I’m headed to England at the end of the week of London Fashion Week! Not quite sure when or what I’m going to pack, but while I figure it all out, I give you today’s Bombshell, Shirley from the UK:
” In my humble opinion, she embodies class with the right amount sassiness.”
” Furthermore, she shows that a woman does not need to half naked to look sexy…”
“… or confident.”
Simple and cute! Love that pink coat!
What do you think?
Fashion Bombshell of
the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb
Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and
6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 6-8 different
outfits to thefashionbomb@gmail.com.
Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so
bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will
not be removed or taken down.
Hey Hey!
We are in the thick of New York Fashion Week and it has been a fun and exhilarating time! In between running to shows for Vogue.it and snapping street style, I’ve been taking pix of my day-to-day looks with Lydia Hudgens.
I’ve been unwittingly sporting a handful of Fall 2013 trends, and sidled up to autumn’s plaid predilection the other day in a Dries van Noten blazer.
The jacket made enough of a style statement, so I played the rest down with neutrals, specifically NYDJ jeans and Christian Louboutin pumps.
A pair of Grey Ant status shades, and I was good to go.
What do you think?
And how do you wear plaid? Send your pix to thefashionbomb@gmail.com for inclusion in our first How Do You Wear It? feature of the fall.
Photos by Lydia Hudgens
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 6-8 different outfits to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
Sometimes, it seems as if the problem of diversity and racism in fashion is one that will never be resolved, but that’s not stopping the Diversity Coalition from holding the industry at large responsible. The organization, helmed by former model and current activist Bethann Hardison, reached out to some of fashion’s most powerful people to address the issue head-on.
In a series of letters addressed to fashion’s governing bodies in the US, France, UK, and Italy, the Diversity Coalition takes each to task about the continued marked lack of black models on the runways season after season. Each epistle was posted to Balance Diversity, a WordPress blog that seems to have been created only yesterday. The CFDA, BFC, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, and the Chambre Syndicale received the following letter:
Eyes are on an industry that season after season watches fashion design houses consistently use of one or no models of color.
No matter the intention, the result is racism.
Not accepting another based on the color of their skin is clearly beyond “aesthetic” when it is consistent with the designer’s brand.
Whether it’s the decision of the designer, stylist or casting director, that decision to use basically all white models, reveals a trait that is unbecoming to modern society.
It can no longer be accepted, nor confused by the use of the Asian model.
Shots fired! The BFC has already put forth a response to British Vogue, claiming no responsibility for the actions of designers and casting agents, asserting that they do encourage diversity on the runway to those designers under their umbrella:
“The British Fashion Council does not organise model castings for London Fashion Week although, as its governing body, strongly asserts that all participating designers should recognise that London is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world and should consider reflecting this demographic at their shows and presentations. The BFC is committed to model welfare and is more than happy to engage in tackling any issues regarding best practice and diversity at London Fashion Week.”
As for the CFDA, CEO Steven Kolb and President Diane Von Furstenberg have already discussed the letter, with Kolb saying that the firm had already sent out two e-mails to their designers, encouraging them to add a little color to their casts this season. “If the coalition, Bethann or whoever feels the message needs to be stronger, then we are happy to meet and to be part of that discussion,”he told WWD.
Unsurprisingly, the French and the Italians didn’t take too kindly to the note. Chambre Syndicale president Didier Grumbach called it “unreasonable,” citing the diversity of their designers showing later this month as proof that the French are committed to diversity. According to him, the fact that the designers come from 22 different nations covers any threat of racism.
Mario Boselli, head of Italy’s Camera della Moda, says they have no control over what their designers do, and therefore cannot be held responsible for the lack of brown faces on their runways. Indeed, Italy has been criticized for their notoriously whitewashed runways, and it seems that even though Milan Fashion Week continues to be one of the least diverse of Fashion Month, it hasn’t been an issue they care to address:
“The Camera della Moda has always allowed its members complete freedom to decide autonomously. As the Camera avoids all discriminations, it suggests to fashion companies to avoid discrimination, but it can’t impose anything. The Camera has taken action against showing models that are too young or too slim on the runway, in an antianorexia effort, and penalizes those companies that are found at fault, but has never [deliberated] on skin color.”
Of course, as a black woman in fashion who happens to write for a blog committed to showcasing and bringing diversity to the industry, I’m in full agreement with the words of the Diversity Coalition. I hope that with this letter, designers at least try to make some sort of commitment to fixing the problem, but based on past adventures in racism, I have a hard time believing that the fashion world at large will stop making excuses and start actually trying to change something.
How many times have we heard of black models being shut out of opportunities because another black model had already been cast for a show or campaign, and the designer has ‘filled their quota?’ How many editorials featuring white models painted brown have we seen in the past few years? How many black women have secured major campaigns for top brands? Let’s go even deeper: where are all the black editors at top fashion magazines? Why are there so few?
Of course, there are those designers who consistently feature black women on the runway: Givenchy, Zac Posen, and Jean Paul Gaultier are just a few, but there are countless high-end brands who seem to completely ignore the fact that brown folks exist. How many black models have you seen on the runway for coveted labels like Alexander McQueen, Céline, or Prada?
All in all, hopefully this letter can be a catalyst for further discussion, but until we start actually seeing more brown faces, as opposed to paying lip service to the idea, I’m not going to hold my breath for any sort of change.
But, that’s just my opinion. What do you guys think?
Fashion Bomber of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of male Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 2-6 picture(s) to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted may be featured on Facebook or Twitter. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game!
Baby Phat and Ralph Rucci alum Jerome Lamaar’s debut collection bowed last night with a hyper feminine offering of sweet separates boasting blush and cream tones, petal like embellishments, and sharp, tailored cuts.
Roses were a clear inspiration for the designer, as the flower’s fragrant petals lay scattered on the floor under sandals fashioned out of moss and silk. Glorious headpieces topped utiliarian jumpsuits, rose adorned shirts bearing the designer’s name were paired with pink paillette pencil skirts, and even more rose pink paillettes could be found on harem pants.
Jerome said, “I was inspired by nature and minimalism. I was sitting in the park one day, and the idea came to me. I wanted to create something really raw, yet wearable; a collection that embodied the contrast between whimsical and ready to wear, mixing minimalism with abundance, sex appeal with sophistication, and luxury with street.”
He continued, “I was born in the Bronx, but have spent time in Paris. I started at Baby Phat, then went to Ralph Rucci. We’re all in this fusion of 2 worlds, and that is what my collection represents.”
Solid. I thought it was a strong debut, and was drooling over several ensembles, including this embellished jean, crop top, and blue jacket combo. Can’t you see a starlet wearing this on 106 & Park?
Today’s Bombshell, Alana, was born in Rochester, New York:
She wrote in, “I say my style is girly…”
“… but it is ever evolving.”
“As I get older I find myself become more daring…”
“… and trying to find versatile special pieces in my wardrobe”
” over buying quantity.”
” I love to add a bit of sexy…”
“… or sometimes edge to my outfits.”
” My favorite color though is black.”
“I constantly find myself buying a lot of
black :)”
You’re gorgeous! And your looks are simple yet
polished. I like! What do you think?
Fashion Bombshell of
the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb
Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and
6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 6-8 different
outfits to thefashionbomb@gmail.com.
Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so
bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will
not be removed or taken down.
Happy Wednesday, Bombshells!
Sorry for the slow posts today. My morning has been absolutely consumed with the Fall Trends roundup! But now I’m free to get back to our regularly scheduled program. Check out today’s Bombshell, Teaka from Nashville, Tennessee:
She says, “There is not one word that I would use to describe my style….I don’t like to be defined.”
” My style is very versatile.”
” I believe that your mood is a good reflection of your style.”
” I LOVE a clean..sleek..look!! Clothes haves the ability to help you express who you are without you having to say a word. I embrace MY own personal style! I like to mix highs (expensive) and lows (cheap).”
“I tend to play around with my wardrobe, because after all…..IT’S JUST CLOTHES!!!!”
Indeed! You’re definitely a cute girl with a ton of classic pieces. Loving your black jumpsuit!
Thoughts on today’s Bombshell?
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 6-8 different outfits to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
Today’s Bombshell is Teresia, a native of Kenya currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health at University of Missouri-Columbia:
She writes, “My style is decent, fun and colorful.”
“l love my prints, brights and anything high waisted.”
“Prints have a sense of culture, l think it tells more about my African background. Brights have been on style this season, l think the color of your outfit speaks a lot about your mood, brights bring a happy feeling to me.”
“Finally, l think anything high waisted works best for those with a little belly, l love the fact that it covers it and leaves you looking stylish and fashionable.”
“l am currently running a fashion page on Facebook.The page name is “YourAfrican Closet”.Check me out and thank you for this opportunity.”
I love it! All the colors and fab patterns suit you.
What do you think?
Fashion Bombshell of the Day is a feature showcasing the singular style of Fashion Bomb Readers. Send your name, location, a description of your style, and 6-8 clear, unfiltered, head-to-toe pictures of 6-8 different outfits to thefashionbomb@gmail.com. Images submitted will be featured on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any of our social media platforms. Comments can be harsh, so bring your A game! Please be advised: once published, pictures will not be removed or taken down.
