Happy 50th Birthday, Vogue Australia!

This has undeniably been a year of milestones. London Fashion Week celebrated its 25th season. Cosmetics giant, L'Oreal, celebrated 100 years of beauty. My boyfriend's grandparents celebrated 50 years of marriage. And one other entity celebrated 50 glorious years: Vogue Australia.

To commemorate the occasion, Kirstie Clements, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Australia, put forth an impeccable tour de force of a magazine. The September issue is graced by drawings of one of Australia's greatest actors, Cate Blanchett, in four different illustrations each by the London-based artist David Downton.

What I loved most about this issue were the many tributes to Australian fashion, culture, film, literature, and art. Australia is not often a fixture on the international scene, so it was terrific to learn so much about the country in a single issue. In a sense, the September issue could be treated as a reference guide for one wanting to learn more about the country. Even though my dearest friend is a bona fide expert on all things Australian, graciously educating her friends on the customs and manners of her adopted country, I still learned a few new things about Australia from this issue.

The issue also had insider perspectives from top Australian fashion editors, including the editor in chief. Ms. Clements, along with the fashion director, and other top positions on the masthead, reflected on their time with Vogue Australia and how each sort of fell into the position. Ms. Clements spoke of her world travels and how, at age 19, she returned to Sydney looking for a job. It just so happened that Vogue Australia was looking for a receptionist. Ms. Clements won the position and, ten years later, she wields the greatest power atop the masthead. Her message was particularly inspiring, even though she acknowledged that the industry has changed radically over the years and that the competition is now fierce. Indeed it is!

To pay homage to the great "Aussie cossie," Ms. Clements commissioned international designers to come up with their own version of the iconic Australian fashion piece. Karl Lagerfeld, Francisco Costa, and John Galliano all created swimsuits best reflecting the special joie de vivre of the Australian woman. In another tribute, Ms. Clements chose fifty of the best covers of the magazine.

Issues of Vogue Australia are expensive outside of Australia: $11 for each issue. The September issue, however, coming in at 360 pages, is unquestionably worth the eleven dollars. If you've ever wanted to learn more about Australian fashion, the September issue is your chance to do so. I can't think of a better way to celebrate fifty years of Australian culture than the triumphant September issue.

America's Next Top Model Joins the Blackface Bandwagon

Hey Glamazons,

A Glamazon reader brought to my attention that in last night's episode of America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks painted a white and Asian contestant black for their photo shoot. According to the Huffington Post:

"...in last night's episode, Tyra crossed the fine line from tasteless over to offensive when she put the remaining six contestants in ethnic garb and gave them biracial identities."

Tyra shot these six contestants in a sugarcane field in Hawaii, culturally significant because as she puts it, people traveled from different places to work there and procreated to develop blended races. In reference to the ethnic garb, Tyra explained that the clothes chosen aren't accurate representations of the way certain cultures dress, but merely "a fashion interpretation." Hmm. Does creativity negate the need for historical accuracy? Does it justify cultural insensitivity? Interesting...

Given my and lot of your heated reactions to another "fashion interpretation," the French Vogue Blackface photo shoot, I was sure that Tyra's photo shoot would be met with just as much hostility. Until I read another comment about the fact that Tyra has painted white and black contestants with Asian features for ANTM Cycle 3's shoot in Tokyo. See photos below.

I wonder if Asian, and specifically Japanese, women watching the show felt the same kind of outrage that many of our black readers did...or is this practice specifically hurtful to us given the sensitive history of blackface?

What do you think? Are the images from the ANTM photo shoot as offensive as that from French Vogue? Why or why not? Why was there an outrage among black women (and men) for the French Vogue photoshoot while the Asian population remained largely silent about the ANTM photo shoot? What's the line between art and racism? Does it differ depending on the race being "interpreted"?

Discuss.

Kisses,

Coutura

Photos: The CW. antmc3.blogspot.com

I want it.

Never, never, grows old. The Damaris bow knicker....its love.

Hidden Underneath.

Lovers of lingerie you must have this book in your boudoir! 'Hidden Underneath, A History of Lingerie' by Farid Chenoune, is the story of lingerie. Its pages are adorned with lace, glamour celebrities, editorials, and such interesting tales and facts. I spied it in Myla, and through over examination I recieved miscalculated looks from the shop assistants. However, well worth it.

Hot.hot.hot.

I have just discovered Australian swimwear brand Azzollini and it is hot! Lush. Beautiful photographic styling, the best I have ever seen for a swimwear brand. I want it all.....

http://www.azzollini.com.au/

Banger booster...really?

Banger hammock? This sounds a little worrying. I am a little unsure about Gok Wan's shapewear line, or perhaps more unsure about the language he is using to describe lingerie and the female form. Don't get me wrong, it does not offend me, colloquial language is the basis of buzz words and good marketing, but could he just not be a little elegant with his 'terms'?!

He can also credit to his name the 'super slicker knicker', 'boobylicious basque' and the 'sex kitten corset'. They all just remind me of tweenies hotmail addresses. His products are not cheap and nothing particularly new to the shapewear field, and so these names can certainly not be justified! Calm down Gok.

Through the Vogue Looking Glass...

Thanks to a new feature on Vogue.com, Inside Vogue, mere mortals are given a rare glimpse into the real-life closets of actual Vogue editors. If you've ever wondered what the fashion luminaries behind the scenes are wearing (when they're not at industry parties or gallery openings), Vogue has finally provided the antidote.

The feature is called "Five Days, Five Looks, One Girl" and it gives individual editors the opportunity to describe their unique fashion point-of-view through a week's worth of outfits worn to the office. This isn't just any office, mind you, so you can imagine how high my expectations were. The feature also sheds any illusions readers might have of the real world Vogue mimicking a set on "The Devil Wears Prada" or "SATC: The Movie." Um, not quite, but the fashion bar was still set very high.

Features Associate, Sophie Pera, contributed the inaugural five looks, and she certainly did not disappoint. I was immensely impressed with her creative approach and unique spin on basic pieces (bodysuits, sweatpants). This is exactly the kind of exemplary style one would expect from a junior Voguette. Oh, and those amazing bright orange plastic shoes?! I must find a pair!

Associate Fashion Editor, Veronica Gledhill, also displayed her high-fashion style, even if on a more subdued level than Ms. Pera. Ms. Gledhill, who explained that she only dresses in a spectrum of black, white, and cool gray, completely changed my mind on the virtues of dressing without colour (I previously thought that there were none). Ms. Gledhill challenged the notion that black can be too basic by wearing her garments in unconventional ways. A silk ivory slip was worn over a black dress, a scarf was looped around the waist and over the shoulders (completely transforming the ensemble), and metal hardware was burnished and textured to augment the effect. In short, Ms. Gledhill proved herself to be a beacon of style and certainly one to watch over the years.

The new Inside Vogue feature has reached even higher on the masthead with Sally Singer, Filipa Fino, and Sylvana Soto-Ward all contributing looks. Not surprisingly, some big fashion names were sported. Shoes by Manolo Blahnik and YSL. Miu Miu bags. Prada pants. Oscar de la Renta skirts. This is to be expected from the top of the masthead where the salaries are higher and the experience is greater, but I was a little disenchanted to find that even assistants had the funds for fashion's biggest names (granted, they were balanced out with pieces from American Apparel, Express, and Top Shop to name a few). I am certainly no math whiz, but a small salary plus NYC rent does not add up to YSL platforms in my mind...

Although the feature was dubbed "Five Days, Five Looks, One Girl," one editor in particular was given the opportunity to showcase not five but fourteen looks. Who could this editor be? Why Vogue's socialite-extraordinaire, Lauren Santo Domingo, of course. Not only did Vogue's shining social star (and contributing editor) offer a full week's worth of outfits worn during Fashion Week, she also offered corresponding day and night looks. Lauren Santo Domingo certainly proved why she is a fixture on Vogue's weekly best dressed list compiled by Style Director Alexandra Kotur.

If these looks weren't exciting enough for you, stay tuned. We just might see Anna herself profiled in "Five Days, Five Looks, One Editor-in-Chief."

(all images in this post are from Vogue's website, http://www.vogue.com/)

Gin and lingerie?

Appartment C is a new lingerie boutique of Marlyebone high street, and it is well worth a visit, with an interesting range of lingerie brands, aromotherapy products and coffee table books you simply cannot resist to pick up! They also stock a favourite of mine, Bebaroque hoisery. Bespoke tights and stockings, created by two graduates from the Textiles for Fashion course at the Glasow School of art.

http://www.bebaroque.co.uk/

Did I mention you could drink gin from teacups?! Well worth a visit!

Sonia Rykiel designs lingerie line for H&M

Parisian knitwear designer, Sonia Rykiel is to design a lingerie collection for H&M. I am so excited for this! In stores on the 5th December, I will be making a trip to my closest H&M despite probably having to fight for a peek at the pieces with investing fashion students. Rykiel is also to create a knitwear range for spring 2010 for H&M.

I am happy I can finally invest in some colourful Parisian chic, after only being able to admire it in the likes of Pritemps and Selfridges. Yet it worries me that the collaboration may not be quite justified. From past experiences H&M lingerie has a tendency to be tight fitted, a poor range of sizes and tiny plastic components that simply dig into your body! As a slightly larger size of 32 D even I worry, will I get something that will fit me comfortably without a suffocation of my chest!

Still very excited...and cannot wait to get my hands on it!

The Truth About Weave Part II: I'm Never Giving It Up

When it comes to weave, I'm in L-O-V-E. There's nothing that you can do (or say) to convince me otherwise.

Growing up in the tiny town of Marshall, TX, there really wasn't much to do. So, if I wasn't reading or a book or practicing on the piano (yeah, I was a nerd) I was creating new styles for my hair. I didn't have a perm and would get my hair pressed with a hot comb by my mother or grandmother. (Because of this, I've had my scalp and the tips of my ears burned so much that it hardly hurts when any type of heat is directly applied to my scalp. I don't know if that's sad or funny lol). I begged to no avail for a perm, but my mother would just simply say that I didn't need one and promptly ignore me. It seemed (to me) that all the girls with perms could do more with their hair; including adding in weave. Plus, I didn't know how to even add in the weave; because all of the girls that had it would go to the beauty shop. (Another place that my mother never let me go to unless it was a special occasion and even then I was closely monitored.) Needless to say, I learned how to use a curling iron very quickly and would create hair looks that I thought was cool. From curls to crimps, I rocked 'em all. However, I still longed for weave; and not because I wanted the "long Barbie hair like a white girl" but because I wanted to be able to change up my look and hair color. To me, changing up my hair look was like a way of putting on a new costume. One day I could be a sexy pinup girl with long, tousled tresses and the next I could be a vixen with a short pixi cut. Alas, this was all in my dreams. So, I figured that I'd make these transformations once I got to college.

By the time I got to college, the most weave I would wear would be braids. (Simply because I was in the marching band (yeah, I started out as a music major before switching over to journalism) and it was easier to not have to worry about doing my hair). I still didn't have a perm, but I longed for the professional weave that the movie stars were wearing. But, I was even broker than I am now, so it was out of the question for me to spend so much money on weave when I had books to buy and "perfectly fine hair" anyways. (Well, that coming from my family and ex-boyfriend.) So, I kinda let my weave dreams go for awhile.

Then, I moved to NY and it was literally everywhere and I just had to have it! So I did and quickly became obsessed. I would wear it long for a couple of months. Then, rock a cute bob with colored streaks. Oh the possibilities!

Much like Coutura, it's not like I'm unhappy with my own hair. It's just that why bother trying to create these glam looks with my own hair, when I can just add in this hair and look amazing?! Weave doesn't have to be a bad thing and I really think that's it gotten a bad rap for no reason. I don't always wear it (I have a cute, blonde, weaveless bob right now); but I don't see anything wrong with adding in a track or two...(or three or four) as I (or my hairstylist, the amazing Tracy Washington!) sees fit. I'm always down to try new hair looks. From cuts to coloring, I've pretty much done it all. I currently have a cut, color and Brazilian (which I blogged about in previous entry). And there's no way you could be my man and hate on my weave. I will always wear it and (since it's professionally done) you can run your fingers through it and it won't fall out or bite you. I love the freedom it gives me to change up my look and I wouldn't have it any other way. Check out the many looks that I've had over the past couple of years with extensions. As long as it looks dope, who cares?!

xo

Ferocia

Here's my real hair.....

Long and curled...

Long and straight....

Rockin' a bob w/colored pieces.

NEW! Vanessa and Angela Simmons Launch Clothing Line

Angela and Vanessa Simmons are bringing the glitz and glam of the Los Angeles' VIP party scene to your closet. As the Glamazons reported during NYFW, the moguls behind Pastry Kicks are designing a high-end clothing and footwear line via People Magazine. It's only right that Vanessa and Angela, offspring of the family responsible for Baby Phat and Phat Farm, expand their own sneaker brand to clothing and footwear.

Vanessa gave me the scoop about her clothing line and modeled one of her designs at Mary J. Blige's Gucci for FFAWN event. Check out her skirt below:

The Pastry blog also posted a pic of this dress and heels as a peak of what to come. Love the shoes!

"The pieces are just so original and so outside of the box of what anyone is doing," Vanessa shared with People Magazine. If these looks are any indication, the line will indeed be fresh, high-fashion and VIP party-friendly. The sisters plan to launch a series of heels and flats at Macy's this holiday season.

Discuss: do you like the pieces from Pastry VIP? Will you wear it when the collection hits stores?

Kisses,

Coutura

Photos: Pastrykicks.com

The Truth About Weave Part I

Hey Glamazons!

Ever since Chris Rock called us out in the documentary, "Good Hair," everyone has been discussing why weaves are...well, horrible. Men are complaining that they can't run their fingers through weaved heads without hitting the tracks or "speed bumps," or "choo-choo's" as they call it. Women are applauding celebs like Kandi from Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta for wearing their own hair while side-eyeing her castmate, Nene's weaved haircut.

In fact, on our magazine's website, commenters talked about weaves like they were for bald-headed misfits that secretly hate themselves. Like the natural hair on weave-wearer's heads is so nappy, thin and sparse, the only way we can get out of bed and face the public is if we put some poor Indian woman's hair on our heads. Not true!

On behalf of weave lovers everywhere, Ferocia and I are doing a two-part post breaking down myths about being weave-a-licious---and proving that it's not a bad thing.

-MYTH: Only women with short or no hair wear weaves.

I recently had a weaved bob (see below), took it out last night and wore my real hair to work the following day.

My hair in a (weaved) bob

My real hair after I took the weave out

Everyone---from men to multicultural women---had the same question:

"If your real hair is long and healthy, why do you wear a weave?"

Huh?

I thought such ignorant concepts about weave disappeared in the 90's, but maybe I'm wrong. No longer are weaves the saving grace for people with no hair.

In my opinion, it's old news that women with flowing beautiful hair down their back (and even white women...hello Khloe Kardashian! (If you don't believe it, watch her segment on Wendy Williams where she talks about putting a bobby pin on her track) are wearing weaves for a number of reasons. Let's name a few:

(1) To try a new color or cut without committing. I wanted to rock the asymmetric bob trend without cutting my real hair and having to suffer through that awkward stage as the hair grows back. I also wanted to energize my look with a sexy new honey blonde color. A weave allowed me to experiment with cut and color...and take it out as soon as I was over it (for me, this is a two week span). Genius! A lot of celebrities---from Rihanna to Mary J. Blige---wear weaves for just that reason.

(2) Some weaves are easier to maintain than real hair. As I prepared to travel to Southern Spain this summer (most amazing trip...ever! btw), I knew I would want to swim in the ocean everyday. Instead of wearing my real hair, which would entail me washing, blow-drying and flat-ironing daily, I wore a weave that could withstand daily trips to the beach.

(3) To add texture and volume to your real hair. Many women just sew in a few tracks of weave (of the same length or shorter) to make their own hair fuller. Run your hands across the scalps of your favorite famous Hollywood starlet and I guarantee you'll find one or two tracks in the center or bottom to give her that glamourous red-carpet volume.

(4) To give your real hair a break. Curling and flat-ironing your real hair takes a tremendous toll. Many women circumvent this by applying heat to style weaves while their real hair remains safe from harm.

Sure, weave has its share of setbacks. For example, sometimes, your scalp just needs to breathe which is why it's good to rock your hair out every couple of months.

Also, sewn-in weaves can cause breakage by tugging at your real hair in cornrows. For this reason, when getting a sewn-in weave, it's important to avoid braiding the hair so tight that the weave pulls at your real hair. My hairstylist even braids synthetic hair into my cornrows so the tracks don't strain my real hair as much.

One complaint that isn't a setback? That men "can't run their fingers through weave." Trust: I wouldn't let you touch my hair, real or weaved, anyway. =)

Discuss: What's your opinion on weaves?

Kisses,

Coutura

NEW!! Jean Paul Gaultier for Target

Hey Glamazons!

As Ferocia's told you a million times before, we do a lot of squealing in the Fashion & Beauty department. Today's squeal of enthusiasm and unparalleled excitement is brought to you by the latest retail giant/designer collaboration: Jean Paul Gaultier!!! This, glamazons, is a HUGE deal.

Jean Paul Gaultier needs no introduction but here's some brief background info: The French designer's innovative, dramatic designs catapulted him from designing for his mother and grandmother to fashion royalty. Some of his most famous creations include corsets for men in 1997 and the lingerie-over-your-clothes trend which Madonna brought to the mainstream in her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour.

Gaultier often credits the street fashions of the youth in London and New York as the inspiration behind his edgy designs. His muse for the Target collection? "Jean Paul Gaultier for Target pays tribute to the American woman, celebrating the forces of style both past and present in American pop culture," the retailer said.

I'm dying. If Madonna or even Rihanna are the "forces of style" behind these designs, Gaultier will surely deliver a collection that is everything. Here are the deets:

Jean Paul Gaultier for Target will hit 250 Target stores and Target.com on March 7. It will be available through April 11.

Check out some faves from Jean Paul Gaultier's Spring 2010 collection below and let me know if you'll be shopping his collection for Target.

Kisses,

Coutura

Weekend Recap: Black Girls Rock! Awards and NeYo's 30th Birthday Party

Whew..what is it about Mondays? I don't know about everyone else, but they are always the loooonnggeest day of the week for me! I swear that it always feels like I've been here for 24 hours. Sometimes I think about pulling one of those cushioned red benches in the beauty/fashion area into the beauty closet and just spending the night! I mean, I have everything that I need to exist here at the office. (I don't know whether that's funny or sad lol)

But, I did have a stellar weekend! My life gets so crazy and busy that it's easy to forget what else exists outside of my little bubble. However, I received a quick reality check on Saturday night after attending the Fourth Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards. (Ambi was the official skincare sponsor and invited me to be one of their guests...that's me pictured here, seated and waiting for the show to begin....thanks Ambi!) Hosted by actresses Tracee Ellis Ross (who is hilarious!) and Regina King, this was truly an inspiring event. It made me look back at my life and realize that I've done nothing to give back since I've moved here to the Big Apple. With that said, I've now decided to give over my spare time (what little bit that I have) and get more involved with the youth here in the city.

This awards show serves as a fundraising event for the nonprofit youth empowering mentoring organization, Black Girls Rock!, Inc.

Honorees for the night included: Mary J. Blige (received the "Icon" award); Raven Symone (received the "Young, Gifted & Black" award); Dr. Mehret Mandefro (received the "Community Service" award); Naomi Campbell (received the "Fashionista" award); Janelle Monae (received the "Who Got Next?" award); Dr. Sonia Sanchez (received the "Living Legend" award); DJ Spinderella (received the "Jazzy Joyce DJ" award); Iyanla Vanzant (received the "Shot Caller" award); Queen Latifah (received the "Rock Star" award) and Anthony Hamilton (received the "Soul Brother #1" award).

Highlights of the evening included an impromptu free style session from Doug E. Fresh (yes, even after all these years, the man has still got it!); an amazing performance by Melanie Fiona (I'd never heard her sing before and the girl has got a nice voice on her) and an equally awesome performance by Janelle Monae. (I got the chance to interview her during Fashion's Night Out. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me.) I was also astounded by the poet Sonia Sanchez as I remember studying her in one of my African American literature classes from college. She even came up and spoke to me after the event and I gave her a big hug. Just to be in the presence of these great women was an experience that I'll never forget.

After my hours of inspiration, it was time to party. Emil Wilbekin (managing editor at essence.com and former EIC of VIBE magazine...love him to pieces! and did you know that he's an honorary Glamazon?!), Jennifer Cooper (photographer for essence.com) and I all headed over to Cipriani's for NeYo's 30th birthday party. There I met Rihanna's stylist Mariel Haenn, Ryan Leslie and a bevy of other important people in the music industry. The party was chock full of half naked women painted in body glitter and there were ice sculptures abound (even the bar was made of ice!) All in all, a fab night. Check out the pics below!

xo

Ferocia

I was stoked to meet the actress Raven Symone. She's a very cool young lady. Makes me wanna step up my game...I mean, she's only 24 and has already done so much!

Me along with makeup artist AJ Crimson and the beautiful Lyndsay C. (Can you believe she's only 11 years old?! Isn't she gorge?! And she's so sweet..love her.)

Me and the haute celebrity stylist June Ambrose (who, by the way, says she just loves the Glamazons!)

Me and honorary Glamazon Emil Wilbekin (tip, tip, tip, Glamazon, tip, tip tip...)

Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King giving their best Naomi Campbell runway walks. Hilarious!!

Model Naomi Campbell accepting her award. She's so gorge!

Singer Melanie Fiona killed it onstage!

Impromptu performance by Doug E. Fresh!

Members of Black Girls Rock!, Inc. perform during the awards show.

Janelle Monae performing.

Mary J. Blige accepting her award....

And here she is later gracing the red carpet at NeYo's 30th birthday party! The songtress recently had her own red carpet event for FFAWN, the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now, which she founded with marketing pioneer Steve Stoute. (Coutura attended the event! Read more about it here.)

*Photo from gossiponthis.com

The man of the hour! (NeYo)

*Photo from gossiponthis.com