‘All-Black’ Italian Vogue White Hot at the Newsstand
Sell-outs, frenzied search for copies cause Condé to reprint ‘black issue.’
07/21/2008 -15:46 PM
When Italian Vogue announced that its July issue would feature all black models, it caused a relatively major stir in the fashion world. Now that the issue has arrived in the U.S., it seems to be causing a major publishing stir, too.
Historically, the conventional wisdom—and circulation and newsstand wisdom—in consumer publishing has been that putting an African American (model or celebrity) on the cover of a fashion magazine means that it “just won’t sell” well.
Not anymore.
Following a couple weeks of New York newsstand sell-outs (something I experienced first-hand last week at a popular storefront on Spring Street), various reports of frenzied, cross-town searches for copies (this is no small feat, considering the magazine is selling for $16 to $20 per copy) and the accompanying hype, Condé Nast has decided to reprint the issue—10,000 copies polybagged with the tagline “Most Wanted Issue Ever” and “First Reprint” banded across the front.
Undoubtedly, some will accuse the magazine of using black models as a publicity stunt, a marketing gimmick. But the execution of the issue’s editorial proves otherwise. As the Gawker Media blog Jezebel pointed out, “Never has the racism issue looked quite so stunning.”
London’s Telegraph called the issue a “statement against discrimination in the fashion world.” And it is. But there’s clearly a long way to go—and not just among magazine publishers.
Advertising pages were up 30 percent for the July issue, but there was a “glaring lack of black models” in them. Steven Meisel, the photographer for the issue, said: “I’ve asked my advertising clients so many times, 'Can we use a black girl?' They say no. Advertisers say black models don't sell."
RELATED LINKS
--
Post Comment / Discuss This Blog - Info/Rules
Black Vogue Issue selling out
Submitted by BBates on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 16:28.Of course the mag will sell out because beauty like love has no boundaries. This fact that the public has voted for greater inclusion (the ballot box in this situation sounds like a cash register) poses an interesting question. Can todays super models really be considered super models when they are not competing against all the eligible competitors? It's not just Black women who are cut out of the equation. It's Asian, Latin and anyone else who is not Anglo. Are non Anglos denied exposure because it would make it to difficult for Anglos to be recognized as beautiful?
Discrimination
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 13:24.I know this is only one issue, but doesn't this issue discriminate against everyone who isn't black?
Discrimination, I am so sick
Submitted by 2Tired on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 12:15.Discrimination, I am so sick of the only time people want to have dialoge about racism is when it somehow affects white people. I am not only a black woman, but I am a DARK black woman who never gets to be called beautiful by mass media. How is it fair that whites have had the opportunity to define black beauty which by the way has lead to some of the most harmful images ever. Black beauty under a traditional white lens means being light, and having as few "black features," as possible hurting darker girls such as myself. People are taken with this issue because the world has been robbed of true black beauty. Latinos, Asians have the same problems, we find Latinas and Asian women who are on the white side of their race to present as beautiful. Is that fair? Whether you are black, white, or whatever, seeing black beauty presented as an art is fascinating because its hardly ever shown.
Discrimination I am so sick
Submitted by AHolder on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 15:25.I would have to co-sign on 2 Tireds comments. I am a light skinned black woman and where I live, I'm not considered light enough to be beautiful. It sucks, but something that I have to deal with.
Yes it's discrimination
Submitted by Donnie Gayfield on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 22:05.Yes, the magazine discriminates against everyone who isn't black because white's in fashion have discriminated against everyone who isn't white! I'd say it's justifiable reverse discrimination--done fabulously with some of the most beautiful black women on earth!
Respond to discrmination comment
Submitted by jody on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 10:10.African Americanas always have been discriminated against. There isn't enough time for my people to catch up or surpass the very vicious and evil 60% of white America. My people want a even playing field. 60 % of white folks are affirmative action recipients. Due to the fact that your skin is white. They stole this country by killing off people who help them folks. That wasn't enough so white folks had to have slaves. Someone to do all the work then, later in history the real story won't be told. Only stories told will be the one that makes white male look good. Not the truth.White man broke up the black family on purpose. Now you say where the daddy. All this was done in the name of your gutter religion that you try to force on other groups of people, I could go on and on about injustices that still exist towards my people.
So the comment you made about the magazine discriminating against others. That is somemore ignorant thinking. Don't be scared of others that don't look like you succeeding. We all benifits when the playing field is even. Featuring rules that each group of people understand and can relate too. That is the only way. For peace on EARTH. Earth is messed up. What group of people contolled and messed it up.Mr. Great White Hope. So he doesn't have all the answers. His logic isn't preventive. It's wait till shit happens. Oh well welcome to America.
Equality
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 15:30.I like women for what they are inside,and I love really dark skinned women,
Please!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/01/2008 - 16:24.White folk has had a hold of the fashion market for far too long, and it's time that our black ladies are recognized for the beauty they possess. Love the magazine it's great for a culture of women whose beauty has been side stepped for far to long. Love you BLACK WOMAN!
Yep Discrimination
Submitted by Tina on Mon, 08/04/2008 - 23:44.There is ONE issue known as The Black Issue, and it's discrimination? Every other issue before and after -althought it will not be titled- will be KNOWN as The White Issue. OH MY GOSH! Not fair. Why does American Vogue get to have a White Issue every month? Why don't advertisers use black models? Why aren't there any black models on the runway? One issue dedicated to Black models compared to over 500 issues dedicated to White models...Now that's discrimination.
IT'S A Start
Submitted by Expecting a New Thing in 2008 on Tue, 08/05/2008 - 15:10.Yes I agree one black issue compared to over 500 issues it seems like nothing but to be honest it’s a tremendous start with incredible results. From here on out, we can only go up; it may not happen over night but it will happen. 2008 is the year of new beginnings and it’s up to us to see that, in the things going on in the earth today. And what we need to do is hold on to the NEW impacts being made today and what is to come. Instead of comparing the past with the present compare the now, “The effort to start Change”, with the future. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
A Model should be BEAUTIFUL- race not a consideration.
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 16:36.Beautiful issue- so lovely to see Tocorra on a huge spread! She is a truly beautiful woman. I would love to see the fashion industry not only embrace women of color and ethncity, but absolutwly beautiful woman. Where is the next Cindy, Naomi, Gia, Linda E., Iman? Why are today's fashion women all ugly & bony? I have nothing against that look (and I'm not fat!) but there's something about a full-figured (and I mean curvy, not "fat") woman that embodies all that God has given us, all things feminine and lovely. Tocorra IS that. And that face- wow!
I miss the days when only beautiful women like Raquel Welch & Sophia Loren earned praise for being truly beautiful women, and I wish our culture would return to that.
Designers who thoughtlessly used white models in their campaigns (although they KNEW it would be a "black" issue) only served to highlight the very noticable absense of originiality, race, or creed in their advertisements, and consequentially, who they beleive their clientel are. Wake up and smell the sunshine.
America is not that racist
Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 16:23.For the 2008 miss universe competition, the US had a black model represent the US :)
In the Olympics, one out of three swimmers was black. It's slowly changing. Be patient. Black models shoudl def be on the runways! You'll see, things will change. Rihanna is gonna represent Gucci very soon. Vogue is stepping up. The US magazines too. Tyra Banks and her show too. I see a slow change. Be positive. and believe in karma. cus its real.
About time...
Submitted by Mark Lewis on Thu, 08/14/2008 - 03:03.White guy's opinion here...black women are the most beautiful creatures on the face of the earth. It's about time this happened. The fashion industry should be shamed again and again until they change their ways.
A Black Issue
Submitted by giovanna on Thu, 09/11/2008 - 00:33.Yes, the Italian vogue issue featured black models as the story but 99% of the designers and advertisers used continued white models in the first third of the issue. They are still putting black models on the back burner and keeping them from lucrative advertising contracts.
It is discrimination...
Submitted by JP on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 09:19.Yes it's discrimination
Submitted by Donnie Gayfield on Thu, 07/31/2008 - 22:05.
Yes, the magazine discriminates against everyone who isn't black because white's in fashion have discriminated against everyone who isn't white! I'd say it's justifiable reverse discrimination--done fabulously with some of the most beautiful black women on earth!
I second that!
I hope other magazine's take advantage of the hype and include all shades of beauty in their magazines
Black woman are beautiful and they should be treated that way!
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/22/2008 - 15:48.I cant wait to buy it! Its great and its about time. . . Black woman shouldnt have to always look at the tv and either see a black women with super light skin and a cruly long fro or a brown skin women with super short poorly done hair when many black women have long growing thick healthy hair... Also Black women shouldnt have to be put down for there hips, curves and big beautiful lips all because white pple arent known for them, black women are put down for alot of things and yet white women go to high extends to get what black women have natrually! we are natrually beautiful and the world needs to know it!
Paranoid People
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/27/2008 - 12:07.Saying that "white folk" are like this or that is just as racist as you are claiming them to be. It wasn't "white folk" that killed natives or stole Africans for use as slaves, but EVIL folk- as well as BIGOTED, not "white" folk who "keep the black man down."
There's also a thing called preference. I am most attracted to black women... but does that mean I am racist against white women?? If I had my own magazine, it would be flooded with women from africa, dominican republic, haiti, and brazil... would that mean I am not giving fair opportunity towards europeans?
You want to even the score? Don't complain against buisnesses that have the right to print whatever they want, MAKE YOUR OWN magazine and put your own women in it.
It is NOT an discrimination...
Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 02/23/2009 - 11:36.I think each on every magazine company have the right to do what they wanted to do when it comes to who they want on their magazine cover.
FOLIO: PRIME SPONSORS
