posted by Fashion Critic

Jun 19, 2008 8:03AM

How could you not have recognised Tyra?

I guess the lack of big hair threw you :)

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 9:00AM

Is it my screen or do all the models look much lighter/whiter on the cover?

I thought they said black models, not slightly tinted..

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 9:20AM

yea guest at 9 am, i kinda agree

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 9:20AM

I am a second generation Ghanaian who lives in the U.K. As someone who writes about fashion and devours several fashion mags a month, these pictures are not only inspirational but revolutionary! More black girls on the catwalk next season- PLEASE! Surely that will be the proof of the pudding?
P.S Love the blog!!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 9:22AM

I agree with 9:000...the people at work looked and said "Those are black girls? Really?"

posted by anonymoose

Jun 19, 2008 9:26AM

question - where can i buy this in NYC (preferably somewhere in the Union Square or below area)? i'm sure this is going to sell like hotcakes when it hits the stands, so i want to know where to go beforehand.

posted by Natalie Hormilla

Jun 19, 2008 9:36AM

anonymoose - there are two magazine stands downtown that i particularly like - there's one at the corner of 6th ave and (i think) 11th st. (it might be 12th, i can't remember, i just know it when i see it.) there's another at the corner of lafayette and spring that hayley just introduced me to that definitely sells vogue italia.

the thing is, international magazines take a little while to get here, like maybe 3 weeks longer, i think, just fyi.

posted by Fabulosity

Jun 19, 2008 9:57AM

thanks natalie! the one on Lafayette is the one i most frequent and they JUST only recieved June- bummer i know. but i called yesterday and they said it will be a few more weeks. That issue will hit newsstands maybe the 1st or 2nd week of July...but just keep checking (or be a freak like me and call ahead lol)

i'm buying 2 issues, one to save forever and one to throwaround and show everyone lol

This is sooooooooo excitng!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 10:20AM

Um to all the above comments, not all black people/girls are LITERALLY BLACK. Jesus....

Now if they had photoshopped Alex to look that light then you can all start shouting.

posted by GQDetails8604

Jun 19, 2008 10:23AM

these are the most inspirational images ive seen in a long time using african american models i love the cover and the styling is fucking killer. this is what fashion should represent on a monthly basis i guess change is a reoccuring theme in everthing this year

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 10:32AM

Amen 10:20! So what exactly should a black girl look like then to all of those posting these ignorant statements?

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 10:46AM

Its an outrage Chanel did not get a cover!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 10:57AM

I don't think people are necessarily saying that all balck people have to look dark skinned.

However, I do think that the industry tends to embrace light-skinned black models, many of whom could easily pass for white.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 11:14AM

yeah i'm surprised sessilee got a cover and chanel didn't

very surprised

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 11:20AM

um i don't think any of those 4 women except tyra banks can be called "light skinned"

(a term i abhor)

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 11:54AM

guest 10:20 is out of line.

Some of these photos are definitely lightened up.. ALOT. No one is saying these chica's aren't black. We're just noticing the obvious. Anyone who's seen Naomi in person, or sharing acamera with Caucasians knows that Naomi has the richest dark chocolate hue...

Don't take offense though. It's common practice. Watch a black movie and you'll notice they do the same thing.

posted by kijjalyn

Jun 19, 2008 11:55AM

Is there anywhere one could get a copy outside NY??? I need it to LIVE!!!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 12:11PM

I love them all but Liya's photo is SO drab! what's up with that?

Can't wait to pick this up!!!!!!!!!

I've been visiting my magazine store every friday... and calling.... hah! Oh, this is good NEWS!!! What a great way to end the school year!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 1:57PM

There's no doubt Chanel belongs in the issue.

But I would've been pissed if she got the cover.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 2:53PM

I am very upset that Chanel Iman did not get a cover as well but I still don't notice tyra banks and she retired shouldn't she not be in magizines anymore

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 3:18PM

Beautiful!

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 3:29PM

1. The Jourdan cover is a STUNNER.
2. Tyra looks creepy, she's always with this zoolander bive.
3. First picture make me wanna have a fur coat.
4.I'm happy this finally happen.
5: WHERE'S ARLENIS :(

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 5:03PM

sometimes i wonder if it's them trying to lighten up black models OR is it just that the people who do colour-correction have no idea what they're doing when it comes to non-white skin tones?!

i had a brief stint as a model and i'm a different colour in every photo/ad/catalogue i've done!

sigh, i should just get a user account already.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 5:07PM

i agree with guest 10:57
i think there have been very dark skined models with a very african look
it is nice to see a diffrent look from al the lovely shades inbetween

posted by Chrissy

Jun 19, 2008 5:26PM

To gust @ 3:29:

Arlenis is in the ed. You can sort of see her name on the side :D

posted by naughtyintern

Jun 19, 2008 7:25PM

J'adoooore. Amazing. I'm also rather puzzled that Chanel did not get a cover, seeing that the one editorial page itself is pretty cover worthy.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 10:12PM

These are gorgeous. And so classic. I can't wait to buy the magazine.

posted by guest

Jun 19, 2008 11:45PM

they're all styled to look like white girls...sleek straight hair on liya, and the pics all have a hamptons-y pampered WASP vibe...except for tyra, but still!!

posted by jayci

Jun 20, 2008 12:55PM

I'm a little bit confused by why we're suddenly using the descriptor "of color" to denote persons who are "black" or "African but not Arab descent." Last time I checked Asian, Indian, Latin, and Arab models are vibrantly pigmented and are also hard to find on fashion's most prominent runways and magazines as well. I'm ethnically Chinese and when the designers made an effort to incorporate Asian models for the Fall 2008 collections, I was struck by how present it made the clothes feel.

Maybe I'm too young to understand the struggle of black models. After all, I've only know a world where Naomi Campbell, Iman, and Tyra routinely stomped the runways and graced the covers of the finest magazines. No doubt also, I'm all for black models having their own magazine feature. The models used are brilliantly photographed, gorgeous women and deserve their spot at the top of the fashion world. However, why don't we just call the magazine what it is: an issue highlighting a particular TYPE (nee 'color') of model, not true diversity where one would expect many kinds of models.

If that is the case, how is this issue any different from a mainstream fashion mag? At least the editors would have consciously placed their "token" girl of color, or even a "token" United Colors of Benetton shot. Here we don't even have that. Call me progressive, but where I'm from (Houston, TX) "color" means far more than black or white.

posted by guest

Jun 20, 2008 1:14PM

Jayci maybe you are a little young...
People say "of color" because people used to say "colored"... as in "get the colored girl to wash the curtains"... It has little to do with the literal definition of "color" and more to do with historical use (... connotations) of the word "color/colored".
Visibile minority is the PC umbrella keeping all of us others safe from harm and discrimination ; )
And this isn't any magazine. It's Vogue. And that is a big deal.
I don't think your progressive at all, but passionate and a bit naive to the way things have been.
I'm also a little confused by your last statement.
What does 'color' mean in Texas these days?
(I don't mean to offend you in ANY way!)

posted by guest

Jun 20, 2008 1:54PM

guest 1:14pm
"People say "of color" because people used to say "colored"... as in "get the colored girl to wash the curtains"... It has little to do with the literal definition of "color" and more to do with historical use (... connotations) of the word "color/colored".
And this isn't any magazine. It's Vogue. And that is a big deal."

Thank you! As someone "of color", in the "white world", color means Black. Yes...there are other ethnicities that are "of color" too, but for many years, Black people were colored in this country. You have to understand that the other ethnic groups here haven't been here as long as Black people have (beyond Native-Americans!). So for MAJOR fashion mag like Vogue, Italian or not, to have an all Black edition, is a major milestone for many people. Not just Black. I'm 44, and believe me when I say that this is a VERY BIG DEAL! No other fashion mag has ever done something like this so I am very happy to be around to see it! I just called and pestered 3 different places and no one can tell me when they're getting the edition for sure! But I WILL have one!!!

posted by kijjalyn

Jun 20, 2008 1:54PM

Many use the term "of color" to denote any ethnicity that is not strictly Caucasion. Some imply black or of African descent when they use it, but I have not heard it exclusively used to mean black. That said, I believe this issue was specific in its intent and hopefully this will bring light to all of the ethnicities that are currently underrepresented in the fashion industry, and other women and men of color will be highlighted in subsequent issues and publications. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

posted by jayci

Jun 20, 2008 4:35PM

I'm not offended. I know that I simply lack the historical/sociological upbringing to understand many aspects of the black and white racial tension, hence my apparent naivete.(I'm 26 for those who are keeping count.)

Simply put, I've never heard the euphemism "of color" used to refer strictly to black persons. Certainly I've never used it as a term to refer strictly to black persons. Aside from it being a generational difference, it could be a regional difference. Houston has large Asian, Latin, and Black populations, thus the definition could have been pushed further than its original use by necessity. However, one would wonder why the same wouldn't happen in other metropolitan cities with large ethnic populations like New York or LA.

That being said, I'm very excited with this issue. I'm definitely looking forward to getting it when it hits the local newsstand.

posted by disneyrollergirl

Jun 21, 2008 4:52AM

I can't wait to see it.

posted by guest

Jun 22, 2008 9:29AM

a fur coat AND a cigarette - classy.

posted by guest

Jul 21, 2008 3:30PM

To me the black and white images make the skin look white. So, in those photos, the question to my mind is, are these models black or white?

posted by guest

Aug 02, 2008 11:49PM

The point of many of the comments (and as a dark-skinned black person, I agree), is that the industry is taking baby steps by mostly booking black models who are closer to the white European model mold.

You rarely see a dark-skinned model, without a European-looking weave.

If a model (black, white, Asian, etc), is far from that mold, then they are "unique" (Alek Wek) or some kind of fad (Gemma Ward) or are put in a different category ("bikini" or "fashion" model if you aren't tall and super skinny).