Fashion at the CFDA Awards

We have high hopes re the red carpet when the soiree in question is held by the Council of Fashion Designers of America – an event which recognises the best in American womenswear, menswear, jewellery and accessory designers.

Not many surprised faces in the crowd when the winners were announced - Lady Gaga won Fashion Icon of the Year, Marc Jacobs got the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement and the UK represented with Hilary Alexander of The Telegraph getting the Eugenia Sheppard Media Award.

Lady Gaga in custom Mugler

Read on for some red carpet looks.

Kerry Washington keeps it simple and chic in Calvin Klein Collection.

Zac Posen with Sessilee Lopez wearing Zac Posen. Do all those seams at front make her look larger?

Chanel Iman in BCBG Max Azria. Love the easy waves in her hair.

Jessica Alba, pregnant and lovely in custom Diane von Furstenberg.

Never-looks-bad Liya Kebede in Derek Lam.

Model Anais Mali in Sophie Théallet with the designer.

Rachel Roy and Joy Bryant, both wearing Rachel Roy. They look like they're having a good time.

Fashion Giant: Bethann Hardison

If you are of a certain age, one of your favourite TV characters may have been Dwayne Wayne from the 90s American TV sitcom, A Different World. 

Dwayne Wayne was played by actor Kadeem Hardison. On this occasion, we’re not going to talk too much about Kadeem, but rather his mother Bethann whom we think is pretty amazing.

Hardison, currently editor-at-large at Vogue Italia online, is a towering figure within the world of fashion. She grew up in New York in a devout Muslim family and became the first African-American salesperson to work in a New York City garment district showroom in the 60s. After a chance meeting with the designer Willi Smith, she became part of a gaggle of coloured models who took the world by storm back in the 1970s.

During her modelling career, the New York native framed the clothes of many top European and American designers as well as appearing in fashion spreads in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Iman, Beverley Johnson and Pat Cleveland were among Hardison’s contemporaries on the catwalk.

Hardison, however, is better known for her work after she wrapped up her career on the runway. She became an agent first with a company called Click before setting up her own modelling agency Bethann Management in 1984. One of her early successes was the 80s supermodel Veronica Webb who went on to win a very much coveted multi-million dollar contract with Revlon.

Veronica Webb

Remember Ralph Lauren poster boy, Tyson Beckford? He’s another protégé of Hardison.  He wasn’t just the first black male supermodel; he was the first male supermodel full stop.

British supermodel, Naomi Campbell is another who owes her start in the fashion industry to the wonder touch of Hardison. But the 65-year-old has been so much more than an agent; she has championed the cause of people of colour in fashion.

Liya Kebede, Iman, Bethann, Naomi

In 1988, she set up a pressure group, the Black Girls Coalition with her great friend Iman (She was maid of honour at the Sudanese model’s wedding to David Bowie).

Bethann Hardison by Bruce Weber

After running her agency for 21 years, Hardison sold up and headed for a great retirement. But as the fortune of models of colour continued to decline, the 63-year-old was forced to return, this time as a spokesperson.  She is particularly disappointed about the lack of brown-skinned models on the catwalk and in magazine spreads, particularly after the heyday of the 70s.

Bethann (left) with Daniele Morera and Stephen Burrows 

“Once you’ve climbed to the top of the mountain you don’t expect to be back at the bottom again. It’s like once you’ve seen Paris it’s hard to go back to the farm. We had been there, we had achieved all this,” Hardison told London’s Guardian newspaper back in 2008. 

Hardison (left) strutting on the catwalk

In addition to all her campaigning, Hardison has a hugely influential role within Vogue Italia.  She is very much the inspiration behind Vogue Black, which as its name suggests promotes all things black in the world of fashion.

The Life Rhapsodic – US Vogue

Gorgeous shoot in the March 2011 issue of US Vogue. Featuring our faves Chanel Iman, Jourdan Dunn, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Joan Smalls and John Legend, ‘a bohemian cast of artists and models welcome the season in an exuberant riot of colour and print’.

The spread was photographed by Norman Jean Roy and styled by Edward Enninful with pieces from Louis Vuitton, Rodarte and Ralph Lauren. Very nice!


Watch a behind the scenes video here:

Arlenis Sosa, John Legend and Jourdan Dunn

Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn

Ajak Deng, Jourdan Dunn and Arlenis Sosa

Joan Smalls and Anthony Mackie

The Black Allure - Vogue Italia

Wow – we are almost speechless. Hunt down the latest issue of Italian Vogue (try large WHS stores) for a simply gorgeous spread featuring some of the hottest black women we have ever seen.

Think Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn, Melodie Monrose, Rose Cordero - and that’s not everyone.

Shot by Emma Summerton and styled by Edward Enninful, the ladies have a kinda old school 1920's thing going on.

Stunning! Stunning! Stunning!

More shoots like this please!

Hair - Are You Ultra Sleek or Messy Chic?

Two key looks that emerged from the catwalks this season were ‘ultra sleek’ and ‘messy chic’. The look can be applied to a variety of hairstyles.

Long hair
The sleek look is very flattering on square and round faces. Blow dry your hair with the comb extension on the dryer and/or with a round brush. Use irons to straighten small sections at a time ensuring you use a protective serum. We like Paul Mitchell Gloss Drops  and Aveda’s Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightner as they don’t weigh down the hair. To be very on-trend, part your hair down the middle.

Chanel Iman at Gucci

For the messy chic look, it might be easier to use extensions if you don’t want to damage your own hair. Use a volumising spray on damp hair, twist random pieces and leave to dry naturally.

Jourdan Dunn at Emilio Pucci

Hair up
The sleek look is easy and you probably wear your hair like this anyway. Pull into a low pony leaving the ends inside the hair band and use a gel or hairspray to tame any flyaways. Job done!

Melodie Monrose at Gucci

The messy version is just as simple. Use a texturing spray to create a little interest, pull into a pony at the crown and leave a few random ends free. If it’s a little too messy, pin some of the ends into loops.

Chanel Iman at D&G

Braids
Pull into a sleek low pony and plait the ends into a fishtail braid. There’s a very handy video here that gives a step by step guide.

For the messy chic look, sweep hair to one side, plait the stretched out sides and pull out the ends for a scruffy finish.

Gangs of New York

The February 2011 edition of US Vogue features an editorial entitled ‘Gangs of New York’. Seven designers including Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen showcased their key looks for Spring 2011, including romantic Victorian, 1970’s gloss and classic sportswear. All very different and definitely very American.

Our favourite spread was by Rodarte featuring Joan Smalls, Ajak Deng, Arlenis Sosa, Chanel Iman, Anais Mali, Jourdan Dunn and Sessilee Lopez. And we particularly liked the headgear!

Chanel Iman in February 2011 Elle UK

20 year old Chanel Iman has a whopping 18 page spread in February’s Elle magazine. She models Spring 2011 looks from Louis Vuitton , Miu Miu, Chanel, Fendi and more.

Chanel in Louis Vuitton

The article is called ‘The Collections’ and reports on the trends, cuts, colours and fabrics that are key this season. We’re off to buy our copy!

Chanel in Chanel

Chanel in Dior