What's in VOGUE??? The Black Barbie of course!

July 2009 Vogue Italia features BLACK BARBIE insert!

A few of my favorite pics from the Vogue Italia June 2009 Barbie supplement.
Pics taken by Tefani Williams!

See More!

See Article on MYFOXDC.com!

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/myvoicedc/featured/Myvoicedc_Wishes_Barbie_a_Hap

Last Friday, Lulu, my fab friend in Milan fed exed 3 copies of the VOGUE ITALIA 2009 issue that contained an insert that contains decadent pictorials of BLACK BARBIE.

Last July, I hosted a Models, Bottles and BBQ Garden Party to commemorate the launch of July 2008 Vogue Italia issue. The July 2008 Vogue Italia issue was the most coveted magazine in history. It was called the Black Issue and featured over 50 of the best black models in the fashion business photographed by Steven Meisel.

In July 2009, Vogue Italia commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Barbie with a 100 pictorials featuring Black Barbie dolls. OOH LA LA.

A few weeks ago, we sat down to chat with Gianni Grossi and Mario Paglino, the two Italian Barbie Collector designers responsible for styling and coordinating the Black Barbie insert.

Simone Butterfly: ¡Ciao! Come stai?

Mario Paglino: I am very, very well.

Simone: Wonderful. My name is Simone, your fabulous freelance fashion investigator. Tell us about your collaboration with Mattel.

Mario: Oh, we collaborate with Mattel in Italy and in the U.S. We coordinate special events like the Barbie convention and the Barbie birthday party held in Italy. We also design special one-of-a-kind dolls.

Simone: You have two beautiful one-of-a-kind dolls in your hands. Please describe them for us.

Mario: Oh thank you. These dolls are a replica of Madonna. We created them dolls for the Madonna exhibition in London this February 2009 and March 2009. One is a replica of the Christian Lacroix dress that she wore in the Re-Invention tour. The other is the very famous corset worn in the Who’s That Girl video. Both dolls are one-of-a-kind with her complete repainting.

Simone: So when you design a doll, do you also design the hair, the make-up, the face, everything?

Mario: Everything. We start with a classic doll or a collectable doll and we we take off all of the repainting and start again.

Simone: Beautiful! Well done. Now tell me about the July 2009 issue of Vogue Italia. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2008 July issue featuring the most celebrated black models in the business.

Mario: There’s a new one! There’s a new one! I’ll tell you what I can because many of the viewers will be thrilled to see it. The July 2009 Vogue Italia contains a new booklet. The very, very special booklet is about black Barbie. We were fortunate to style the Barbie for the photo shoot.

Simone: How many pages are in the booklet?

Mario: More than 100.

Simone: Oh my goodness!

Mario: People will enjoy it. It’s a beautiful issue. I really think they will love it.

Simone: So does the booklet feature other designers other than you and Gianni Grossi?

Mario: We are the only one-of-a-kind designers to have the honor of being featured in the Vogue Italia July issue. We collaborated with Mattel on his issue.

Simone: What is your favorite page in the booklet?

Mario: Oh, you mean other than mine? LOL! I think the disco fever and some of the other garden pictures are my favorite. But you will see the excerpt is incredible. All the professionals at Vogue Italia did an incredible job.

Simone: I know that last year’s Vogue Italia July issue sold out like 4 or 5 times. Do you expect the same this year?

Mario: I expect more.

Simone: I do too, because everybody loves Barbie.

Mario: Thank you so much.

Simone: Thank you.

Meet Robert Best, Principal Designer for Barbie Collector

BARBIE Hosts Her 50th Birthday Party in Washington, DC

Barbie is 50 and fabulous! But don’t take our word for it. Ask Robert Best, instead. He is the Principal Designer for Barbie Collector. On Friday, June 10, 2009, Mr. Best agreed to speak with us at the Barbie doll’s 50th Anniversary Convention held at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC from July 7, 2009 to July 11, 2009. WDC, we’re in the pink!




Simone Butterfly: Hello.

Robert Best: Hi.

Simone: My name is Simone, your fabulous, freelance, fashion investigator.

Robert: Fabulous, I love your outfit. Barbie pink looks very good on you.

Simone: Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure to speak with you Mr. Best, Principal Designer for Barbie Collector. So how long have you been in that position?

Robert: I have been working at Mattel for 15 years now. Who knew?

Simone: So what does a Principal Designer for Barbie Collector do?

Robert: As Principle Designer for Barbie you are responsible for everything. It’s a very head to toe kind of job. I am responsible for the look, which includes the style of hair, make up and of course all of the accessories, the shoes, the jewelry, and everything the doll is going to be wearing. I also oversee the packaging. So I am really like an Art Director in a lot of ways because I have to handle the entire look.

Simone: That is amazing because Barbie has really changed over the years. Who is the 2009 Barbie?

Robert: The 2009 Barbie is a very active, healthy girl of today. I think she's very plugged in to everything that is going on, including trends and fashions that you see on the runway. Barbie is very relevant and is always current. Barbie is very much a reflection of the popular culture that surrounds her.

Simone: We love Barbie and we love her new blog, website and her Twitter updates. She’s fabulous! http://barbiestyle.barbie.com/

Robert: Barbie is absolutely plugged in.

Simone: Please describe the beautiful gown that you designed to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Barbie!

Robert: The gown is called Generations of Dreams and it was inspired by the doll of the same name. The gown features a collage of different images of Barbie throughout the years, from her very first 1959 swimsuit up to today. Everyone has a Barbie story and everyone remembers the doll of their generation. Hence the name: “Generation of Dreams.” The [Generations of Dreams] gown is a fun couture take on a wacky idea.

Simone: How long did it take to create?

Robert: The gown itself took…it feels like years. But it probably took a few weeks. We had a team in New York sewing and creating the first pattern. We had people in LA doing the beading. It was shipped to Australia. Then it was shipped back to the US. It will be traveling all over the country. The gown is better traveled than i am actually. Lol.

Simone: WOW! It’s been a pleasure. Thank you so much for speaking with us.

Robert: It’s been a pleasure.

A few fun facts about the Generations of Dream Gown on display at the Convention:
Eight experts from New York to Los Angeles used 15 yards of pink duchesse satin and silk organza to create the life-size gown. The bodice and skirt are adorned with 50 patchwork prints representing over 50 years of Barbie artwork. Each patch is outlined in countless iridescent sequins, shimmery Swarovski crystals and beautiful delicate trim!

JAMES TERRELL: Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist, Painter

Article By: Sia Tiambi Barnes

Painter and musician, James Stephen Terrell realizes the power of self-expression. Perhaps it is because he has a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Parsons School of Design and a Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, both in New York City.

Perhaps it is because he grew up in a house with a baby grand piano and art created and collected by his father, fellow painter, Rev. Dr. James E. Terrell, and his mother, Judge Mary A. Terrell. Whatever the origin, he passes his inspiration on to the students at Spingarn, a public high school in Washington, D.C. where he was born and raised and now teaches art, and in his paintings which have been showcased in New York City and D.C. at such places as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library; Howard University Gallery of Fine Art (where he received his Bachelors of Fine Arts); and the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum.

As a singer and guitar player, he’s also performed throughout New York City and D.C. at such renowned clubs as CBGB’s and Bar Nun. His paintings and his music – a fusion of reggae, folk, blues, gospel, and rock – capture a “metropolitan concrete” life. “Art is historical, so it just documents a point in time,” James says. “Whatever you’re painting has reflection on you in general and what you’re thinking about, what’s really on your mind.”

James plans to release two albums of his thoughts this year, Color of Sound and Broken Hearted. For updates on his upcoming live shows and gallery showcases, visit James online at: Myspace.com/CrucifiedToTheCrossroads.

Full-Figured Fashion Week!

"Manolo for the Big Girl blogger Rhiannon Gammill and other "curvy" bloggers recently expressed their happiness at being included at New York's Fashion Week at the Full- Figured Fashion event that took place June 25-27. “I want the woman who can say, ‘This is who I am, you don't have to like me and you don't have to approve of me, but I've been to this pony show before and this time I'm getting what I want. I've got one voice, two chins, and more style than should be allowed by law and I'm not apologizing for any of it’, says Gammill.

Many see this and other inclusions of full-figured women in fashion (such as the new plus-size garments available at stores like Forever 21 and rocker Beth Ditto's upcoming fashion line at Topshop's plus-size division, Evan) as a step in the right direction for helping to create and stimulate a better self-image of the curvier woman. "We all know, whether you like it or not, there are tons of fat women in America, and guess what? We need to get dressed too,” says Gabi Gregg, creator of the blog Young, Fat, and Fabulous. “We have buying power, we want to be able to shop with friends, try things on, and experience clothing the same way as everyone else. I hope that the new plus-size lines at places like Forever 21 and Topshop will do well enough to show other retailers that fat girls like fashion, too." (Source: The Daily Beast)

The Runway Era May Be Waning

"According to the Wall Street Journal, designers in one of the cities at the forefront of fashion, Los Angeles, are losing confidence in the system of selling fashion from runways. While Milan, Paris, and Berlin's fashion weeks are backed by their government entities, L.A. must seek the support of corporations who have been backing out of financing this year's event (i.e. IMG, Mercedes-Benz, and Smashbox Studios). However, corporations aren't the only one's backing out. Last February, New York's Fashion Week saw less designers rip the runway as many of them pulled out and had independent fashion shows. With the emergence of the Internet as a marketing and branding tool, many designers and fashion companies are looking to it as a way to market directly to customers. “Everyone is trying to change the format of a girl walking down the runway, because that’s so passé,” says L.A. designer Juan Carlos Obando. Last fall, Viktor & Rolf featured a video on their site instead of being featured on the runway, and the trend is growing as a number of designers display alternative presentations that they replay on their Web sites."

New Designers at the GAP!

"This fashion mashup brings Vogue wunderkinds Alexander Wang, Vena Cava and Albertus Swanepoel to the khaki fray. Continuing in the tradition of last year's design editions line (with white shirts), GAP again asked Vogue and CFDA noms to put their twist on the store's go-to khakis. Brooklyn babes Vena Cava added their sig patterns to two dresses, and sketched all over boyfriend and straight-legged khakis. These boho pieces add a little leggy surprise to your summer get-up. Alexander Wang brings his tough-chic aesthetic to a peacoat and motorcycle jacket, but for the sizzling summer sun you won't be able to pass on his precious pleated khaki shorts. And the icing on the cake? Swanepoel's flirty headwear, which brings a little style to the shade. With enough fresh mix-and-match pieces to get you from this season to next, trust us: it's worth the drive."

(1120 Connecticut Ave., NW; 1267 Wisconsin Ave., NW; or in G'town 1258 Wisconsin Ave., NW)

Michael Jackson: Fashion Phenom

"From the wow to the weird, Michael Jackson leaves a fashion legacy to rival his musical one.

His black fedora, silver glove and red leather jacket were worn by millions around the world who channeled Jackson's spirit and sartorial flair. Later, he made fashion choices that weren't as popular, but were no less memorable: the pajama pants during his child-molestation trial, the black robes and veils while living in Bahrain, the germ masks that were a regular accessory.
All combined to cement Jackson's legacy as a pop and fashion icon.

‘There are a few people who are the innovators, who set the trends that other people follow,’ said Stephane Dunn, a frequent writer of popular culture who teaches English at Morehouse College. ‘Here was Michael, who understood the power of style and was able to translate it in a way that everybody wanted to copy it.’

His costumes weren't just for the stage. At a White House appearance, Jackson stood alongside first lady Nancy Reagan, looking the part of a glamorous general in a sequined military-style coat, aviator sunglasses and single, studded glove.

Jackson's ability as a performer electrified audiences, inspired amateurs of all ages and launched the careers of entertainers from Chris Brown to Chris Tucker, said Mark Anthony Neal, who teaches black popular culture at Duke University. ‘His success was a template for them,’ Neal said of performers like Brown, Ginuwine and Justin Timberlake." (Mercury News)