Vogue Italia July 2008 : Liya, Sessilee, Jourdan & Naomi by Steven Meisel

[dpbenson]

I wonder if, with the success of this issue, Vogue Italia would ever do a repeat in a few years.

 

[tanii94]

I swore Arlenis had a cover with this. No?

 

[tarsha]

^ No, there were just 4 covers.

 

[Breathless]

The saddest thing to me about this issue, what I predicted would happen anyway, is that not a single black or asian model has grace the cover since. Italian Vogue or any other edition should not wait 'til they decide to make an issue like this historic one but rather just put models of all nationalities on their covers without it having to be a hidden agenda.

Another thing I've notice is that on this very forum minorities get questioned or judged more so for gracing covers almost as much as celebrities. It bothers me a great deal when reading a few comments on here. Only a handful of black models don't receive much negativity and it's usually the "token black model" such as Joan Smalls or Jourdan Dunn, both who are very successful but still struggle to even get ad campaigns or a Vogue Cover (I don't think Joan has one yet).

The fashion industry has the money and power to change a persons perspective about someone no matter their race, gender, or personality if they just give them the equal opportunities like everyone else. Has there been any change? yes but not enough.

 

[Deslin]

Meisel surprised me with the models he chose in the January 2011 issue. I didn't expect to see Melodie, Anais, Fei Fei or Hereith dominate that editorial. It was actually very hopeful and I look forward to seeing this diversity in upcoming issues. I'm glad they did this July 08 issue though, but I think models of color can stand on their own without the gimmick. Here's to hoping

 

[Whats Ur Name]

4 years later and i still can't find a copy, smh

 

[Bertrando3]

OMG you guys I just received mine today lol (4 years later lol) and it's FANTASTIC!!! sooooo cool! I wish they do it again. To Whats Ur Name I've got my copy on ebay and there are 4 or 5 now too but the prices are a bit expensive perhaps, I bought mine: 59€ (shipping coasts included) and in excellent shape: brand new with Liya on the front cover and then obviously the other 3 in the fold out covers

 

[Bertrando3]

>> Naomi Campbell, long a crusader for models of color — who also happens to be verging on her 25-year anniversary in the industry — is still frustrated with ad casting, she tells the Telegraph UK: "This year, we have gone back all the way that we had advanced. I don't see any black woman, or of any other race, in big advertising campaigns."

In the upcoming issue of POP, she expresses a similar feeling: "The black issue of Italian Vogue was great but I feel it was great for just a moment. It didn't work. You still don't see black models, ethnic models, and models from different cultures in advertising very much." She continues in the Telegraph UK: "That [Vogue Italia issue] made some noise, but, unfortunately, we are the same as before. People, in the panic of the recession, don't dare to put a girl of color in their campaign, full stop. Nor of any other race. It's a shame. It's very sad."
Perhaps part of the problem is that Naomi's young counterparts don't have a Christy Turlington or Linda Evangelista around for support? Naomi tells POP:
"Linda and Christy were very important to me in my career as a black model. They would say to designers who had never worked with black models, 'if you don't take Naomi we don't do your show.' Christy even more so: she introduced me to Steven Meisel, to Gianni Versace, and I always say that I owe her the biggest thank you. We are still great friends today. If she ever calls me for anything I will always break my back and try to do it for her, because I don't forget what she has done for me."

from: http://www.fashionologie.com - 31/08/2009

I was reading the mag and instantly it shocked me to see none black models in those ad campaigns in this issue, which is sort of not good since it's their "black issue" so I googled it and found this article from 2 years ago and I totally agree with Naomi: where are the top black models on runways and advertising campaigns??? Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Arlenis Sosa are doing good but they're established models and even with their status as top black models they don't have that many recent covers/interviews/campaigns/editorial work.

Obviously some designers have made a huge improvement on the runways but yet again it's a minority and on campaigns WE don't see them represented and don't get me started with men! Where ARE the black male models? There are none, except one or two. Chinese models are apparently the "new black" no pun intended, I mean it's good for one ethnicity to go out of the shadows but if it's for putting another one again there what's the point? Chanel, Dior, Armani aren't doing a single step towards helping back models at all!!! And they're the top names so they should be leading the way and giving an example for other brands to follow. Naomi, Tyra, Jourdan, Iman, always talk about it: the fact that Vogue Italia helped but then what happened? Nothing.

Naomi is right when she makes the reference to Christy and Linda who helped her and today who are the Caucasian girls who'll help their fellow black models to achieve big contracts? Karlie and Jourdan are friends but then again, Jourdan is an established "it" girl. And I totally agree with the statement that made Breathless, after that issue Vogue Italia didn't push for those black beauties, which is a shame. But I know Franca is dedicated to help them, hence her black section on Vogue.it, but it's not enough: designers SHOULD book more of them.

 

[Whats Ur Name]

OMG you guys I just received mine today lol (4 years later lol) and it's FANTASTIC!!! sooooo cool! I wish they do it again. To Whats Ur Name I've got my copy on ebay and there are 4 or 5 now too but the prices are a bit expensive perhaps, I bought mine: 59€ (shipping coasts included) and in excellent shape: brand new with Liya on the front cover and then obviously the other 3 in the fold out covers

Thnxs i'll try there xx

 

[Whats Ur Name]

I was reading the mag and instantly it shocked me to see none black models in those ad campaigns in this issue, which is sort of not good since it's their "black issue" so I googled it and found this article from 2 years ago and I totally agree with Naomi: where are the top black models on runways and advertising campaigns??? Jourdan Dunn, Joan Smalls, Chanel Iman, Sessilee Lopez, Arlenis Sosa are doing good but they're established models and even with their status as top black models they don't have that many recent covers/interviews/campaigns/editorial work.

Obviously some designers have made a huge improvement on the runways but yet again it's a minority and on campaigns WE don't see them represented and don't get me started with men! Where ARE the black male models? There are none, except one or two. Chinese models are apparently the "new black" no pun intended, I mean it's good for one ethnicity to go out of the shadows but if it's for putting another one again there what's the point? Chanel, Dior, Armani aren't doing a single step towards helping back models at all!!! And they're the top names so they should be leading the way and giving an example for other brands to follow. Naomi, Tyra, Jourdan, Iman, always talk about it: the fact that Vogue Italia helped but then what happened? Nothing.

Naomi is right when she makes the reference to Christy and Linda who helped her and today who are the Caucasian girls who'll help their fellow black models to achieve big contracts? Karlie and Jourdan are friends but then again, Jourdan is an established "it" girl. And I totally agree with the statement that made Breathless, after that issue Vogue Italia didn't push for those black beauties, which is a shame. But I know Franca is dedicated to help them, hence her black section on Vogue.it, but it's not enough: designers SHOULD book more of them.

That is sooo TRUE!!!!! i was saying the SAME thing the other day!!! Where has the sisterhood gone in the modelling industry?? smh

 

[Breathless]

I have to say this to Naomi's sisterhood statement. Even though that worked to her advantage back in the 90's, the models of today can all be replace by any other girl of the moment. Back then you only had about 10 or less major supermodels who can make such a demand like Christy or Linda did for Naomi. Karlie Kloss doesn't have the supermodel stature to refuse work for the sake of Jourdan Dunn. In fact, nowadays there aren't any supermodels but more so "models of the moment" within the industry. The closest this generation has to "Supermodel" is Gisele or possibly Lara Stone.

Also, I have to say this but Naomi is also somewhat to blame for some of the ruin careers of other upcoming black models during that 90's reign too. I've heard plenty of talk about her bitchy regards for the other girls of that time (Veronica, Beverly, Tyra, Georgianna, etc). Had she showed some sisterhood towards her own race during those tough times instead of feeling threaten or turning the other cheek things might be just a little different right now.

At this point I feel it is up to the top modeling agencies, stylists, photographers and editors to push diversity out into the public eye and make the kind of demands or refusals that Linda & Christy did for Naomi. This way advertisers are left no choice but to give in and I don't just mean for black models but all ethnic backgrounds, especially in U.S.A.

 

[alonsoJonathan]

hopefully new models like rose,n arlenis get a cover.
well rose been working alot with VI so hopefully sooon

 

[Bertrando3]

Joan is a living proof that it can happen but I wish we see more black models on editorials and on the runways. Gosh I wish they'd redo a black issue or a Asian issue = that would be FANTASTIC!!!

 

[Melancholybaby]

^You know what could be even more fantastic? Regularly featuring models of all races without the need to proclaim it's the "Black" or the "Asian issue". I find that gimmicky and an opportunity to create buzz around your magazine (which in the case of this issue worked considering its sales) but it doesn't really contribute anything in the long run.

 

[Bertrando3]

I totally agree with you but what I meant is that since magazines will never be that inclusive I still applaud those who, at least from once in a while, represent and celebrate models who are not the norm when it comes to models' norm you know.

 

[vogue28]

OMG you guys I just received mine today lol (4 years later lol) and it's FANTASTIC!!! sooooo cool! I wish they do it again. To Whats Ur Name I've got my copy on ebay and there are 4 or 5 now too but the prices are a bit expensive perhaps, I bought mine: 59€ (shipping coasts included) and in excellent shape: brand new with Liya on the front cover and then obviously the other 3 in the fold out covers

59€ for this issue? Gosh, eBay members must be making a small fortune over these collectable items.

But I did read somewhere that this is the one issue of Italian Vogue that was reprinted. So there should be a few copies around in those specialist hard-to-find magazine stores. It's a question of owners wanting to part with such a desired and historic issue.

 

[Bertrando3]

^ actually at the time I bought it, it was the cheapest one I could find, on ebay I remember seeing issues at more than 120$ alone! This is indeed the only Italian Vogue issue in the history of the magazine to have been reprinded not once but 4 times!!!

 

[ivano]

Source: hfgl.proboards.com

Vogue Italia #695
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Lori Goldstein
Models: Sessilee Lopez, Jourdan Dunn, Liya Kebede & Naomi Campbell
Make-Up: Pat McGrath
Hair: Guido

 

[ivano]

Modern Luxe
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Lori Goldstein
Models: Alek Wek, Alva Chinn, Sessilee Lopez, Ubah, Kiara Kabukuru, Noémie Lenoir, Veronica Webb, Arlenis Sosa, Liya Kebede, Karen Alexander, Iman, Yasmin Warsame, Jourdan Dunn, Gail O'Neil, Chanel Iman & Pat Cleveland
Make-Up: Pat McGrath
Hair: Guido


Source: Vogue Italia Archive

 

[ivano]

Source: Vogue Italia Archive

Model/Mogul
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Model: Tyra Banks
Make-Up: Pat McGrath


Source: Vogue Italia Archive