Chanel Iman on "Gossip Girl"

That's right Fashion Bombshells! One of our favorite bomb chicks, Chanel Iman, is scheduled to be on an upcoming episode of the CW's primetime hit show Gossip Girl.Not sure when it will air, but the word on the street is it'll be the episode where Serena van der Woodsen throws a party.
Chanel is certainly an amazing model, but do you think she can bust out the acting chops?
~Vuitton

Fun Black Fashion Fact + Contest: Toukie Smith

Did you know??

That the fabulous and trailblazing Toukie Smith was the first African-American model to have a mannequin designed in her likeness?Ms. Smith, who appeared in campaigns for Chanel, Versace, and Norma Kamali among others, also graced the pages of Vogue, ELLE, Ebony, and Cosmopolitan, just to name a few. Toukie's history-making mannequin was crafted in 1978, the same year she won the Bloomingdale's Model of the Year award.

*CONTEST ALERT!*

The first person who can tell us which iconic designer Toukie Smith is closely related to (hint: he received his own Fashion Bomb Black History Month tribute a few years back), will win this limited edition Carol's Daughter Roses & Honey Shea Soufflé ...
...a rich cream moisturizer fragranced with fresh cut roses, honey, almond, anise and banana. Yum!
E-mail thefashionbombcontest@gmail.com with your answers!

*We have a Winner!*

Fashion Bombshell Dionne was the first to correctly guess that Toukie Smith is the sister of iconic designer Willi Smith, who's received his own Fashion Bomb tribute. Dionne, third from left in the strapless dress, cites Tracy Reese as the black fashionista she receives inspiration from because, "She takes into account the female body when designing and creates something that is not only timeless, but also truly special. To me she is THE quintessential fashion bomb!" And she's even wearing a Tracy Reese frock in her pic-- loves it!
Congrats to Dionne and thanks to everyone who played!
~Adriana

Who Knew? Sessilee Lopez Blogs!

Ever wanted to get a behind the scenes look at the life of a model? Famed Dominican sizzler Sessilee Lopez gives you a peak with her cute blog SessileeLopez.blogspot.com:

Catch cute pix of her doing 'normal' stuff along with shots of her magazine spreads and runway walks. Check her out here, and tell her the Fashion Bomb sent ya!

Fun Black Fashion Fact: Alek Wek on November 1997 Elle Magazine

So it's Black History Month!

And every day this month, The Fashion Bomb Team is going to bring you Fun Black Fashion Facts.

Today, we're kicking off with Sudanese model Alek Wek!

Did you know that Wek was the first Black model to grace the cover of ELLE Magazine in November 1997?

Elle took a huge risk placing Wek on the cover--it's widely believed that covers featuring women of color don't sell. This particular issue, on the other hand, went on to sell huge numbers and solicited many reader responses like, "When I saw your recent cover featuring a proud and radiant Alek Wek, I nearly cried." Giles Bensimon, Elle's creative director at the time said, "There are a lot of women who look like her in America, and they don't find themselves in any magazine." Too true!
Shout to Alek Wek and check out her line of handbags, WEK1933.

Will Obama's Presence Mean More Work for Black Models?

The Black Snob has a clip of a CNN story purporting that Barack Obama's presidency could signal increased opportunities for black models in editorials, ad campaigns, and on runways:

In the video David Rogers, a Global Brand Expert, says, "Marketers are finally waking up to it, ya know Black is Beautiful. It's just gonna become part of the fabric of the fashion imagery of pop culture. Which is a great thing."
Hmm...Do you think having Barack in office will significantly diversify the exclusive fashion industry? Or will it continue to be a world where Black is Invisible?

Spotlight on: Ubah Hassan

Today I wanted to shine a quick spotlight on catwalk newcomer Ubah Hassan...
A Somali native, Ubah signed with Click Management in 2007, and has since appeared in an Allure April 2008 editorial...

Vogue Italia's All Black issue photographed by Steven Meisel...
...A current Vogue Italia spread photographed by Bruce Weber...

...and she's now the face of Ralph Lauren along with Russian Valentina Zelyaeva...

Keep an eye out...She's a star!
Bisous!
Source & Source

Did you know? Chanel Iman TV

Did you guys know that Chanel Iman has her own channel on You Tube? Yup, Chanel Iman TV. She has about five short videos uploaded.
Here are a couple:

Cute, but can she command the camera like Tyra?

Sessilee Lopez for Allure's February Issue

Check out this month's Allure Magazine for a spread featuring Italian Vogue vet Sessilee Lopez:


Source
I absolutely love that magazines are using more women of color in their pages; it certainly is refreshing. But part of me feels that as ad dollars are dwindling, print mags are looking to last minute gimmicks to get any and every one (meaning us) to buy them on newsstands. Perhaps I'm being cynical...

Liya Kebede for Vogue Nipon's February Issue

My boy Charles over at ModaMouth has scans of Liya Kebede's spread for Vogue Nipon's February 2009 issue:

Can we say fierce?!?! Good Lord!
See the rest here.

Best of 2008: Magazine Diversity

No end of the year round up would be complete without mentioning the huge increase in Magazine Diversity in 2008.
The year saw traditional glossies questioning their industry (gently prodded by Bethann Hardison), and turning inward to ask, "Where's the color?" Perhaps in the Obama era, magazines are seeing that it's time to get real and reflect the demographics of their country.
After a controversial Lebron James cover caused a critical wildfire in cyberspace, Fashion Bible Vogue took their July issue to ask if Fashion was Racist:
After fashionistas answered, "Yes!" Vogue decided to walk the walk with several spreads, even including Arlenis Pena, Oluchi Orlandi and Lakshmi Menon in a story on the industry's rising stars:

Harper's Bazaar also jumped on the multicultural bandwagon, with Tyra Banks gracing their September cover and posing as Michelle Obama in a fun multi pager:

And with the Williams sisters rocking couture on the court for Bazaar's November issue:

American mags did their part, but no one showed more love than the Italians, who plucked style aficionado Diddy as their cover boy for the October Issue of L'Uomo Vogue:
...and who knocked everyone out the park with Vogue Italia's All Black July Issue, featuring Naomi Campbell, Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn, Liya Kebede, Tyra Banks, Toccara Jones and more:

The issue launched Facebook Groups, started discussions, and caused fashionistas worldwide to scramble for collector's copies. A Time article by Jeff Israely said, "After the original run of the July issue sold out in the U.S. and U.K. in 72 hours, Vogue Italia has just rushed to reprint 30,000 extra copies for American newsstands, another 10,000 for Britain and 20,000 more in Italy." Cha Ching!
2008 was THE YEAR for magazine diversity, and we can only hope the Fashion Powers are finally understanding that multiculturalism is not only beautiful, powerful, and profitable, but it's also the future. As ad pages dwindle, it's best to be as inclusive as possible-we notice!
Didn't you?
Bisous!
*Shout to Jezebel for Italian Vogue scans.
*If you're a mag hag, I highly recommend reading the blog Make Fetch Happen. Brigitte sifts through your favorite glossies with a fine toothed comb, and offers well informed, witty opinions.

Jourdan Dunn: Model of the Year

Jourdan Dunn took home the Model of the Year award last night at the British Fashion Council's Annual Ceremony:
At just 18, the young Brit has scored the cover of Italian Vogue, several print campaigns, and made news as the first black model to stomp for Prada since Naomi Campbell 15 years earlier! Snaps for bringing it home! Let's hope she continues skyward, and doesn't end up like her.
Bisous!
Psst In other model news, NY Mags whispers that lithe mannequin Sessilee Lopez is boo'ed up with style czar Kanye West! Kanye does have good taste...

Black Models at London Fashion Week + House of Dereon Obama T

*NY Fashion Week is done, but it was only the beginning of Fashion Week fury! Some of our favorite models are now stomping across the pond in London:
Check Jourdan Dunn in Issa, Vivienne Westwood, and Aquascatum...
Our girl Chanel in House of Holland, Nathan Jenden, and Aquascatum...
...and other models in shows like Fashion Fringe, Peter Pilotto, and Meadham Kirchhoff..
Thanks to Bethann for raising the 'Black Model' issue and holding all designers accountable. Now, as an aside...don't the London shows look kind've dope...and refreshing??? I think the next stop for the Fashion Bomb might have to be international coverage...[Style.com]
*In the spirit of celebs jumping on the Obama Bandwagon, House of Dereon just released its own Obama T:
Get your t-shirt in navy, red, or white for $60 at the official Barack Obama store.
*If you want Cassie like YSL Tribal Sandals...
...but don't have $940 to spend, go to www.marciano.com for affordable alternatives. These Lacey and Garvin heels ...
...give off a similar look--minus the feathers. And at around $300, they're a relative steal.

The Fashion Bomb's Model Manual

Hey!
So while we all know the names of the season's hottest young models like Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, and Arlenis Pena...
...Adriana and I have been spying lots of new and perhaps unknown faces on the runway this season!
Today, I decided to give you guys a rundown of a few lesser known faces in the Fashion Bomb's Model Manual.
First, we have Hollis Wakeema...
Born in 1984, this Memphis Tennessee native has been ruling the runway since she signed with Vision Management in 2005. She debuted in the Catherine Malandrino's 2005 fall show, then went on to walk for Vivienne Tam, Marc Jacobs, and Diane von Furstenberg. Now with New York Models, she is the face of Paul Smith Women.
This season, catch her in Douglas Hannant, Nanette Lepore, Benjamin Cho, Marc Jacobs, Sophie Theallet, Chris Benz, Tracy Reese, Abaeté, Rock & Republic, and Rachel Roy.
In past seasons, she's been plucked by Vivienne Westwood, Baby Phat, Tracy Reese, and Duru Olowu!
Next we have Joan Smalls...
This 20 year old siren of Puerto Rican descent is currently signed with Elite models. In 2008 she became the face of Ports 1961, appearing in their print campaign.
Spot her this season in Ports 1961 and Tracy Reese.
In past years, she's done Diane von Furstenberg, Sass & Bide, Benjamin Cho, Heatherette, and James Coviello.
Up next: Samira Carvalho Bento...
This 18 year old Brazilian beauty was discovered in Garota da Capa 2002 contest organized by the Brazilian Raca magazine. Signed with Ford models, she debuted by opening and closing Diane von Furstenberg’s Spring collection in September 2007.
This Season she's stomped in Tracy Reese, Betsey Johnson, and Sophie Theallet. In past seasons, she's been busy with Alexandre Herchcovitch, Custo Barcelona, Diane von Furstenberg, Heatherette, Monique Lhuillier, Nicole Miller, Betsey Johnson, Baby Phat, Tommy Hilfiger, Yigal Azrouel, and L’Wren Scott.
Finally we have a few up and comers who have been spied on the runway (but their bios are not quite known).
There's Nana whose been spotted in Tracy Reese and Halston...
Sana Soegaard who lit up the runway at Cynthia Steffe and Tracy Reese...
And Shelby Coleman...
...who also made an appearance in Tracy Reese, but has been seen this season at Threeasfour and Tory Burch...
...and made cameos in the Resort collectins of Akris and Giambattista Valli.
Gorgeous!
Smootches!
Shouts to style.com and nymag.com for images and info.
*Let me know if I missed anyone!

ALT Hosts JHud Dinner + The Fashion Bomb in Upscale Magazine!!

*While I hit up the Russell Simmons and Betsey Johnson afterparties last night, seems Andre Leon Talley was hosting an event for Jennifer Hudson. A few pics:
I must say, Jennifer looks ravishing in red.
*Speaking of JHud, she's on the cover of Upscale Magazine's September/October Issue:
...which happens to have a little article on the Fashion Bomb on Page 63!!!
Click to enlarge
It says, "Aside from providing the latest style trends and stories, [the Fashion Bomb] also takes readers on virtual journeys to events like the renowned New York Fashion Week..." Who Me?!?
Pick up your copy of Upscale today!
*And it seems designers are reacting in interesting ways in regards to the 'Black Model Issue" with some like Sophie Theallet using all black models...
..to others like Betsey Johnson using just one:
Why the extremes? Can't the runways simply reflect your average New York city street? We've got a little bit of everything!