Celebrating the first African American Cover Girl Katiti Kironde

by Moya Stone, NBC Bay Area

We were all very excited earlier this year to see our lovely First Lady Michelle Obama on the cover of Vogue. But back in the day an African American woman gracing the cover of a top fashion magazine was just not done. That is until Glamour magazine broke with convention by putting Katiti Kironde on their August 1968 College Issue.

On Friday October 9th, Ms. Kironde’s daughter Mireille Schwartz hosted a reception to honor her mother and celebrate the 41st anniversary of that landmark issue in fashion magazine history. Local chic elites gathered in the garden of Ms. Schwartz’s San Francisco home sipping cocktails and chatting with Ms. Kironde who hails from Connecticut.

Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers uses fashion and art for philanthropy

by Patrice Worthy,  Examiner

Vernon Davis may be known as the 2006 first round draft pick and starting tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, but he is also known for his love of the arts. A full fledged Renaissance man, Davis is setting the standard for sophistication and bringing philanthropy back into style.

Davis lives up to a standard of excellence on and the off the field. Whatever Davis takes on he makes it his business to be the best.

“My ambition is to be successful in everything I do,” he says. “It’s important because anything you do you should be the best at it because you only live once.”

In this lifetime, Davis is a star football player, painter and is he also being recognized for his serious take on fashion. David was asked to host the Styling the Modern Man event in San Francisco where he and other fashionable men let the world know what it means to be masculine and debonair.

Iman’s Chic Goes Global

by Chloe Cabrera, Tampa Tribune

She is the host of Canada’s version of “Project Runway,” and her visage is known worldwide: long neck, radiant skin, oval face, dazzling smile.

Her lean, graceful physique catapulted her to the ranks of supermodel in the mid-’70s, and now she’s an entrepreneur with her own line of cosmetics, luxury handbags and jewelry. She is also the mother of two, and her hubby is British rock star David Bowie.

Oh, to be Iman. It’s a glamorous life. But she’ll be the first to tell you it isn’t easy.

Italian Vogue editor attacks lack of black models

by Shelley Emling
Kansas City Star

Alarmed by the lack of ethnic models on the catwalk, Vogue Italia will feature black models almost exclusively in its July issue.

“This idea came about as a reaction to the models of today,” said Franca Sozzani, editor of Vogue Italia, often called the most influential fashion magazine in the world. “I go to a fashion show, and every girl is blond and blue-eyed, and they all walk the same and look the same.

“I thought we needed to break away from this type of thing,” she said. ”There are so many beautiful black women not being used.”

Fashion show helps African-American girls gain confidence

by Gerald McKinstry
LoHud.com

Ayana Nedd, 14, and Shaw-na Gates, 12, were a bit nervous before they strutted down the catwalk.

The two students from Yonkers Middle/High School had been preparing for yesterday’s fashion show at Nepperhan Community Center for months because it was much more than just showing off the latest styles.

“We’re bringing the community together,” said Gates. “We all like to express ourselves.”

“We like that it shows that females can come together and do something positive for the community,” Nedd said.

More than 100 family and friends turned out for the show, a fundraiser dubbed “Youth Empowered by Fashion.” The festivities were sponsored by the National Council of Negro Women’s Hudson Valley Section.

The show was broken up into three acts and the outfits were donated by Limited Too in Cross County Shopping Center and Ashley Stewart in the Bronx. Lakesha Fuller performed at intermission and rapper William Turner was the master of ceremonies.

The show was the first event of its kind for the council that sponsors programs for African-American women. The 17 or so models, ages 6 to 15, are part of the council’s Young Ladies in Progress.

It’s one of many different programs designed to promote healthy lifestyles, wellness, community leadership and professional development, among other goals.

This show was the culmination of a program aimed at building self-esteem, confidence and character, said Connie Fowler, president of the Hudson Valley Section.

“We are here to help them make the right choices,” Fowler said. “If you can go up on that stage with a little swing, it’s a good feeling. It’s a motivator.”

Having high self-esteem and a healthy body image are important for young black women, said Dwanita Crosby, a 25-year-old youth adviser and event chair who has been involved with the group since she was 10.

“It makes them feel better about themselves,” Crosby said. “The whole purpose is to mentor them so that they become successful.”

Angela Dean is recognized name in fashion industry

Angela Dean of DeanZigns Designer Collections held her couture showing at The Opus located in the prestigious Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, on December 09th, to a small celebrity crowd, that included singer Freda Payne, reality TV personality Omarosa and Desiree Coleman-Jackson.

Her latest design was recently donned by Paris Hilton at Hilton’s international fragrance launch of “Can Can”.

Visit Dean’s site at: http://www.deanzign.com/

Read more at: Eurweb.com