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What can I say? Oh, what I wasted my money! I brought sales to an aging Empire. I have to put in my 50 Cents and weigh in on the ‘Black Issue, it was horrible. Yet, I have to say glad I have a reason to blog. I think that is why all the ageing magazine editors are loosing their ground in the industry. Move over the age of the blogger is coming and Free speech reins.

I think the old way to promote fashion is archaic and why so many fashion houses are re-thinking the entire online market strategy. Why cause we bloggers are free to say and e-print what we want. We really and truly can express ourselves and let our voices be heard. We don’t have to write stories to please advertisers etc. So I am free to say I hated it. Vogue Italia really “Dumbed it down.”

In today’s world it is sad to see that the world still looks at the ‘Black beauty’ as a sultry slave girl, Grace Jone’s kid sister, prostitute, token black girl and video ho. I support the women featured in the issue because at the end of the day business is business and all the models involved knew the rest of us black, brown, yellow and red bone girls just wanted to see an image we could relate too. I just wonder could any of you re-late?

I wish I had the time to go page for page, but I think it would just make me angry. How many more times do we need to see Naomi’s tits? Why did it take them until like page 166 to kick of the Black issue? OH thanks for the token beauty page ‘Hair so Frizzy.” With products by Phytospecific that I don’t think any women of colour uses. Would it have been too hard to ask advertisers to blacken it up a little?

Another missed opportunity for Vogue to do a black issue feature on the passing of Yves Saint Laurent sans the black models in his defile. How he revolutionized fashion by being one of the first to put black girls in his shows. They missed the target completely just check the pictures they used. Times like this I wished my Italian were better, so I could also judge on reporting not just visuals. Girlzzzzz and Boyz I even had better photos on, my blog about his passing. Missed opportunities.

Since I can only judge by the images because I only speak basic Italian. The images were awful, awful OK maybe not all but most. I am sickened by the image of Tina Turner, why did they have to print the worst picture of her just because Peter Lindbergh shot it!! Tina is timeless and reminds us that “black don’t crack” The entire ‘Outstanding’ story image wise was atrocious out of all the women featured Jody Watley, Angela Bassett, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Queen Latifah I have to say hands down how is it possible that the Queens picture was the best? Also, where was Mary J at, Jill Scott and Ms. Keys?

Now on to Ghetto Fabulousness this is a love hate story I love Toccara Jones beautiful face, a real sized feminine silhouette and man what a pair of tits!!!! Wow!! But, same old same old. What would a black issue be with out a Ghetto Fab story to end the issue typical and tired? Yet I have to give props where props are due, she is amazing and big ups to Toccara Jones for showing the world a real black woman with tits and ass, and a beauty at that. How ghetto rich!

Final note: what a dis to Bethann Hardison a renegade in the business no photo of her?

I do congratulate the new faces and I hope we see the likes of Hollis from the New York Agency and Bettine from Agency Muse to remind us that black is beautiful. I would really like to know what others think, so please leave a comment.

P.S thank you Franca Sozzani Editor-in-Chief of the Italian edition of Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. For using us Black girls and giving us the chance to discuss how the world looks at black culture and how women of colour are perceived in the world of fashion. As well as why many of us stick around in the hopes that one day an all Black Issue will not stir so much debate and hullabaloo.

Footnote: Page 158 big up too Jason Campbell of the JC Report for his 50cents in the issue.