Runway Noir

Vogue Italia

2008-06-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

Would it be too cliche to exclaim OMG after I checked out the cover of Vogue Italia's much-hyped all black models issue?

Be prepared to see this picture all over the fashion internets until bigger and better pictures hit the web. I think I get what they're trying to do with the cover--reminding you who the established models are while showing you which up-and-comers to look out for. I will also not hide my shame and admit that I'm a little bit salty that Chanel Iman is not on one of these covers. But I'll manage to soldier on. Somehow.

But even though I'm not entirely as sold on Sesilee as everyone else seems to be, bitch is killing it here.

I've been waiting for this issue since it was just a rumor going around the blogs, so I'll be glad when it finally hits the newsstands and I can hold it in my hands.

credit goes to ontdff and thefashionspot.

Fashion Week 08 Show Packages

2008-02-02T14:24:00.001-08:00

Like I said in my last post, I'm going to be showing off some show packages for the recently started Fashion Week. Hopefully we'll see some of these girls on the runways. Let's begin!

Lily from VNY

Jourdana from VNY

Sosheba of Elite

Alexandra of MC2

Atong of Trump

Austria of IMG

Danielle of Click

Gaye of Next

Georgie of Muse

Honorine of IMG

Joan of Elite

Jordan of Fusion

Katie Rost of Click

Kinee of New York Models

Hollis of New York Models

Mia Niara of Viva

Samira of Ford

Sammy Jo of MC2

Sessilee of Major

Yordanos of Elite

Ubah of Click

Sigail Currie of Take 2

Source

Diversity much?

2008-01-19T19:34:00.000-08:00

I've taken a break from searching for black models in the recently released show packages for Fashion Week because I came across something that gave me a bit of hope.

From The Imagist comes this:

...And finally she wanted to collect whatever hiss I may have heard about the possibility of diversity on the FW 08 runways. I told her what I knew. Chanel Iman's Ralph Lauren Collection ads were running. Ports had employed Joan at Elite as their face this season and a lot more magazines, including US Vogue had been calling in the books of - as they say - "models of color". Versace I told her had asked the agencies to send over the cards of all their new black girls. "Oh good," noted Bethann [Hardison], "I heard that Prada's been asking too and that would be something, right ? ." Well that gave me cause for pause at the corner of Franklin and Eastern Parkway, a corner where I have seen many a pair of Prada Sport boots on many a hip-hop boy. Oddly enough, during the course of the day, through several agencies- without my prompting - the same speculation came up that Prada was requesting the cards of black models. "Wow," I had joked to my friend, Fabien. "Fashion finds its conscience."

Now, that addition of Prada has caused Miss J. and myself to raise our respective eyebrows.

*cough*

Here's hoping that there actually will be some change in this season and the seasons to come. Which made me think of how ridiculous it is that Liya Kebede is the first black model to be the face of Estee Lauder, and it infuriated me that the company was praised for their forward thinking when something like this should've happened ages ago. Ok, I'll stop before I get all rant-y.

Show packages are next!

St. Joan

2008-01-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Its campaign season and though the majority of the campaigns this season feature the standard crop of Lilys, Gemmas and Sashas there are a few fresh faces out there. The Ports 1961 Spring summer campaign showcases the gorgeous Joan Smalls (Elite) in a series of classically elegant poses.

Lets Get It Started!

2008-01-05T22:58:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Runway Noir, the newest and best resource for information on black models. Stay tuned for the latest on all your favorites and new faces you need to know about.