Vogue Italia: uno special issue dedicato alla black beauty

The long awaited Vogue Black Issue is here! Italian Vogue editor, Franca Sozzani came up with the idea after talking with Naomi Campbell, as a way to offer “space to another type of beauty.” Apparently, the fashion industry has a preference for Eastern European models with “blonde hair and long legs.” You don’t say!

Despite this being a Black Issue, there is an obvious lack of black models in the ads though ad pages were up 30% for this issue. According to the NY Times, photographer Steven Meisel says "I have asked my advertising clients so many times, ‘Can we use a black girl?’ They say no. The concern is that consumers will resist the product. It all comes down to money.” Pick up a copy of Vogue India, though the articles are all about India, the ads feature Anglo models. Funny enough, NY Newstands (and even out of Town News in Cambridge) ran out of copies. This issue has been dubbed the "most wanted issue ever!"

My Italian isn't great, so I understand only a small percentage of the articles. There's an article on the new Spike Lee film, Miracle at St. Anna, the story of four black American soldiers who get trapped behind enemy lines in WWII after one of the soldiers risks his life to save an Italian boy. There’s a retrospective on Yves St. Laurent. There’s a spotlight young black models (see picture of Hollis). If that’s not enough, there are photos galore! Meisel’s spread, Modern Luxe, features Liya Kebede, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Alek Wek, Pat Cleveland, Chanel Iman, Veronica Webb, Tyra Banks, and Karen Alexander. Ms Tocara from ANTM even gets a spread. Be sure to visit NY Times and Jezebel.com if you’re interested in seeing more pictures.

It's an expensive issue at 20 buckaroos, but it does come with a directory of Fall and Winter 2008 looks from Milano, Parigi, New York, Londra. The best looks from Alberta Ferreti to St. Laurent are spotlighted. As far as I know, The Vogue Black Issue can be bought at Trident on Newbury Street and at Out of Town News in Harvard Square.