Fashion in Black: Hollis

Photo: Style.com

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this girl!!! Absolutely gorgeous! She is definitely under the radar and definitely my favorite model. Wakeema Hollis, who goes by Hollis, hails from Tenessee. She has walked for Baby Phat, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Custo Barcelona, and Diane von Furstenburg, just to name a few.

Fashion in Black: Michelle Obama, NOT a fashion icon?

There was a whole segment on the Today show about the fashion sense of Mrs. Obama. I was watching bits and pieces so I decided to look it up on their website. As I am reading, I see, Michelle Obama is NOT a fashion icon. Now they weren't saying it in a negative way, they were saying that she is too real to be iconic, that she doesn't have a signature look...

Jason Wu described her as "...a stimulus package for the fashion industry." The clothing that she is seen wearing seems to fly off of the shelves. I was watching VideoFashion Daily and they interviewed the make-up artist for the BabyPhat show...his inspiration? Michelle Obama. The queen of opulence herself, Ms. Kimora Lee, had her models in make-up that was simple and classic. Go figure. This was not the only reference to Mrs. Obama during the episode. A fashion editor praised the effortless style of Mrs. Obama...

Michelle Obama not an icon? It is fashion week, and instead of having a segment on Fashion Week in general, they are discussing the First Lady? Being referenced on numerous occasions at fashion week, and is slowly but surely changing women's ideas about the way they dress proves that she is on the road to becoming a fashion icon. Isn't fashion about new and refreshing ideas and aesthetics? I am not saying that she has turned the fashion world on its head but her style has steadily been on the fashion radar. Fresh, effortless, classic, all elements of her style, all are elements that are praised in the fashion world, but few really display or obtain it.

To say that she is not an icon is not giving credit where credit is due. I guess one has to fit under the bell curve of what the insiders think is icon status. One standard deviation from the mean; chic, two standard deviations out; daring, three; icon status. Well how about this? Michelle Obama is creating her own bell curve. You find your space beneath it.

Fashion in Black: Whitley Gilbert

Ok so I know Whitley is not an actual person, but rather the utlra fabulous, ultra fashionable character played by the gorgeous Jasmine Guy on my favorite TV show of all time, A DIfferent World. Just recently I did that whole 25 random things note on Facebook and my second random fact was that when I was a little girl, I wanted to be Whitley Gilbert. I didn't want to be like her, I literally wanted to be her. Though some might say she was annoying, I thought she had such a personality and a fashion sense to boot. From the Chanel suits, to the Louis Vuitton bag that always hung from her desk chair in her room (yes I payed attention to the show like that); Whitley exemplified class, elegance and style. So I want to thank the amazing wardrobe stylist on the set of A Different World for not only dressing Whitley but for giving yet another dimension of what a Black woman can represent: beauty, intelligence, and class.

Fashion in Black: Bethann Hardison

If it weren't for this woman, I doubt that we would have many of the Black models that we see on the runways. A former model turned agent and advocate, Bethann Hardison has become a powerful voice in the current dialouge that the fashion industry has been engaged in over the lack of Black models. She is the founder and owner of model agency, Bethann Management, and co-founder of Black Girls Coalition, an organizations whose aim, very simply put, is to make sure that Black beauties are seen for just wahat they are; beautiful, intelligent, Black beauties. Thank you Ms. Hardison for truly believing that our beauty is more than a trend or fad.

Side note: Did you know that her son is none other than Mr. Dwayne Wayne, Kadeem Hardison?
She was also the first Black saleswoman in the Garment District in NYC.

Fashion in Black: ALT

Since it is Black History Month I think I will continue to post all the fabulousness, interestingness, beautifulness, amazingness...I could go on forever... that is Black culture.  There is no real method to the madness so whatever awesomeness I come across, I will post. We are not only fashion personified, we are style personified.  Sit back and enjoy the posts...

This man needs no introduction...

Mr.  Andre LeonTalley

Photo by: David Shankbone

The title Editor-at-large refers not only to his position but also to his personality, style, and well, his stature. At 6 feet 7 inches tall, he is literally a larger than life character. Next to Anna Wintour, he may very well be the most influential person in fashion. He started his career at Vogue as the fashion news director in 1983, then creative director in 1995 and started his current position, editor-at-large, in 1998. One really interesting fact that I found out was that he has a MA in French from Brown University. Brains and style. Not surprising though. Love ya ALT!!

I Heart...Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P

This is my first post of the month which happens to be Black History Month.  What better way to start off this month's posts than by highlighting a Black American independent designer....

Normally my "I heart" posts are about websites/blogs that I love, but this time I am "hearting" a designer, Tracey Ambrose.  The collection consists of amazing crocheted designs; hats, scarves, legwarmers, handbags, and sweaters, and I'm not talking something you'd find in a how-to crochet book.  Her designs are really funky and fresh, shall we say Funky Fresh?  Yes! Perfect for looking good in chilly weather and not so chilly.  Check out the Tracey Ambrose W.R.A.P collection on the Darla's Closet Website....www.DarlasCloset.com under the Indie tab.

Love this!