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Critics of this ad are buzzing about the tight clothes and stilletos the young children wear in this advertisement. Do you see this as innocently creative advertisement? What about parents who buy these types of clothing for children, are they being irresponsible parents by buying clothes such as the child models have in Beyonce's House of Dereon children's clothing line? Do you find nothing wrong with the ad?
Conservative political pundit and columnist, Michelle Malkin's title of her column on the subject: "KIDDIE-PORN CHIC: BEYONCE'S TINY HO'S" was highly inappropriate, but I understand the point she is trying to make, and agree with most of her column. Beyonce, like most child stars, and I am speculating, may have missed most of her childhood due to performing, and probably matured quite fast and obviously sees nothing wrong with this ad, so I could see some justification as to why she would market her product in this fashion. I don't agree with how children are presented in the ad.
Malkin writes:
"If you thought the soft-porn image of Disney teen queen Miley Cyrus - wearing nothing but ruby-stained lips and a bedsheet - in Vanity Fair magazine was disturbing, you ain’t seen nothing yet. [The young models] are seductively posed and tarted up, JonBenet Ramsey-style, with lipstick, blush and face powder…The creepiness factor is heightened by the fact that women were responsible for marketing this child exploitation. So, what’s next? Nine-year-olds performing stripper routines?"
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There are reports with the source stemming from Fashionista, that top photographer Steven Meisel wrapped up photo shoots for the rumored issue. It sounds like there may be an all black model issue of Vogue Italia in the making. If true, this issue is sure to break barriers and fuel further discussion on discrimination and diversity within the fashion industry.
Out of curiosity I would probably buy a copy. It would most likely become a collector's item. And I HOPE this won't be a case of "we gave them what they want, now let them shut up," then carry on business as usual, with very little representation of black models in their publications. At best, this will be a signal of change. Therefore, I will risk betting on the side of optimism.
Fashionista reports:
This just in from a source:
Steven Meisel has just shot an entire issue of Vogue Italia with all black models, hoping that other issues of Vogue start to diversify their own portfolios.
Apparently, all of the photo shoots have already happened, as model bookers at various agencies have been contacted and sourced for new, beautiful, not-white girls -- and now they're twittering about how cool the issue will be.
No word on when the issue will hit stands or who's on the cover (Jourdan Dunn? Chanel Iman?), but whatever:
We don't really report the news over here. We just break it wide open.
xoxo.
Reference:
Fashionista
Black is finally in fashion at Vogue
This fashion show features africanwear fashions from eight different countries: Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Zambia
President Bush visited Tanzania and signed $698 million grant package for foreign aid to the country to help improve the infrastructure and combat HIV/AIDS. I guess the dresses worked. Bush Couture...lol, cute.
Photo Credit: Reuters
This sounds thirst quenching. I haven't had a glass of Kool-Aid in probably about twenty years, and I really need to just buy a pack of Cherry Flavored and get it over with, and get my Kool-Aid smile on. Anyway, Reebok is introducing a new line of Kool-Aid fruity scented sneakers. A marriage of the Kool-Aid brand with Reebok? Can this translate into hefty profits?
The kicks should retail for $50-$75, will debut in April, and the scent infusion will come from the inside sock lining of the shoes. Expect a complementary scentless apparel line of t-shirts, hats and hoodies. Aaahh...I can smell the cherry, grape, orange, lime and strawberry flavors right now.
Update 2-8-8: Speaking of Kool-Aid, I was in the drugstore this morning and noticed Kool-Aid lip gloss. They are expanding on their licensing.
Photo Credit: Sneakerfiles.com
Crocs: Those awkward looking plastic clogs which appear to be more or less like a fad fashion trend and will probably fade away like the 1970s jelly shoes. Everybody had jelly shoes. But I don't see the attraction to Crocs, perhaps they are just comfortable and people like the funky colors.
Well, if you are a Croc lover and you're in the market for a new pair or you don't wear them anymore, you can donate that pair of Crocs to a non-profit organization called SolesUnited.
How the program works:
- You wear your Crocs until the tread wears off or until you no longer want them.
- Take them to an authorized retailer location.
- The worn shoes are then recycled.
- Finally, they are donated to men, when, and children in needy nations around the world.
To date, SolesUnlimited has donated 1 million pairs of shoes with a goal of 2 million in 2008.
There are 1.2 bilion people who cannot afford shoes. Now imagine how many pairs you have at home, and how many you have thrown away or don't wear...wasteful?
Their next stop: 10,000 pairs of shoes will be distributed throughout Haiti by Melky Jean to YéleHaiti, music artist Wyclef’s foundation. Find out more about the SolesUnited Program.
Instead of looking for photos of which black celebrities strutted on the catwalk or sat in the audience, we should be paying attention to which models didn't get work, and the designers who refuse to hire them.
Read this: Diversity may be Fashion Week's latest victim
New York Fashion Week is here, and again, Naomi Campbell has been vocal about the lack of minority models used in the business. Prior to the kickoff of events Campbell was quoted as saying, "I'm disgusted and sad about the whole issue. Fashion needs to go back to the way it used to be when wonderful designers like Yves St. Laurent, Gianni Versace and Azzedine Alaia just had a great line up of beautiful women - white, black, Chinese, Hispanic."
She claims one fashion house refused her clothes, because they "already dress Beyonce". Sounds like sour grapes in this case, but I understand her position, as it sounds like they met their one black quota, so go kick empty cans, Naomi. She says she will never buy clothing from that designer again. In addition, she mentions an anonymous European designer she is boycotting who refuses to use non-white model in its shows.
Well you told them Naomi…on such a miniscule scale, I suppose. Perhaps Miss Campbell treads on a thin enough line, that she will squeak just enough, not to get (for lack of a better word) “blacklisted?” Naomi there is power in numbers. Where is the list? Be brave and give up some names.
Squawking to the media does not accomplish much. The power is in the currency. If we pressured Naomi for a list, does anyone think she would be brave enough to give up names? Because, seriously, what’s the point in complaining at every Fashion Week event (to deaf ears, well some of us hear her), if it does not help to change the situation? Is this love from the fashion industry? READ MORE...
Naomi Campbell’s website does not display a webpage at her url www.naomicampbell.com, but once I discover some contact information I will post an open note, and send one requesting that she reveal (long shot, I know) some of these designers to us. If some of us don’t purchase designer clothing, at least we can start a list of celebrities who patronize these racist designers by buying their merchandise, attending their shows, and functions. We can probably figure it out on our own, who the culprits are, if only we just opened our eyes.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia native Liya Kebede who is a model, actress, goodwill ambassador, and activist graces the latest cover of Cookie magazine. She is photo'd with her 2-year-old daughter, Raee. You’ve seen her in many publications including Essence and Vogue. She has a new children’s clothing line, LemLem, and the clothes are so cute. LemLem means "bloom" in Amharic, and the clothes are geared towards kids under 10 years of age. The fine pieces are made in Ethiopia with traditional weaving and embroidery, and the garments are absolutely breathtaking. Raee is a cute miniature image of mom. Can you believe Liya was once considered an ugly duckling? Get to know her. With so much emphasis on Naomi and Gisele, we hear very little about some of the other women in the modeling world.
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An Ugly Duckling Becomes a Beauty Icon
Photo Credit: Cookie magazine
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