The Budget Fashionista

While over 3/4 of the world are people of color, there are virtually no models of colors (black, asian, latino, etc) on the runway this season, something that has been happening the past few seasons..

- BLACKS AND FASHION: Industry veteran Bethann Hardison will be moderating an open discussion Friday called "The Lack of the Black Image in Fashion Today." The event, which takes place at the Bryant Park Hotel Screening Room, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hardison will lead a discussion on why black fashion models have become basically invisible on the runway in the last decade. "It's to raise consciousness and to take responsibility," said Hardison, who previously ran a modeling agency. Among those expected to participate in the forum are Tracy Reese, Patrick Robinson, Isabel and Ruben Toledo, Diane von Furstenberg, André Leon Talley, Constance White, Iman, Liya Kebede, Naomi Campbell and Veronica Webb, in addition to photographers and stylists.

This is true. I wonder the same thing constantly. Its discouraging for young women of color who would like to be models. I have my own thoughts about this but I will not share them all. I have always felt that the "size" thing is a major issue and I hope no one takes this the wrong way. But as a woman of color, I have never felt that those models reflect anything remotely of myself. Even when Tyra was modeling full time I felt this way but her body reflects mine now and people say that she is fat. Thats the only point I am comfortable with sharing.

Let's face it. Most models are white. It's not just a lack of African-American faces, although that seems to be the main focus. What about Hispanic faces or Asian faces (e.g. Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Indian) or Middle Eastern faces….or just plain more tanned faces? Most of the models now seem to be very pale white.

Runways Fade to White: an article from the NY Times that focuses mainly on the lack of black faces.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/fashion/...amp;oref=slogin

Here is a short article about this at Style.com:
http://www.style.com/trends/blogs/style_fi…lor-coding.html