Adut Akech's Unveiled Beauty by Senta Simond for i-D Magazine 2021

Adut Akech's Unveiled Beauty by Senta Simond for i-D Magazine 2021

Star model Adut Akech is styled by Agata Belcen in an all Kenzo fashion story. Senta Simond [IG] is in the studio for Utopia in Dystopia Issue no. 362 of i-D Spring 2021.

Bella Hadid by Micaiah Carter in Fashion Fantasies for Vogue Spain March 2021

Bella Hadid by Micaiah Carter in Fashion Fantasies for Vogue Spain March 2021

Supermodel Bella Hadid is styled by Patty Smith in ‘Un Mundo De Fantasia’, lensed by Micaiah Carter for Vogue Spain March 2021./ Hair by Evanie Frausto; makeup by Erin Parsons

Vittoria Ceretti Fronts Alberta Ferretti SS 2021 Campaign by Federico De Angelis

Vittoria Ceretti Fronts Alberta Ferretti SS 2021 Campaign by Federico De Angelis

Model Vittoria Ceretti is the face for Alberta Ferretti’s SS 2021 Campaign, lensed in flowing fabrics with feminine tailoring by Federico De Angelis [IG]

Anna Ewers Covers Vogue Paris February 2021 in Tribute on Chanel's Virginie Viard

Anna Ewers Covers Vogue Paris February 2021 in Tribute on Chanel's Virginie Viard

Top model Anna Ewers is styled by Vogue Paris EIC Emmanuelle Alt in ‘La Discrète Éclatante’, a fashion tribute to Chanel’s Virginie Viard, lensed by Inez Van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin {IG} for the February 2021 issue./ Hair by Damien Boissinot; makeup by Lisa Butler

Sugar Sweet Taylor Hill Poses in For Love & Lemons X Victoria's Secret V-Day 2021 Campaign

Sugar Sweet Taylor Hill Poses in For Love & Lemons X Victoria's Secret V-Day 2021 Campaign AOC Body

Victoria’s Secret model Taylor Hill is a sugar-sweet, lingerie-loving bonbon, wearing Valentine’s Day embroidery and hearts appliques with mini prints lingerie pieces in the new For Love & Lemons x Victoria’s Secret collaboration. Photographer Carin Backoff [IG] makes the pink parfait capture. No nibbling allowed.

Mert & Marcus Lens Hailey, Kendall, Mica, Mona, Precious in Versace La Medusa SS Campaign

Mert & Marcus Lens Hailey, Kendall, Mica, Mona, Precious in Versace La Medusa SS Campaign

Versace faces Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Mica Arganaraz, Mona Tougaard, Precious Lee and Raphael Balzer are thriving in Versacepolis, a mythical world dominated in this moment by Versace’s new La Medusa handbag. Jacob K is in charge of styling with creative direction from Ferdinando Verderi and photography by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott./

Jacquemus 'L'Amour' Collection Summer SS2021 by Oliver Hadlee Pearch

Jacquemus 'L'Amour' Collection Summer SS2021 by Oliver Hadlee Pearch

Models Ajok Madel, Imaan Hammam, Jill Kortleve, Kristina Grikaite, Mica Arganaraz and more front Jacquemus Summer 2021. Photographer Oliver Hadlee Pearch captures the always poetic vision of Simon Porte Jacquemus in this ‘L’Amour’ Collection.

Kendall Jenner's Rosy Cover Story in Vogue China February 2021 by Autumn de Wilde

Kendall Jenner's Rosy Cover Story in Vogue China February 2021 by Autumn de Wilde

Kendall Jenner covers the February 2021 issue of Vogue China. American photographer and film director Autumn de Wilde, (IG) who made her directorial film debut with the 2020 movie ‘Emma’, adapted from Jane Austen’s novel of the same name, captures Jenner in the rose garden in fashion styled by Max Ortega. Enjoy the preview.

Adut Akech Blooms in Resort 2021 Images by Nadine Ijewere for British Vogue January

Adut Akech Blooms in Resort 2021 Images by Nadine Ijewere for British Vogue

Adut Akech delivers a jolt to our senses, in a sunburst celebration of optimistic summer days. Even the butterflies have survived in Nadine Ijewere’s resort 2021 fashion, styled by Poppy Kain for Vogue UK January 2021.

Pierpaolo Piccioli Was Woke Before Naming Zendaya As New Brand Face

‘Euphoria’ star Zendaya has joined the Valentino stable of celebs and voices representing the brand. The star shared the news, saying that she is “honoured to have been chosen as the face of Valentino,” and “so excited to begin this amazing collaboration with Pierpaolo and the entire Valentino family.”.

WWD delivered the message that Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli wants “to make the brand more in sync with the times and more inclusive, while maintaining its storied codes.”

From his perspective, Piccioli wants “to resignify the brand and how it is generally perceived. It’s like a different take on a familiar landscape.” Zendaya “embodies and represents what Valentino is and stands for today,” Piccioli explained to the press. “She is a powerful and fierce young woman that uses her talent and her work to express herself, her values and her generation as well.”

As an actor, the recent Emmy Awards youngest winner of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Zendaya’s role in ‘Euphoria’, joined Viola Davis as only the second Black female actor to win an Emmy in the high-profile category.

Valentino Isn’t New to Supporting Black Creatives and Culture

Valentino haute couture, spring 2019.Credit...Valerio Mezzanotti for The New York Times

Valentino and Piccioli are walking a needlessly treacherous balance beam in AOC’s opinion.

Perhaps because we follow the fashion industry so closely, we know Valentino and Piccioli himself have existing credentials in their support of Black creatives and models. I would have positioned that existing pedigree as part of their new announcement about Zendaya.

Piccioli’s relationship with Black models is at the top of luxury fashion houses. In his spectacular January 2019 couture show, the creative director and designer featured a dominating majority Black models extravaganza, reflecting a historic commitment to Black model representation. Vanessa Friedman reported that of 65 models, 45 were Black.

“As a designer I have a voice,” Piccioli said in the moment. “Hopefully a loud one. I want to use it.”

Fine — we are accustomed to marketing manipulation — but when Roberta Flack’s ‘The First Time’ hit the runway, tears welled up in more than one set of fashionista eyes. The beauty of the January 2019 moment existed in the reality that Pierpaolo Piccioli’s gesture was not tokenistic.

Joining Naomi Campbell were Aaliyah Hydes, Adut Akech, Ajak Deng, Akiima, Alek Wek, Alyssa Traore, Annibelis Baez, Anyelina Rosa, Assa Baradji, Ayak Veronica Bior, Blesnya Minher, Duckie Thot, Eftagine Fevilien, Grace Bol, Hannah Shakespeare, Hiandra Martinez, Janaye Furman, Judy Kinuthia, Karly Loyce, Litza Velloz, Lineisy Fatou Liya Kebede, Jobe, Lisette Moriello, Mayowa Nicholas, Miqueal-Simone Williams, Montero, Naomi Chin Wing, Nichole Atiero, Rouguy Faye, Niko Riam, Nyara Aboja, Saba Koj, Sana Diouf, Selena Forrest, Shanelle Nyasiase, Sompra Antonio, Tami Williams, Ugbad Abai, and Veronica Cabral.

Valentino’s Moncler Collab with Liya Kebede

Image courtesy Moncler.

Pierpaolo Piccioli’s collaboration with Lemlem’s founder Liya Kebede on puffer gowns for Moncler also comes to mind. Kebede’s Ethiopian artisans created colorful borders on the gowns, like those found on the ‘habesha kemis’ traditional Ethiopian dress.

AOC’s only point is that there’s no need for Valentino to communicate a message that’s it’s a luxury brand jumping on the Black representation bandwagon.

Valentino was ‘woke’ on this issue before most other luxury brands. They don’t deserve an award for being among the first to take a leadership position around Black beauty and creativity. But Valentino could have celebrated their ongoing commitment to racial justice and Black representation by announcing Zendaya as a next step in this long-overdue journey.

It would be like Anne of Carversville announcing our commitment to Black models, when we’ve been fighting for them for a decade. Nobody deserves a bow on this issue, but Valentino is not new to this long-overdue party. It didn’t take a summer of widespread protest and discontent to prompt Valentino to action. Nor did it take embarrassing condemnation from Black leaders and racial justice activists pointing out the obvious racism in their product offerings — as experienced by Gucci and Prada. ~ Anne

Nadine Ijewere Captures Vogue US December's Ode to Glorious Aunties

Nadine Ijewere Captures Vogue US December's Ode to Glorious Aunties

The December 2020 issue of American Vogue brings a delicious visual and historical narrative fashion story to its pages. Titled ‘Family Values: An Ode to Aunties and Their Inimitable Sense of Style’, the new fashion images including models Adut Akech, Akon Changkou, Ariish Wol, Kesewa Aboah and Maty Fall are styled by Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.

London-born photographer Nadine Ijewere, of Nigerian-Jamaican parentage, is behind the lens. Her Nigerian ancestry is relevant because writer Alexis Okewo sets the stage for a discussion on aunties based on her own experience growing up in Alabama’s Nigerian community.

Adut Akech's Ruffle Romance by Charles Dennington for Zimmermann Resort 2021

Adut Akech's Ruffle Romance by Charles Dennington for Zimmermann Resort 2021

Top model Adut Akech fronts Zimmermann’s Resort 2021 ready-to-wear campaign, posing in vaca looks styled by Romy Frydman. Photographer Charles Dennington is behind the lens, capturing the ruffles-abundant, ‘Lovestruck’ collection of romantic getaway dresses./ Hair by Renya Xydis; makeup by Linda Jeffreyes

Hana Jirickova Adores For Love & Lemons X Victoria’s Secret Holiday 2020 Lingerie

Hana Jirickova Adores For Love & Lemons X Victoria’s Secret Holiday 2020 Lingerie AOC Body

For Love & Lemons X Victoria’s Secret releases their Holiday 2020 lingerie campaign, as a joyful burst of hyper-femininity associated with the finest European lingerie brands. Model Hana Jirickova steps into a rococo painting atmosphere worthy of Fragonard or Boucher. Simply gorgeous styling by Lisa Lindqwister./ Makeup by Ignacio Alonso; hair by Erika Svedjevik