Colour Blind

Editorials featuring all-Black or all-Asian model casts have been all the rage since Vogue Italia's Black Issue hit newsstands in July 2008. US Vogue, US Harpers Bazaar, Allure, Interview, i-D Magazine, Vogue Italia, Vogue China and Russian Vogue have all since featured editorials with models grouped according to ethnicity. Whilst it is commendable to see a broader cross-section of racial groups represented in fashion publications, I am not convinced that editorials which segregate models based on their skin pigmentation is the solution to the on-going debate over the lack of diversity in fashion.

Is the singling out of a particular racial group in editorials a mere gimmick or does it signify real progress in the move towards a fashion industry that is more inclusive? If Chanel's recent Resort show is any indication, I would hazard a guess that the fashion industry has a long way to go towards understanding and embracing the concept of diversity. Out of the 74 looks featured in Chanel's Cruise collection, not a single black model was featured in the line-up. I look forward to the day when it is the norm to see fashion editorials and runway shows in which multiple ethnics groups are represented rather than just the odd token Asian or Black model amongst a cast of Caucasians.

Jeneil Williams & Aminata Niaria

Sedene Blake

Aminata Niaria & Jeneil Williams

Sedene Blake, Aminata Niaria & Reina Montero

Reina Montero, Jeneil Williams & Sedene Blake

Sedene Blake & Jeneil Williams

Shena Moulton, Jeneil Williams & Aminata Niaria
Vogue Russia - July 2010
Photographer - Terry Tsiolis
Source - thefashionspot.com

In Fine Company

Vogue Italia assembles a cast of the fashion industry's leading top black models for an astonishingly beautiful editorial in the February 2011 issue. Shot by Emma Summerton and styled by Edward Enninful, the editorial entitled "Black Allure", plays host to a bevy of beauties including veteran models Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, Arlenis Sosa, Aminata Niaria, and Sessilee Lopez, alongside newcomers; Rose Cordero, Joan Smalls, Melodie Monrose, Lais Ribeiro and Ajak Deng. The hair, make-up, styling and fashions by Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy amongst others, allow the models to fully embody the feeling of sheer elegance and sophistication captured by Summerton.

Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls & Jourdan Dunn
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Joan Smalls
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Lais Ribeiro & Arlenis Sosa
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Jourdan Dunn
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Melodie Monrose
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Sessilee Lopez, Ajak Deng & Aminata Niaria
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Ajak Deng
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Sessilee Lopez, Aminata Niaria, Jourdan
Dunn & Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011

Jourdan Dunn, Sessilee Lopez, Ajak Deng, Lais RIbeiro,
Rose Cordero, Melodie Monrose, Arlenis Sosa,
Aminata Niaria & Chanel Iman
Vogue Italia - February 2011
Photographer - Emma Summerton

In the mood for love

In the February edition of US Vogue, Patrick Demarchelier captures Angela Lindvall, Coco Rocha, Anja Rubik, Aminata Niaria, Bonnie Chen and Alessandra Ambrosio and their significant others in a series of candid and intimate portraits. The shots are accompanied by sweet anecdotes of how each couple met and their first date experiences. Demarchelier allows each model to inject her own personality into the frame and the chemistry between the couples make this editorial all the more charming. 

Aminata Niaria & Laurence Dennis

Anja Rubik & Sasha Knezevic

Alessandra Ambrosio & Jamie Mazur

Bonnie Chen & Rock Ji

Coco Rocha & James Conran

Angela Lindvall & Mark Wystrach
All photos US Vogue - February 2011
Photographer -  Patrick Demarchelier
Source - fashiongonerogue.com