SUNDAY SKETCHIN'

NET EFFECTS

EVERLASTING

This is an absolute 70's gem. The incomparable Miss Natalie Cole singing THIS WILL BE. She was always one of my glamour icons. She has always been such an amazingly gorgeous woman and if you can believe it, looks even more amazing today at age 58. In this clip, her look is totally doing it for me. Her afro is a true fashion statement. Gorgeous smile. Beautiful skin. Natural makeup with a dusky blue eye shadow. And the pièce de résistance is that one shouldered, dolman sleeved, crystal detailed and monogrammed palazzo pant jersey jumpsuit - MAJOR!!!

GISELE EXTRAVAGANZA

Legendary Gisele - Face, runway and style diva.

TAKE COVER

Tyra Banks covering Harper's Bazaar - September 2008

CELESTIAL INSPIRATION

STAR SEARCH was the American Idol of it's day. They used to feature a TV Spokesmodel category that had me running back like a druggie on the 15th. This used to give me my fashion life as a kid. If it wasn't Miss USA, Miss Universe, Style with Elsa Klensch or Charlie's Angels, then it was definitely STAR SEARCH. I particularly LOVED Tracey Ross, winner of the show's first season. That blunt bob was so fierce and timeless and mother gave you Virginia Slims realness every week in the photo shoots.

GIRL OF THE MOMENT - SESSILEE LOPEZ

This girl's career SHOULD, and I stress should, get a huge boost from her recent brilliant cover and editorial work in Italian Vogue. This was singularly one of the best photo spreads in recent fashion history. This girl embodies the true essence of a model. Her transformations from page to page were legendary. Her expressive face and movement of body literally leap off the page. When I say this girl has face, honey, I mean this girl has rock-socking, stop traffic, jaw-dropping, cheek boned, mocha skinned, almond eyed, motherfucking face, dammit. Learn it!!!!!

The thing that is so amazing to me is her striking resemblance to 80's iconic runway supermodel and YSL/Versace muse, Amalia:

Amalia serving lame' realness with fellow African diva, Iman.
Giving arms and attitude for Versace.

LIGHTER, CAMERA, ACTION.....

Now I love me some Bey, but baby girl, what in the hell is going on? Beyonce Knowles has a new campaign with L'OREAL Feria hair color and it seems as though they found a blonde, Swedish woman named Inga to fill in as a body double for Baby Bey. Now I love creative expression and artistic freedom as much as the next fashion designer living in NYC, but, come on now! If that photo were any lighter, you would only be able to see Bey's corneas.

Now this is the thing, we do not know if Bey and Mama T have photo approval as a clause in their contracts. This may ALL be the fault of L'OREAL. Bey never struck me as a person that hates her blackness - just as a girl who likes blonde hair. Does the love of blonde hair, light, skin, straight noses and light eyes speak to a deeper issue? I actually believe it may. It still amazes me that Americans are still stuck on this damn color issue. Blacks and whites in America can still have the field/house slave mentality when it comes to color. Amazingly enough, blacks all over the world experience this phenomenon - the lighter you are, the more beautiful you are, the less threatening you are, the smarter you are - the closer you are to being white. Many have embraced this as their own ethos. Sad.

Many blacks in Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean have ingrained, deep-seated issues with self hatred fostered by our collective and individual histories and by images of beauty in the media. I think it speaks volumes that far too many blacks (of myriad backgrounds) question the beauty of an Alek Wek or an India Arie, when the beauty of their lighter peers is instantly absorbed into the collective conscious. Now don't get me wrong - this is NOT hateration for my lighter sister and brothers. I think my life is actually enriched by acknowledging the beauty in ALL people, no matter if they are white, tar black, high yella, short, fat, skinny, bald, unbeweavable or have polka dot skin and striped hair. I do not want to cut myself off from any of God's beautiful handiwork. The real kiki of it all is that beauty truly does come from within - the outside, including our skin and hair, is all drag.

I love Bey in all of her blonde fierceness - I just hope that her Blonde Ambition isn't sending the wrong message to all the little Lakeishas and NayNays out there. I hope that these little girls (and boys too) - no matter how dark, nappy headed, broad nosed, big bootied or thick lipped they may be - will see the absolute perfection in their beauty. I hope they realize that GOD made them exactly how they are and that He only makes masterpieces. Their true beauty lies in their hearts, minds and spirits. When we can truly embrace that, we won't see our fellow man as ugly or as less-than.

A couple of years ago, Kiri Davis, a young black NYC high school student, created a film that documents the horrible stereotyping that we as blacks do to ourselves and that this form of self hatred starts with our small children. Please watch:

Now my take on it is that L'OREAL isn't thinking about the Coretta-Scott-King-ness-of-it-all, they are thinking solely about the coins. Corporate America and the American media could care less that a seed of self hate may be planted in a little colored girl in the projects in Fort Green, Brooklyn because all she sees is 'the other', never herself. In fact, it is that seed of self hate that will grow into a raging monster that cannot buy enough weave, perm, Ambi and hazel contacts that will keep these guys rich and keep her poor in the richness of her true self.

TAKE THAT TO THE BANK

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I have to say that right now, I am having a nice little love fest with the one and only Miss Tyra Banks.

I have followed this woman's career since I was in college at Parsons and she had just started walking the runways of Paris. She made a huge splash during her premiere season in Paris booking 40 odd shows in one week - unprecedented at the time for any model, black or white. Tyra has done what NO OTHER MODEL in history has ever done - she's built an empire as a supermodel, actress, tv host and big shot producer.

One of her hugest successes is the iconic AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL. It doesn't matter that most of the girls would never have a chance in hell of getting booked by anyone on Seventh Avenue - what matters is the drama, the humor, the ridiculousness and the dream that she provides every week.

To top that off, she launched her hit eponymous talk show. She has become the de-facto esteem-booster for young, female America. Her appeal spans all races and economic groups and it is her intelligence, humor, wisdom, her self deprecating humor and yes, her beauty that keeps 'em coming back for more. It is actually her corny side that I love the most - I love the fact that she may pick POPEYE'S chicken over Le Cirque. She embodies an accessible, Americana glamour that folks just love. Tyra can serve face, hair and drag with the best of them, but she truly is one of the great natural beauties of our time. Skin, bone structure, almond eyes, bee stung lips, and body-ody. Werk sis.

Years ago, I hung out with Tyra at a pizza joint in the village and was invited by her to a party celebrating one of her Sports Illustrated covers. What struck me then, and is consistent now is the humble, funny and sweet spirit that is at her core. I look at her with the same pride and giddiness that I felt when Halle won her Oscar or when Barack won his nomination. She really inspires me, gets me to thinking, makes me laugh and I can truly say that I am so proud of her and her accomplishments.

Here is a clip of Tyra's cover and editorial shoot for the September issue of Harper's Bazaar where she channels Michelle Obama, soon to be first lady of the U S of A:

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Coal rimmed, swan neck - Erykah Badu meets Gloria Vanderbilt serving plantation couture
Italian Vogue - July 2008
Shot by - Steven Meisel
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Big hair, bodacious bod
Covering the New York Times Magazine, June 1, 2008
shot by: Ruven Afanador

THAT MAGIC TOUCH

When I left Detroit to head to NYC to go to Parsons School of Design at age 17, I was totally green and The Big Apple seemed like Mars to me. I had never been exposed to so much at one time. I was very afraid and very leery of everyone and everything. But God works in mysterious ways. Next door to my dorm in the East Village lived an angel on earth who would become a good friend, spiritual adviser, colleague and go-to person for advice, wisdom, a good laugh, a prayer and a good dose of fierceness.

That woman is none other than the amazing Sharon "Magic" Jordan-Roach. Magic, as she is so affectionately called by her friends, is truly the Grand Dame of black fashion. Having been a muse and mannequin for Patrick Kelly, Isaia, Michael McCollom and every other black designer with a sketch pad, Magic has inspired and supported so many for so long, both on the runway and backstage. This woman is one of the world's great beauties - both inside and out. She has a smile and a spirit that will light up any room (and skin that women would die for). She is fearless and inventive, always taking the steps that designers dream that women will take. No one, and I mean NO ONE, can rock some hair, real or otherwise, like Miss Magic! That unbelievable face has taken her around the world and landed her on a million runways as her genuine, loving character has landed her in the hearts of all she meets. She is an accomplished model, producer, designer, entrepreneur, wife and mother. With Magic, what you see is what you get. There is no pretense, no fakery, no chicanery, no attitude - just pure love, creativity and humanity.

Many times people do not realize the scope, the range and the impact of their influence on others. This post is to let her know how much I adore her, admire her and respect her for all of her contributions to our community and for the love she has shared with me. Here is my friend in all of her fabulousness:

Magic - Essence Magazine January 2007 - FABULOUS AT ANY AGE. This woman epitomizes the fact "...that black don't crack". If she could, she should package her genes, bottle them and sell them at your local pharmacy because she'd make a fortune!

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UMA OVAH

I have always loved Ms. Uma Thurman. She is that singular actress that combines other-worldly beauty with an amazing, statuesque physique and a to-hell-with-anyone-who-doesn't-get-me attitude. She has generally done a great job of balancing commercial fare with art house flicks as to stay relevant on both sides (Dangerous Liaisons and the Kill Bill series are some of my faves). She is kinda like Angelina Jolie, but less kooky (and I say that with all due respect because I LOVE Ms. Jolie). And on top of all of that, she is a real ACTRESS - talented, versatile and real, not a wanna-be.

Some of you may not realize, but Uma was once a top model in the mid 80s. She was so amazing editorially because of her unique face, her ability to move and her ability to act and emote. Plus, that face was and still is sitting in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. See Uma then and now:

Uma circa 1985 Italian Vogue - serving face and a fierce bob as a teenager in buffalo check and lacquered high water trousers.
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Uma now - one of the great natural beauties of our times. Here she is working natural waves, piercing eyes and asymmetric lemon chiffon.
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