• Writer Helen Jennings brings African fashion to the forefront in her new book, New African Fashion, highlighting designers, models, and street style photographers of direct African descent.

Amongst the fashion players highlighted are First Lady Michelle Obama favorite, Duro Olowu, and (my personal favorite) model Ajak Deng. Get yourself a copy at Amazon.com! (Vogue)

• Want to go to the Versus Fall 2012 fashion show in Milan? The Moyer Foundation has tickets up for grabs, as part of their “Dream Catchers” event. In addition to the show, Moyer is offering a fashion consultation with ShopBop.com‘s fashion director, and a $2,500 shopping spree at ShopBop to the highest bidder. You can either attend the Dream Catchers event in New York City on November 11, or you can bid online for this package and more at charitybuzz.com.

• Quel suprise! Five actual models grace the cover of Haper’s Bazaar UK’s December issue! The supermodels of yore (Yasmin Le, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Eva Herzigova) come together to show they can still pose pantsless. (UKTelegraph)

• Azzedine Alaïa thinks the fashion industry today is way too intense for designers, and that this stress contributes to the unfortunate breakdowns of these fashion giants. “Today I believe that designers are asked to do too much, too many collections. It’s inconceivable to me that someone creative can have a new idea every two months. Because if I have one new idea in a year, I thank heaven. I pray, I do everything, but God doesn’t always give me ideas. [Laughs.] I don’t know, but something has to change. There are too many designers who are in a bad state, who are sick, who feel obliged to take drugs. Christophe Decarnin at Balmain. McQueen. There is too much pressure. If it ends up destroying people, it’s not good. A human being is not a machine. Especially when it comes to creating. You wouldn’t ask a painter or a sculptor to do an exhibition every two months… I even think it’s hard for the buyers and the journalists.” (Stylefile)

• Some of you expressed that H&M‘s upcoming Girl With The Dragon Tattoo collection was much more enticing than their soon-to-be-released Versace collaboration. Since we’re all about pleasing the masses, here’s a closer look at what to expect. (Fashionista)

• Have you always wanted to meet Tyra Banks? The super model turned media mogul will be in Harlem this Friday, signing copies of her book Modelland at Harlem’s Hue-Man bookstore (2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd). The fun starts at 6pm. Purchase the book and find more info at www.huemanbookstore.com.
~Jihan