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By sally, September 10, 2009 10:44 am

Tyra Lynne Banks (born December 4, 1973) is an American media personality, actress, occasional singer, former model and businesswoman. She first became famous as a model in Paris, Milan, London, Tokyo and New York, but television appearances were her commercial breakthrough. Banks is the creator and host of the UPN/The CW reality television show America’s Next Top Model and is co-creator of True Beauty. She also hosts her own talk show, The Tyra Banks Show. In 2009 she was honored by Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) with the Excellence in Media Award.  Banks began modeling in the 11th grade. She later went to Paris, France to do some runway modeling. Within Banks’ first week in Paris, designers were so entranced by her presence on the runway that she was booked for an unprecedented twenty-five shows – a record in the business for a newcomer. She has done extensive print and/or runway work for fashion/advertising giants, such as Anna Sui, Coors Light, CoverGirl, Badgley Mischka, Bill Blass, Cynthia Rowley, Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Gemma Kahng, H&M, Isaac Mizrahi, Maria Snyder, McDonald’s, Aislinn Dubois Modeling Agency, Michael Kors, Milk, Nicole Miller, Nike, Inc., Oscar de la Renta, Pepsi, Perry Ellis, Randy Kemper, Richard Tyler, Rifat Ozbek, Swatch, Todd Oldham, Tommy Hilfiger, Victoria’s Secret and Yves Saint Laurent. She has appeared on the covers of high-fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan and Elle.

Banks was the first African American woman on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. In 1997, she received the VH1 award for Supermodel of the Year. That same year, she became the first-ever African American chosen for the cover of the Victoria’s Secret catalog. Banks retired from modeling in May 2005 to concentrate on her television career. She walked the runway for the final time at the 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Aside from modeling, In 1998, Banks authored a book entitled Tyra’s Beauty, Inside and Out. The book was advertised as a resource for helping women to make the most out of their natural beauty.

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By sally, September 6, 2009 10:58 pm

Cindy Crawford (born February 20, 1966) is an American former model. Known for her trademark mole just above her lip, Crawford has adorned many magazine covers throughout her career. She was named #3 on VH1’s 40 Hottest Hotties of the 90s. Her success at modeling made her a celebrity that has led to roles in television and film, and to work as a spokesperson. Crawford was born in DeKalb, Illinois, the daughter of Jennifer Moluf and John Crawford. She was discovered at the age of 16 by a newspaper photographer. He noticed Cindy at work during her summer job of detasseling corn and took a picture of her. The photo and positive feedback she received were enough to convince her to take up modeling. She entered the Elite Model Management’s Look of the Year contest at 17 and was the runner-up. The Elite   modeling agency in Chicago then started representing her. Crawford graduated from DeKalb High School in 1984, as valedictorian. She won an academic scholarship to study chemical engineering at Northwestern University, which she attended for only one quarter. She dropped out in order to pursue a full-time modeling career. After working for photographer Victor Skrebneski in Chicago, Cindy moved to Manhattan in 1986; she was signed with the Elite New York modeling agency.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Cindy Crawford was among the most popular supermodels, and a ubiquitous presence on magazine covers, runways, and in fashion campaigns. She was repeatedly and frequently featured on the cover of many magazines, including: Vogue, W, People, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Allure. Crawford also appeared in many fashion campaigns during her career, including those for Gianni Versace, Escada, Revlon, Ink. She has also worked for Omega, Maybelline, and Clairol.

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By Nwinkus, August 26, 2009 2:09 pm

With September 10 getting closer, the Vogue offices are buzzing in preparation for Vogue’s Fashion’s Night Out celebration Taking place across thirteen countries, nine time zones, and eleven languages; organising event logistics for the global project and London event “has been all-consuming” says a Vogue insider. If you haven’t heard about Fashion’s Night Out yet, which just went live on the vogue website , go and see  P. Diddy rapping, “Come on, let’s do it for the people, baby,”  and a host of other celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker in an advert on the site, and get involved.

With events taking place in New York, Moscow, Saõ Paolo, Beijing, Madrid, Milan, Taiwan, Paris, Tokyo, Delhi, Athens, Berlin – and with London’s (W1 and Sloane Street) British designers; Luella Bartley, Christopher Bailey, and Matthew Williamson in store on the night; black ice cream at Selfridges; Dover Street Market’s special Swiss Army knife; Marni’s Fashion Night Out dolls; art installations; live music; styling and fashion shows – September 10 should be your diary in at least one language!

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By sally, August 7, 2009 6:49 pm

Deola Sagoe is one of nigeria’s best known fashion designer’s, she won the Best African Designer Award in 2000, in a competition organised by MNET and Anglo Gold, to find African fashion designers to represent the continent at New York’s fashion week. She was nominated by none other than the fashion guru himself, Vogue Editor-at-Large, Andre Leon Talley. She has had the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Samuel L. Jackson attend her fashion shows in the U.S. Deola Sagoe pieces can be likened to individual works of art. She constantly reinvents the wheel with a contemporary African twist. Says Deola “My biggest inspiration is Africa, the different textures, the colours, the culture, the people, the vibe, there’s a lot of passion amidst so much repression. African fabrics are the base foundation for her designs, juxtaposing indigenous textures and colours with western silhouettes.