-Selling Cover: Victoria Beckham (413,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Covers: Carrie Underwood (253,000 copies)

Glamour
Best-Selling Cover: Jessica Simpson (775,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Nicole Kidman (460,000 copies)

Cosmopolitan
Best-Selling Cover: Scarlett Johansson (2 million copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Jessica Simpson (1.5 million copies)

W
Best-Selling Cover: Angelina Jolie (78,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Hilary Swank (27,000 copies)

InStyle
Best-Selling Cover: Eva Longoria-Parker (889,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Anne Hathaway (585,000 copies)

Marie Claire
Best-Selling Cover: Women of “Sex and the City” (440,948 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Jennifer Connelly (191,000 copies)

Harper’s Bazaar
Best-Selling Cover: Lindsay Lohan (213,000 copies)
Worst-Selling Cover: Drew Barrymore (120,000 copies)

*Blackfolk Appearing on Above Magazines in 2008

Vogue 4/08 Gisele/LeBron James

Bazaar 9/08 Tyra Banks

ELLE 6/2008 Rihanna

Cosmo 3/2008 Rihanna

IN Style 8/08 Rihanna

IN Style 2/08 Halle

IN Style 11/08 Beyonce

Beyonce - Marie Claire - June 2009

Cute dress. Slightly odd expression.

I remember a time almost ten years ago when Marie Claire was my favorite magazine. The stories were interesting, the celebrity pieces weren't quite so fluffy, the models and "real women" used on its pages were diverse* and it actually had a point of view that seemed larger than "buy this stuff it will make you happy." Nowadays I only subscribe to the magazine because it only cost me $5 for two years. On average, it takes about five minutes to flip through it before it gets dumped into the recycle bin.

That said, this issue wasn't a complete bust. I found a few books in the "Radar" section that are now on my wishlist: Monica Ali's "In the Kitchen" and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's "The Thing Around Your Neck." It also reminded me to Tivo Jada Pinkett-Smith's new TNT drama HawthoRNe. Lastly, I entered a contest for a chance to win "Beyonce's Luxe HoD Wardrobe," which I know will make a showstopper at my son's next preschool mixer.

*I have to add that last month's issue contained two great spreads featuring models Alyssah Ali and Atong Arjok.

French Revue de Modes #14 - Mia Aminata Niaria

Shiny.

ETA: More featured models from the issue. Apparently there are multiple covers, all shot by Thierry Le Gouès, including one with Arlenis Sosa that has yet to surface online. I have two of Theirry's photography books and I really admire his work but I just don't get the super shiny "slaves toiling under a hot sun" look many photographers and stylistist seem to love on dark skin. It goes way beyond dewy to my eye. I just hope that for Mia's sake there were some towels on the set floor to keep her from slipping under all that body oil.





S: TFS/ONTDfashinfags

Glamour's Salute to American Icons

For their 70th anniversary issue, Glamour magazine enlisted a few celebrities to recreate the images of iconic women. I'm not sure if these particular celebs are the first ones that would have come to my mind if I were charged with pulling this shoot together but the photos are nice enough. You can see the rest of them here.



Not only is Obama the first African American filling the position, but she’s already making best-dressed headlines for a style that ranges from couture to J.Crew. Raised in Chicago, Obama, 45, powered on to Princeton and Harvard Law School before beginning a career during which she met, mentored and married our current President. Hail to our newest smart, opinionated, chic First Lady!

“She has worked hard for everything she’s accomplished, and done so with grace and humility. So many women and girls can identify with her story.”—Alicia Keys, 28, whose most recent album is As I Am



After years of playing segregated tennis, the late Althea Gibson tore down the color barrier of competition in 1950, when, at age 23, she became the first African American to compete in major U.S. championships—and, in 1957, the first to win Wimbledon. In her crisp whites, “the Jackie Robinson of tennis,” as she was known, won 11 major titles.

“She showed women…you can be sweaty, be gorgeous and do a great job.”—Chanel Iman, 19, cohost of MTV’s House of Style



As an aspiring singer, Holiday suffered sexual abuse, struggled with a drug habit and encountered racism everywhere. But the late Lady Day—one of the first African American women to sing with an all-white orchestra—translated all of that pain into some of the most achingly personal songs ever recorded. (Download “Strange Fruit,” which she sang at her 1948 Carnegie Hall concert, and listen for yourself.)

“You can imagine that women at home hearing her songs on the radio felt her vocalizing their emotions and their struggles.”—Paula Patton, 33, of the upcoming drama Push, wearing Holiday’s trademark gardenia in her hair

Sorta African ELLE

Africa is everywhere in the collections of many designers this season. It seems like every other page in this month's Elle magazine is layered with influence of the motherland. Model Christy Turlington wears a Ndebele style ring necklace* in current Escada ads while other designers like Max Osterweis and Junya Watanabe, reference African inspired textiles on the runway.

Elle also lauds Frenchwoman Lydia Courteille's turn to to a more "primitive style for spring" in the jewelry news section. The artists "African" collection features mask rings that mimic African busts and sculpture, combining them with precious jewels like turquoise, diamonds and pearls. Says Courteille, "It's incredible that now the trend in fashion is Africa, because I've been working on this idea for two or three years."

In spite of the efforts by publications like Arise to publicize African artists and designers, in the fashion world, their contributions are rarely acknowledged in the mainstream fashion world. It kind of reminds me of all the press actress Bo Derek received for wearing cornrows in the movie "10" even though black women had been wearing the style for ages.



The fashion world doesn't seem to take notice of uniquely African styles and trends unless the persons delivering them are non-Africans.

Hopefully magazines like Arise will make homegrown African talent household names. I'm hoping to get a copy soon. Which reminds me, does anyone know if Uzuri, Haute, and Clam are still being published?

* This style of ring necklace is also worn by the Kayan tribe in Thailand.

Arise Magazine Launches - Naomi, Liya and Alek Cover Premiere Issue

The new monthly magazine, published by Nigerian newspaper ThisDay, will be launched this Friday alongside a African Fashion Collective Show at Bryant Park at New York Fashion Week.

Says ThisDay CEO Nduka Obaigbena,“I think it’s about an opportunity.…Africa has been under-reported and under-recognized. Meanwhile, so many big talents have African origins. We think it’s time Africa gets the rightful recognition in the global cultural landscape, and its fashion contribution is one of them.”

According to WWD, the magazine "is dedicated to African accomplishments in business, politics, fashion, music and overall culture" and will be sold in cities such as New York, Paris and London.

http://www.arisemagazine.net/

S:WWD

Page Six Magazine Interviews Chanel Iman

On difficulties faced by models of color in the industry she vents:

“It’s not just black girls. It’s ethnic girls in general: Brazilian girls, Hispanic. You really don’t see a lot of Asians either. A lot of designers think that if every girl on the runway looks exactly alike, then people will come to the shows and buy the clothes because they won’t be focusing on the models….It’s not even just runway either… us ethnic girls should be getting a lot of the covers too! I would love to be on half of the campaigns these [white] girls are booking, all looking exactly alike. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”

Chanel also talks about her dating life, her relationship with mentor Tyra Banks and all those rumors about her in the upcoming issue of Page Six magazine, which will be inserted into copies of this Sunday's New York Post.

s: ONTD, Concrete Loop, Pagesix.com

Allure - February 2009 - "Busy Signals" - Sessilee Lopez

I get really tired of seeing this same drab background used in editorial after editorial in American fashion magazines, but I do enjoy seeing Sessilee get more work. I especially like the styling here.

source: Major Models

WAD Magazine #34 - The "Girls" Issue

"Urban" fashion and culture magazine WAD wins the award for having the most random photo spreads. This one (titled "Yes We Can!" of course) is taken from their "Girls" issue #34 and features model Lareja Drane, hip-hop artist Medusa, Tatyana Ali, Lil' Mama, and actress Taraji P. Henson. Photographs by Tramber.

Source: WAD

ALLURE - January 2009 - Taraji P. Henson and Paula Patton

I've been meaning to scan these for over a week. These are two actors that I really like, Taraji especially seems to be getting a lot of press lately but I haven't seen "Benjamin Button" (I have a serious case of Brad and Angelina fatigue.) I hope the possible Oscar nomination turns into more work for her. As for Paula, I read that she will be in the movie adaptation of "Push" but I have no idea when that film will hit theaters.

ETA: Another scan I've been meaning to post. Vogue selected Laura Jarrett (duaghter of Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett) for their "10 Best Dressed List." Her selection is a bit random but then so are the wealthy socialites they usually pick for these things.



Source: Allure and Vogue

Ciara in ELLE Magazine - January 2009

Beyonce may have landed the cover but Ciara definitely got the more interesting spread inside January's wafer thin issue of ELLE magazine.

It seemed a little odd to me for the issue to feature two pop/r&b divas but I guess ELLE wanted to kill two birds with one stone without actually resorting to hiring a black model. Poor Ciara didn't even merit a mention on the cover.

Here she models pieces from MaxMara's new collection. I could have gone my whole life without seeing that purple jumpsuit. Seriously some of this stuff looks like it was fashioned together using what fell on the floor in Jim Henson's Muppet studio.

Photographed by Dulsan Reljin and styled by Christopher Niquet

Joy Bryant in DOMINO - December/January 2009

For a magazine that touts itself as the "guide to living with style," this year's issues of Domino Magazine have been pretty dull. I was thumbing through my really old issues it seems the magazine has changed its original focus and caters more to professional designers and their ilk--making it less accessible in my view.

I mean just how many editorials can they put out featuring "reclaimed" $800 tree trunk end tables, Stark Louis "Ghost" chairs, coral book ends, garden stools and artfully placed $100+ coffee table books?

Also, I'm just never going to be the kind of girl that wants to make a conversation piece out of Hermes gift boxes. I tried it once with plastic bags from Bed, Bath, and Beyond but it just looked cheap no matter how many ways I tried to arranged them.

That said, unlike Vogue, Domino has had two black cover models this year and that ain't bad. Unfortunately, this month's cover girl (Joy Bryant) only has a single page inside the issue and on it, she talks about her favorite hotel room which coincidentally, contains a garden stool.

Sigh. I'm hoping they can get their mojo back in the coming year.

Chanel Iman - Harper's Bazaar - 12/08

Chanel Iman has a very nice multipage spread in the current issue of Harper's Bazaar. It's the largest spread devoted to a black model that I can recall seeing in quite awhile. Too bad the stylist couldn't suppress the urge to put her in a Dolce & Gabbana animal print dress for one of the shots. In any case, I think she looks great.

S: scanned by fer19dog

Halle is Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive

Halle Berry has been chosen as Esquire's  "Sexiest Woman Alive" this year and will appear on the November issue of the magazine. 

Halle's cover look will re-create a 2000 issue that featured former President and non-Obama supporter Bill Clinton.

Unlike former actresses chosen for this issue, Halle's cover wasn't preceded by a months long campaign revealing photos of  various body parts with clues inviting readers to guess who the the sexiest woman is.  It's not like magazines aren't familiar with whitewashing a model's color away with lighting and Photoshop so I don't see how Halle's brown skin would have been a give away. 

Maybe TPTB at Esquire just don't think a black "sexiest" woman is worth the hype.