Don’t you just get tired of this people? Black models have been around for eons and now the agencies are inspired because of Obama? Stupid is as stupid does, isn’t it?  In Paris, there are endless statues of Nubian princesses and now Obama is the inspiration for thinking black women are beautiful?

Do these people expect to be congratulated for throwing a one-issue bone to black models?

FRANCA SOZZANI, editor of Vogue Italia, has revealed that US presidential hopeful Barack Obama was the inspiration behind the magazine’s already-legendary July 2008 “Black” issue, which features only non-white models including Naomi Campbell, Jourdan Dunn, Chanel Iman and Liya Kebede.

“America is ready for a black president, so why are we not ready for a black model?” Sozzani says in an interview with Reuters. “I was in America on Super Tuesday. Of course it influenced me in a way – it was part of my general idea.” And you are so proud of yourself, aren’t you? Even though you all gave in to that injustice for the longest time.

And if Obama does not win? Do the black models go back into model purgatory?

Black women and women of other ethnicity’s have always been beautiful, it was society who could not deal with their kind of beauty. They have always been voluptuous, with full lips and thick hair. Society dictated that was not the norm and decided the white ideal was the norm.

The blonde, bland, homogenous, cookie cutter kind. The kind that looked like it came out of a factory, the kind of beauty they could accept and the kind they found non-threatening. The models that did not detract from the clothing, you could not avoid that with the ethnic models. There was something just too amazing about them all.

The edition – a sell-out success – also featured interviews with Obama’s wife Michelle and Edmonde Charles-Roux, who quit as editor of Vogue Paris over a decision not to use a cover of black model Donyale Luna in June 1966. And its impact is already being felt throughout the industry, with the demand for black models rising.

“I know that they’re already asking for more for shooting and I know that already some are thinking to use more even for the shows,” Sozzani says – adding that she, too, is one of the ‘converts’: “I don’t want to say every issue, every story should be with black girls, but we should have more,” she muses.

Yeah, Sozzani, you did okay but this should not even be an issue to discuss in 2008. Its just a reflection on how messed up the world truly is. There should be models of ALL races, Black, Asian, Latina, European, Aboriginal, Native Indian, everything. Beauty should and must transcend race. by vivre magazine

Quick, name what geeks and fashionistas were lining up for this weekend. The new iphone and the “All Black” Vogue Italia Issue.

Condé Nast prepped accordingly for the increased consumer curiosity surrounding the themed issue, where Steven Meisel shot the likes of Naomi Campbell, Alek Wek, Jourdan Dunn, Liya Kebede, Veronica Webb and upcoming names like Sessilee Lopez and Toccara Jones.

A spokeswoman for Condé said the company increased newsstand distribution of the special issue by 40 percent in the U.S., and will reallocate Italian copies earmarked for returns to the U.S. The company will also print another 10,000 copies to meet the demand for the issue.

“Franca Sozzani is a brilliant editor whose courage and originality never cease to astonish. Working in collaboration with Steven Meisel she has produced a groundbreaking issue, which in a small way, changes the world. I am very proud of it,” said Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast International.

Ironically, Vogue Italia wasn’t available at the two places most likely to carry the issue — the Hudson News at Condé Nast’s headquarters at 4 Times Square and the newsstand at Condé’s satellite offices at 750 Third Avenue did not carry the issue on Friday. Store clerks at both locations expected to have copies by Monday.

An obvious collectors item.

source by vivremagazineonline

Testino, who edited and photographed the entire June German Vogue issue, flew off to Berlin for the issue’s launch early last month. The theme of the issue was “sex” and the Peruvian designer says he felt more than comfortable with that theme given that he draws a great deal of inspiration from Helmut Newton. He adds that both he and Helmut are Scorpios, and that people often say that Scorpios are very sexual.

When is came to Agyness Deyn, Testino says that he finds that a lot of the best young girls come from Select and that every season he looks to Burberry (he has shot the fashion house’s campaigns since 1998), to see who’s new. He says that he really liked Deyn when he first met her, adding that because the Burberry campaign is about the youth of England, the models have to be changed to ensure the campaign does not get boring, but that he’s still working with her on other shoots

“Her look is so British. It’s so stylish, my God! And it’s totally her thing. I mean, it’s her who inspires the stylist! Kate Moss has that amazing quality with her style as well.”

{article&photos courtesy of the fashionspot forums.}