July 29, 2008
Black Vogue
Like many, I haven’t been able to get hold of a copy of this months Italian Vogue, the much-touted issue featuring only black models. Apparently it has sold out, leading to a first-ever reprint for the magazine and massive logistical efforts on the part of its publisher to ensure supply is maintained. Lots of comment out there, including praise from the Observer newspaper, in-depth detail from Folio, but I find it more of a stunt than a genuine attempt to change things. Andrew points the fashion supplement with the issue is all-white as are all the ads in the issue.
4 Comments
Comment on July 29, 2008 by Paul Wilson says:
I bought one in Oxford News on Oxford Street yesterday. It’s a tremendous thing. Steven Meisel doing his thing so very well throughout.
Comment on July 29, 2008 by Andrew says:
Actually the link is http://www.losowsky.com/magtastic/2008/news-25th-july-08/
Thanks!
[ corrected ]
Comment on July 29, 2008 by B says:
Totally a stunt.
I picked up a copy on a Saturday afternoon here in the NY. Interestingly, it was a shop outside the Hearst building–a second printing that was reordered after the first sold out. The guy at the shop said that people had bought stacks of five issues at a time. I got the Naomi cover.
The photos inside are beautiful, and you see essays by Robin Givhan on the typical question: Why is fashion so white-washed? et al.
Well, we know why. Vogue didn’t need to tell us that.
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The supplement is one of those “runway reviews,” in which a bunch of runway pics like what you would find on style.com are slapped together by collection and designer. Considering that the runways are virtually all-white nowadays, it was going to be an all-white affair.
Honestly, I think in the Western countries at least, where it seems more and more that a sustainable middle class is eroding, fashion companies have been obsequiously tailoring their message to the aristocratic. It’s the one obvious market that they count on. At least in the Western countries, Black people aren’t that necessary to impart this aesthetic.
Whether the makeup of populations will eventually change in North America and Europe is something I’m sure most publishing companies would not like to dwell on. It’s not their field of expertise.
Comment on September 24, 2008 by Happyplayground says:
I thought fashion companies for designers have historically tailored their message to the privileged, but have actually been interested in changing that.
In so I mean by the creation of affordable fashion such as designer lines with H&M or Target.
I’m a white female, but I WANT to see diversity in magazine, and on high fashion runways. I get bored with the same stereotypical beauty out there right now.
It is strange to think that in this day and age where the world has become a melting pot that people still follow “rules” from generations ago which fail to embrace all beauty.
Hope more magazines will follow this stunt.
I also believe most women who purchase fashion magazines can never afford to purchase even one thing inside of them.
We buy them for the fantasy, the escape. Its our way of dreaming and getting ideas of what to look for at H&M or from our local designers.
