The Black Issue 2009

... is Barbie.

For some time now, there has been a “black out” of models of color on the runways. First Lady Michelle Obama has shined new light on the black out by not wearing the names of the designers who do not show diversity in their shows. I am not sure if it is deliberate on her behalf, but that is the way it is playing out. The First Lady had particular taste before going to the White House and she is staying true to that. Cool with me.

Dressing the First Lady is the dream of any fashion designer. However, Mrs. Obama’s use of Chicago designers and American retailers such as J. Crew, and Black House White Market, have left many in the high fashion industry on the side lines, wanting to be in (hey Calvin and Prada). To date, every J. Crew item that Mrs. Obama, Sasha and Malia has worn – sold out instantly.

For years now, top designers have staged hundreds of shows in New York and Milan, which were/are totally without models of color. Black models have been constantly left out of lucrative advertisements, makeup contracts (unless you are Beyonce, Rihanna or Queen Latifah, all of whom are NOT models) and overlooked for editorials and runways.

In an effort to send a message about the beauty of diversity in fashion, in July of 2008, Vogue Italia conceived the first Black Issue with top black models in starring roles, including Iman, Naomi Campbell and the new It Girl, 19 year old Jourdan Dunn. I ran right out and put my twenty on this once in a life time “Black Edition”.

This year, it is “Black Barbie” that has landed a starring role in Vogue Italia. We will be picking up the "Black Barbie" issue as soon as it drops.

Maybe now Little One can get her "B" to give me mine back...




A little history: The first black doll from Barbie was introduced in 1967, as a friend of Barbie called Francie, followed by the first "Black Barbie" doll, introduced in 1980.


This autumn will bring the launch of a collection of black Barbie dolls, called the So In Style dolls; which have been designed with more authentic-looking black features, including a new facial sculpt that has fuller lips, a wider nose, more distinctive cheek bones and curlier hair.



Little One and her "B" are uber excited to see the new So In Style Barbie dolls. The So In Style dolls will be available early next year. Little One can look, but unless somebody gets her one for a gift - she won't be getting one. Besides, we have already made a neat little investment in this and all it's trappings...

... she is gonna to need to play with this until she is at least sixteen and then pack it away and save it for my grandchild.

Meet Tiana, Disney's newest Princess

For Coco Mommies everywhere, I would like to personally thank Disney for FINALLY creating an African-American Princess.

From USA Today:

For the first time, Disney is creating a film with an African-American princess whose doll will make its debut Monday at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.

For Disney, it's not just about being culturally and politically correct, it's also about growing its lucrative — but aging — Disney Princess franchise in a tough economy. Created in 1999, Disney Princesses had $4 billion in global retail sales last year.

The cocoa-colored doll, which sports a tiara and a flowing blue gown, and is roughly the size of a Barbie, is expected to sell for about the same $10 to $15 as Barbie. Disney hopes it will boost the franchise through rough times. The $22 billion toy industry saw sales fall about 3% last year, and sales of dolls dropped a hefty 8%, according to the Toy Industry Association.

Though Princess Tiana was on the drawing board long before Barack Obama was elected the nation's first black president, marketing experts say she signals a growing awareness by industries from toymakers to cosmetic companies that diversity is critical in a nation where people of color will be the majority in little more than 30 years.

"It's very significant," says Lisa Skriloff, president of Multicultural Marketing Resources. "It's like a stamp of approval for one of the most outstanding family (entertainment) companies to say this is important."

Tiana, whose story will come to the big screen later this year in the animated musical The Princess and the Frog, is the first princess introduced by Disney since Mulan in 1998.

Disney executives say that they did not set out to make a social statement."It was much more about the storytelling," says Kathy Franklin, vice president, global studio franchise development for Disney Consumer Products. "This was not about a conscious decision to say we need an African-American princess." Yet, industry watchers say that when Princess Tiana dolls hit stores in the fall, they will bring diversity to a marketplace where it's been sorely lacking.

Mattel, which has the license to create the Princess Tiana dolls, is planning to release its own line of black dolls in September. Part of the Barbie family, the So In Style dolls are being touted as having a more authentic appearance, from their hair to their varying skin tones.

Disney, which has had great success with its Princess franchise, predicts that sales will surge with the arrival of Tiana. "We expect our sales of Princess Tiana products to be significant, and not just to African-American households," says Franklin.

As with her fellow princesses, Tiana merchandise will range from Halloween costumes to backpacks. There are plans for Tiana-theme MP3 players and digital cameras to be in stores by the end of the year, and a line of Princess Tiana and The Princess and the Frog books will go on sale this fall.

American Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (ADT) will celebrate their 50th Anniversary in 2009. The ADT performs in more than 70 countries and is one of the most well known dance companies in the world. To commemorate this occasion, the ADT in collaboration with Mattel have created the Revelations Barbie. Each doll wears a costume from Revelations, Ailey's masterpiece production.

The costume the doll wears, was designed by Judith Jamison. Jamison became a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1965 and danced with the company for 15 years to great acclaim. Recognizing her extraordinary talent, Mr. Ailey created some of his most enduring roles for her. Today, Jamison is the Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the request of her mentor, Alvin Ailey, who personally chose her to succeed him before his untimely death.

The doll, which features rooted eyelashes and feet sculpted to the exact pose of Ailey dancers, retails for $39.99. The ADT 50th Anniversary Barbie won't be available in most toy stores until December, but Target will start selling it this Sunday.

This is one of the most beautiful Barbies I have ever seen. I remember wishing for something like this when I was the only little black face in my ballet classes. This is a collector's item (for us). I am not a fan of Barbie, but I intend to get one of these for the little ballerina in my life.