Ports 1961 S/S 2008

I'm posting these images from the Ports 1961 by Tia Cibani campaign for two reasons, first because I'm lusting over many of the extremely elegant and wearable pieces in this collection and second to illustrate that it is indeed possible to photograph a beautiful black model like Joan Smalls in an African locale (Tanzania in these photos) without the use of colonial imagery, spears, masks or headdresses. I mean, she doesn't even have shiny skin! Who would have thought that was even possible?

Source(s): ports1961.com, gmb.ca, TFS

US Vogue - March 2008 - Liya Kebede

Photographer: Norman Jean Roy
Image Source: TFS/Luxx

Magazine Jones

My husband and I are not particularly religious people but we do
observe the Lent...sorta. I mean, we don't do it in the tradition sense, with the fasting and prayer, but we do try to give up one or more of our vices for a month and focus on more "enriching" activities. In the past the we've given up (or tried really hard to give up) drinking wine, eating red meat and eating out. Not exactly worthy of a twelve step program but you get the drift.

Anyway, I was thinking about this when I came across a phenomenal post by Afrobella this morning called Black Woman, Know That You Are Beautiful. This quote in particular really got me thinking:

I say, don’t waste your time buying Vogue or any of the so-called fashion bibles that hardly ever use models of color in their spreads. Support the publications that do...

Now, I've mentioned in the past that I am a magazine junkie. In addition to my subscriptions, I buy at least three more magazines each week. I can't even add up the ones that I thumb through at the checkout stand. It's become a serious habit. After running after my toddler all day there is nothing I enjoy more than brewing a cup of tea and sitting back with the colorful mental bubblegum of a fashion magazine. This of course, is not complication free. Finding a magazine that at least throws a token to the non-White consumers is a rare feat, especially now that Black History Month is over.

I've thought about giving up the glossy crack before and have even let a few subscriptions lapse but I often wonder if I'm disciplined enough to go cold turkey. What would I do with my hands? Would my wrist and flipping finger get flabby? Would by skin wrinkle without articles about the new "it" cream? Would I start wearing sweat pants to the market? Most importantly, what would I complain about?

As we move into Spring, I find myself thinking more about the choices I make with money and the things I support inadvertently by saying one thing and buying another. Does all this mean that I'll give up buying fashion magazines? Probably not but I know that looking at them with an even more critical eye and saving my dollars for issues that speak to my own interests and looking to new media sources to fill the void let by these old guard publications.

This all brings me to the March issue of US Vogue. There's nothing spectacular about the image of Drew Barrymore on the cover but there is something to be said for the contents. In addition to a spread of Liya Kebede shot by Norman Jean Roy (images to be posted soon,) there is also a brief article on the marriage of Studio Museum of Harlem curator Thelma Golden and designer Duro Olowu, a piece by Andre Leon Talley comparing Michelle Obama to Camelot era Jackie O., a profile on my new favorite Keisha Whitaker and Zoe Kravitz, and a lengthy article on CNN newswoman Gwen Ifills. For whatever reason, none of these features was deemed worthy enough to be mentioned on the cover but the issue itself is worth look at for those near a newsstand with idle hands.

New Girlcrush: Keisha Whitaker

In my opinion Keisha Whitaker was by far the best dressed woman at this year's Oscars. She looked flawless in the J'Aton Couture gown. I wasn't a huge fan of the canary yellow dress she wore last year to the event but this more than makes up for it. The off white gown makes her skin radiate. Nearly every photo I've seen of her over that past year has been picture perfect and she is slowly eclipsing Thandie Newton as my favorite red carpet star.

My Registry Overfloweth

You'd think we were inviting 400 people. Here's what happened: we might be slightly relocating to Columbus, where there is a brand new townhouse being built in the most loveliest of styles, for a reasonable price for the moment. David would continue to work and sleep in New York, and I would hold the fort in this new investment, which has nice things like closets and a large kitchen. And so began visions of tea parties, dinner parties, summer picnics, etc.

After the mini bachelorette party (pictures to come!!) in Chicago with Dental Mista and two New Mom Mistas, I was unleashed in Crate & Barrel with a scanner gun! 148 items later, we uploaded it into the system (and it worked this time), and took off for Pottery Barn, then to Sephora for some wedding makeup (Dental Mista is actually a secret makeup artist), and then snuggled into a booth in one of Chicago's finest soul food restaurants overlooking downtown to discuss our selections.

Did we stop there? No! Restoration Hardware, Macy's, and Rosanna Inc. What is Rosanna Inc.? Only one of the cutest spots for china on the Internet today. I built my own little registry for it on the wedding website and have put my sister in charge of removing the items from the list, since they don't have an official registry yet.

I evaluated all of the websites, like Sur la Table, Bed Bath, etc, for ease of use of the website, and just plain good thinking. If they did anything dumb, like not include pictures of products when you are building the registry (ahem, Sur la Table), or not let you put in sale items, then they were voted off the link list. I went unexpectedly crazy for the ice blue (ice blue kitchen aid mixer, recipe boxes, bowels, lemon squeezer, flour canisters), and the Martha Stewart Collection. And I treated myself (I mean, ourselves), to the copper pots and pans. I know that they need polishing, and are a pain, but I am in love with copper, that this denial has worn me down, and I even requested the polisher. I love polishing. Therefore, we may get no pots and pans. ;) Since they are so pricey.

Here are a few items from Rosanna that I love, and if you want to take a peek into the registries, voila!

Crate and Barrel
Macy's
Restoration Hardware
Pottery Barn
Rosanna Inc


BLUE/WHITE CHINA

Check it out >

WHITE PLATE - UNDERNEATH

Check it out >

BLUE GLASSES

Check it out >

CLEAR GLASSES

Check it out >

DESSERT THINGS

Check it out >

CAKE PLATTER

Check it out >

CANDLE STICKS

Check it out >

Aren't you so hungry? Don't you want me to invite you over??

More China...must edit growing registry

More China...must edit growing registry, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Registry Hunting in Chicago

Registry Hunting in Chicago, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Crazy De-icer Thing For JetBlue Plane

Crazy De-icer Thing For JetBlue Plane, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Bachelorette Party Eve at Dinosaur at W.125th

Bachelorette Party Eve at Dinosaur at W.125th, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Ajuma The Conquered

Last season Vivienne Westwood raised a few eyebrows when she publicly lambasted fashion editors, calling them racist for refusing to use black models on their pages. Westwood even went as far as to call for an affirmative action of sorts, to force editors to use a certain percentage of black models. Later, she also spoke of her upcoming ads which would feature the beautiful Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana, no stranger to Westwood's runway, as the face of the Spring campaign.

I was impressed with Westwood's willingness to speak so openly about what we've all been decrying for years and looked forward to seeing the new ads with Ajuma (who I think is one of the most stunning models to emerge in the last few years.) In my view, the grande dame could have just as easily said nothing, accepted the status quo, and had another cup of tea.

Well, low and behold, the ads have finally made their way into fashion magazines and sadly, I am not impressed. Westwood's ads are usually on the fringe but seeing Ajuma posing with a spear and gun in a series of ads that also includes African masks, animal corpses and even bananas is crossed the line from provocative to stereotypical and wholly unnecessary.

Is it a political message? I don't know. Shot by Juergen Teller, they are certainly eye-catching. Nasenyana's dark shiny skin absorbs ever bit of the stark white background. In one, Ajuma wears a yellow and green dress reminiscent of the plumage of an exotic bird while holding a machine gun. In spite of the dress, Ajuma, with her closely cropped hair and somewhat androgynous appearance, could easily be mistaken for a young boy, or more aptly, a child soldier, much like the ones who are all too often shown on the evening news or in documentaries on Africa's war torn regions. Is this 'empowerment' or is Westwood alluding to the 'force' she wants used to put models like Ajuma on the pages of Vogue and Elle?

Another image show Ajuma standing behind an armchair, casually holding the hand of a casually seated white male model who is also holding a gun while yet another has her alone, holding a spear.

Maybe it's just my own irritation at this subject but I can't help but wonder what the reaction would be if say Gisele or Kate Moss were photographed in this 'safari chic' manner nearly every time they appeared in an ad or editorial. Or better yet, as cavewomen? Wouldn't it be promptly dismissed as tiresome or unoriginal? I have honestly seen Ajuma, and other black models, used in this exploitative manner dozens and dozens of times.

Where fashion used to be a fun past-time for me, it has now become repetitive and tiresome.

I've posted before about the refusal of some fashion photographers to view black female models as anything but an exotic other, to be dressed up in feathers or pelts to exploit their racial origins. To see this trend continued into yet another decade is troubling. Haven't we made any progress?

As for Dame Westwood, to her I would say that although I appreciate her support of the struggle, maybe next time she should just send a check.

Photo source: BerlinRocks!/TFS

My Sad Closet Life

My Sad Closet Life, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

I'm sticking firm to the fact that it has taken me almost 3 years to find a shoe organizer that works in this tiny joke of a closet that every now and then sprinkles white plaster all over my clothes because of the ongoing dampness in the ceiling that gets repaired at least every year. Shoe Lover was shocked to see how my shoes overtook me, and literally sent me clear shoe boxes on the spot. So you better believe I bought this shoe organizer from Delight.com the minute it arrived in my inbox. Not only did I buy it immediately, but I bought it from my iPhone while standing in line at the bank to make a deposit. Yeah.

Tre Cool Shoe Organizer Thing!

Tre Cool Shoe Organizer Thing!, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Look at how pretty this shoe organizer turned out from Delight.com. It's made by Room It Up Essentials, and I must say, this could easily be used in an arts and crafts closet, as shown. Tune in next post for how it looks in my tiny closet...

Love opening packages from Delight

Love opening packages from Delight, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Seriously, I love opening little gifts to myself, especially from small online stores because their packaging is so fun! Delight.com included these orange EBOOSTs, and those are going straight to David because he caught that cold over the weekend and had so many Advil I about had a heart attack for him. The pink elephant in the back is that paper shredder from OneGoodBumbleee.com that I love and have used on 2 things that had my bank account number on them, and waay in the back is the valentine card from MelissaHead.

Model Katoucha Reported Missing

French police and authorities are still searching for a former Guinean model who disappeared between late Friday night and early Saturday from her home on the river.
Former couture muse of Yves Saint Laurent, Katoucha, 47, was reported missing Monday after her relatives hadn't heard or seen from her.

The mother-of-three was last dropped off Friday night near a houseboat docked next to hers on a central stretch of the River Seine in Paris near the picturesque Alexandre III bridge. The French media reported that Katoucha, who is near-sighted and cannot swim, was drunk and not wearing her contact lenses on the night of her disappearance. Her handbag containing her cell phone, credit card and glasses was found the next morning by her landlord's son near the entrance to the boat.

Divers searched for the model's body on Wednesday as authorities are not ruling out a fatal accident or suicide.

Katoucha, nicknamed the "black princess," prowled the runways of the world's greatest designers.
In 1994, the model left the catwalk for good and made headlines the years following when she launched a foundation against the practise of female circumcision.

She recently published a book, "In My Flesh", sharing the gruesome experience of her circumcision in Guinea when she was nine years old.

Horrible news. My prayers are with her family.

Update:

Her body was found Thursday near the Garigliano bridge in Paris,the autopsy showed no signs of foul play, "pointing to the possibility that the 47-year-old may have fallen accidentally into the river," according to one article.

A former friend and fashion director said of her that [Katoucha was] "one those girls who used her fame to spotlight the misfortunes of others...She always seemed so gracious and very lovely. She was sunny and she was bright, and I liked her a lot."

Rest in peace.

Source

NY Mag: All I Want is a Foundation That Matches

...the lack of cosmetics—particularly the basics, like foundation and concealer—for my skin tone has always bothered me. When I ask companies about extending their lines for women of color, I’m usually told some version of “we’re working on it,” or shown one or two dark shades. Counterside makeovers can be humiliating; I end up in whiteface or am told point-blank they don’t have my color.

When it comes to makeup I am obsessed with three things, my own personal Holy Grail of products. For me, it all comes down to the blackest mascara, the perfect shade of red lipstick, and foundation that matches my skin. The most time consuming of these quests has been the foundation aspect. At last count I had at least ten bottles of the stuff taking up space in various makeup bags, purses, drawers and of course the bathroom cabinet which barely has room for the other essentials, like toothpaste.

I was delighted to see this article on TFS this morning, Finally, someone (a beauty editor no less) telling how it really goes down at those chic cosmetics counters. Even though Black women have magazines like Essence that will tell readers about what's new on the market, the realities of the magazine business and its relationship with advertisers means that no one is going to write a critical article about how these promises in a bottle really look on a range of brown skin.

Without identifying myself as an editor. I spent a few days in the stores, scanning the offerings and telling the counter people that I was looking for a foundation, some concealer, and a few new spring colors. I also asked for makeovers.

Makeovers? Never again. There is something about a black woman will clear skin that makes the makeup counter ladies go insane, especially at Nordstrom where if one isn't careful she'll get blasted against her will with a makeup gun and believe me, it is always set to 'whore' or 'Kabuki'.

I decide to try a smaller, boutique line. At Macy’s, I check the Too Faced counter, where the gentleman tells me I am absolutely Caribbean Cocoa. That is the darkest shade they have—but it’s sold out, so he makes an aggressive case for a bronzer-only look. I leave looking like a disco ball.

... I call the companies to see what’s being done. Some are on the defensive.

Years ago I was intrigued by the pretty packaging of a smaller makeup line that had three of four compacts of makeup, each designed for different moods or looks. The spokemodel they used was former Hole bassist Melissa Auf Der Maur, a redhead with very fair skin. For whatever reason I decided to email the company and ask if they had considered expanding the range to include makeup that would make "moods" for women without alabaster skin. The response was a curt, "our makeup is for everyone!" even though the color scheme spoke otherwise. Oh well...

So my personal makeup search continues. I've had luck in the past with MAC and a few shades of Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation and a handful of drugstore brands including Revlon's new Custom Color Foundation liquid, but something tells me, this will be a life long pursuit. It's just nice get a little validation in print so I can take heart knowing that I'm not alone in the struggle.

Everyone was lovely, everyone tried, everyone has good intentions. YSL, Chanel, and Nars are launching darker shades later this year. Bobbi Brown can’t put a timetable on their latest. Still. Makeup shopping is supposed to be fun, but getting rejected time after time made this the most emotionally draining story I’ve ever done.

Amen sister.

Trio of Articles from The Independent on Discrimination Against Non-White Models

Up and coming model Jourdan Dunn has been called the "New Naomi"

'Fashion is racist: insider lifts lid on 'ethnic exclusion'

..."Sadly we are in the business where you stock your shelves with what sells," she said.

"According to the magazines, black models don't sell," White continued. "People don't tend to talk about it, but black models have to be so beautiful and perfect because we can't have a lot of diversity with black models; it's harder work for the agency because there's not so much on offer. White models can have more diversity."

Ms White pointed the finger at those organising model castings, adding: "We have had casting briefs which say 'no ethnics'. But we are better in London than Paris and Milan; there if you offer a black girl they will drop the book like it's hot; it's such hard work for the bookers."


'Why should catwalks be so white?'

"London is not a white city, so why should our catwalks be so white?" said the teenager. "I go to castings and see several black and Asian girls, then I get to the show and look around and there is just me and maybe one other coloured face. They just don't get picked. I hope it's because the designer just did not think they were good enough as a model, but I don't know."


'Models often too afraid to launch a claim'

An industry so skewed towards non-ethnic minority workers is highly vulnerable to race discrimination claims. It may only take one high-profile case to trigger a torrent of race claims. The employment tribunals will then be able to set new parameters and fairer rules of employment.

The question is who will be brave enough to go first.

Thanks to Scriptgirl for the articles!

Justice of the Peace, in the name of Health Insurance...

Get me to a Justice of the Peace, and bring the Witness! No, I am not overwhelmed with wedding details. I got an unexpected letter of termination for my health insurance this week, which I thought was normal because the group I get my health insurance through, The Freelancers Union, had switched insurance providers, so I had to select another plan by December 31. On December 28th, I selected my plan, selected which doctor I wanted (as required by the website), and enrolled my little heart out. I got a confirmation email that day, and I was a happy little camper.

The following weeks, I got an email from The Freelancers Union apologizing for the website being so hard to register through, since they had gotten overwhelmed with new plan sign ups, and they were processing it all. Well, I thought to myself, it sure had been hard to register online, and I did have to do it 3 times before it took but I chalked it up to their website that is normally hard to use. However, when I called to ask some dumb question, I was like 17 in line, and normally I'm second in line. So in fact, I guess I did experience the swamp.

In mid January, I emailed The Freelancers Union to see about my health insurance card. I needed a new one. They responded that they were still swamped, and were processing everything. Fair enough. I'm not terribly sick. There are a few appointments I could make, but I could put those on hold.

Enter February and the termination letter from the previous company. Thinking this letter was normal procedure from switching insurance companies, it only prompted me to email The Freelancers Union about that card I hadn't received yet. They responded back saying that in fact on January 2, 2008, I had logged in and terminated my coverage. Enter a very irate FashionMista who now has to wrack her brain to remember if I logged into the system to delete my coverage. A foggy, very faint memory has me logging in to delete what I thought was that previous coverage in order to get the new plan to activate. Now, is this a fabricated memory to explain this craziness? Or, did The Freelancers Union email me telling me to delete my previous coverage, in order to activate the new coverage? And that makes my brain hurt, because even that would be kind of odd. So maybe I didn't do it. I searched my emails for an email like this, but I found nothing. So, all we know is that I have a confirmation on December 28, 2007, of me enrolling myself, and then someone at The Freelancers Union tells me that they see that on January 2nd, 2008, I logged in and terminated.

Now. The simple solution would be to start new coverage for March. But no. The Freelancers Union has a waiting period of 9 months after termination. They instead have offered me their late enrollment plan, in which I must sign up within the next week, and pay the back months of January and February. Now, they have a two month in advance payment plan, so you have to pay for two months in advance, which would be March and April. My plan would cost $235. That's $940 right now to cough up, when I had no insurance for January or February. Nice of the Freelancers Union to offer the late enrollment plan to me, but I really don't want to pay for insurance I didn't have for two months. That's $470 for nothing.

Enter the DGA. David is a member of the Directors Guild. They have fabulous insurance. If we are married, I'm in! And if we have 12 kids, they are in too! For nothing additional. Now do you see why I want to go the Justice of the Peace? I told this to David last night over our Valentine's dinner, and he said that I was using him. ;)

I think it would actually be sort of romantic. Married in New York City? In some building? Like secret lovers! But would all of our guests be upset? Because that wouldn't be good. And my mom has not given her blessing on this idea.

But on second thought, if we got legally married here, then we could have anyone we wanted bless us as the ceremony. Right now, we do not know religious people who could preform this. There are recommendations, but they are all random. And the top recommendation is not available. And David would really want his uncle to bless us, because he is himself a religious person, though not a minister or anything.

On third thought, our wedding parties could bless us! My sister and brother, David's twin sister and her husband, and my longest friend. Then, anyone we wanted to do a special blessing, like my grandfather, and David's uncle. It could all be very wonderful.

ps: the above photo came from this website.

Sean Combs - NY Fashion Week

Sean Combs Fall 2008 show was apparently well received at New York Fashion Week. Interestingly, Combs only used Black male models for the show. I wonder if the runway show for his womens line will follow that example. Something tells me that he'll go back to "embracing diversity" for that one and the show will be full of the same types that one would find in his music videos.

Photo credit: Exposay.com

What's behind the glitter heart?

What's behind the glitter heart?, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

Thandie Newton in "Cheap Date Magazine"

In my opinion Thandie Newton is hands down the best dressed woman in Hollywood. Whether she's wearing faded jeans and a t-shirt or a ten thousand dollar gown, she always looks flawless. I spotted this spread from Cheap Date over at The Fashion Spot (thank you Scriptgirl) and had to share it. Not only are the clothes highly covetable but the pictures are fun, something one doesn't usually seen in the pages of fashion magazines these days.

Essence Magazine Hollywood Issue

Well it may be full of the same old faces but I applaud Essence for doing their own gatefold cover Hollywood Issue. I have a love/hate relationship with the magazine which in my view has been recycling content for the last 15 years. At the end of the day however, it really is the only magazine of its type on the newsstand that caters to Black women so I still end up buying it month after month.

Rashida Jones and Partner Launch LaLoo Clothing Line

I just love Rashida Jones. This line consists of simple casuals made of organic cotton. Nothing to get too excited about but it looks very mom friendly and could probably be dressed up pretty easily with the right accessories.

Source: kochie322/TFS

Lovebirds

Lovebirds, originally uploaded by KT Flicker.

The story behind these copper french presses from Starbucks is that I had a huge one, then when David and I moved in together, we liked different strengths of coffee. So, I went out and bought myself this little copper french press. But then David decided that he liked the coffee better in my copper french press, so he asked for one for Christmas. And now we have two! And they are kissing.

New Sexy Sleep Masks at Katie James!

Right in time for Valentine's day. These sleep masks were stitched by a fabulous woman in Alabama, and our thoughts go to her during the 2008 tornadoes, as her barn was flattened.

I use the red sleep mask myself, but my favorites are the green taffeta and the white polka dot. Quite limited edition, though, so I can't spare one for myself.

Go see the new styles...

Dream Wedding Dress - Literally

I awoke this morning with the remnants of a dream of me sashaying around the kitchen I grew up in wearing a white debutant dress with a bustle in the back, on top of cascading cuts of different fabrics that I could shake wish my tush and make the fabrics flutter. You better believe this vision got me out of bed. All of the animals and I went to the kitchen to fix animal food, water plants and put the kettle on. Ok, we don't have a kettle, it was in a pot, so you know one item that's going to be on that darn registry list.

I've been considering different inspirations - ballerina, saloon girl - but in the end, fabric is always the main inspiration for me. I took a mound of green dupioni from the fabric cupboard and arranged a bustle out of it for me to draw from. Mind you, it's been about two years since those FIT classes where homework was sketching onto Barbie Bodies. I start with this:

A Barbie Body on translucent marker paper. My desk is glass, so I shine a desk light up through it from the ground. I place a fresh sheet of translucent marker paper over her and begin to sketch the shape of the dress. Here is a picture of Gerdy sitting under said desk, waiting:


I've only got the backs so far, for this set. The dress on the far right is the dream dress I woke up with. Funny thing about that dress from my dream was that my dressmaker had created it for my debutant party (in that dream, we had them every year and this was my final year so I was feeling like a hot shot senior). She had put on a belt with an ivory belt buckle that was in the shape of an emerald cut engagement ring, but two stacked on one, and it was plastic ivory. Sometimes I have dreams where people are wearing these fabulous dresses, and I wish - during my dream - that I had designed them. And then I wake up! So they were mine all along!

What I want in the dress is to be able to just grab the skit, and feel the layers of fabric in my hands as I dance or run across the lawn or something. Ok, it will be a driveway, but still. Sorry about the loud logo watermark. If this gets picked up in Google images, I want the person to at least see that they came from somewhere and not a magical gift from the sky that created itself.

The dress on the far left would end in a bunch of dupioni that is hairsprayed to stay rumpled in a celebration of folds and curves. I guess spray startch would be best. ;)
The strip of somethings on that far left dress are fabric flowers from spiraled strips of fabric, like these. I love these fabric flowers. from Natalie Chanin. I really want those somehow, and think they are so pretty. Oh! I see that the Natalie Chanin clan from Project Alabama produced a book on fabric flowers. I will buy it.

The dress second from left would e tiered dupioni, tucking under itself, ending in some tulle. Not sure about this one, but I liked the overall shape. Thing about dupioni, though, is that it can look too straight. It needs to have an action. The next one was random and came from accidental pleats that the dupioni took on when I shifted its position. So, could be a dress of thick, cascading pleats. Then there is the dress on the right that is a giant dress with icing on it, really. The back is layered of raw edged stripes of ruffled fabrics that have those Tom Ford s-shaped ruffles that were so popular on those suit jackets after Sara Jessica Parker starting wearing them all the time.

Here is the dupioni inspiration. You can do so much draping with dupioni and folding it, or puffing it into different shapes. Of course, the dress would be white, but I had a lot of green.


More to come, hopefully, after I get to the fabric store.

Jovovich Hawk for Target

I wasn't wild about the line that Erin Fetherston produced for Target. I thought it was too cutesy and horribly made. However, I am looking forward to seeing the Jovovich Hawk line when it arrives in stores. Most of this stuff looks a tad young for me but there are definitely a few pieces (like the chevron striped top and skirt) that I'm hoping are worth the purchase price.

Vanity Fair "Hollywood Issue" Part II

I stand corrected. It seems that Thandie Newton is the only woman of African descent to ever make the cover of VF's Hollywood Issue in 1999. Also, in addition to Chris Rock's appearance on the cover in 2007, Djimon Hounsou managed to elbow his way onto it in 1998. I would love it if Essence magazine would spend a few bucks to hire a real photographer to do their own Hollywood Issue.