Has the "Obama effect" trickled down to Fashion Week?

Just a year ago, Women's Wear Daily reported that one-third of the designers showing at New York Fashion Week failed to hire any models of color, which is both utterly shameful and extremely boring. But according to Jezebel's very scientific calculations (complete with pie charts), the use of models of color rose by six percent this season. Whether it's the Obama effect, or the impact of the recent all Black Italian Vogue, I sense progress!

Those shows that received marks for highest diversity included Oscar de la Renta, Victoria Beckham, Ports 1961, Rachel Roy, Tracy Reese and Sophie Theallet. And the shows that employed no models of color? Altuzarra, Davidelfin, Jenni Kayne, Julian Louie, Koi Suwannagate, Temperley London, and Vera Wang Lavender Label. For shame, Vera. For shame.

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Red Carpet Shots @ The Oscars

Last night, while hanging out at The Standard Hotel with some of my colleagues over some drinks in the grilling Downtown Los Angeles, the Oscar moments popped up and the entire gist happened to be who was wearing what and how the show came out. For sure, I don't like the Whoopi attire. I have no favorite but I like Alicia Keyes and Taraji P. Henson.

We even talked about how the Jews conquered Hollywood with the kind of movies they make which is inspiring. Movies like "Defiance," "The Unborn," "The Reader," "Valkyrie," "Blessed Is The Match," and many others -- all about the Holocaust. Now my folks see where I'm coming from.

Associated Press photographer Chris Pizzello captures Taraji P. Henson as she arrives for the 81st Academy Awards

Actress and singer Alicia Keyes arrives at the 81st Academy Awards. Those Armani Prive with a Zufi Alexander clutch and that Fred Leighton jewels speaks volumes. I like that style. Simply georgeous. Photo by Matt Sayles, AP

Halle Berry arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party which grooved all night. She is captured here by AP's Evan Agostini.

Actress/humanitarian/philanthropist Angelina Jolie is all glamour as she arrives at the 81st Academy Awards and the flashing lights never stopped snapping. Photo by Matt Sayles, AP

I'm not sure what Whoopi Goldberg was doing here in that dress. She was all smiles though. AP's Chris Carlson captured her here as she arrives at the 81st Academy Awards.

Actress Marion Cotillard pops up on the red carpet while AP's Chris Pizzello takes the shot.

Here you go Dubmaster. Kate Winslet here wears Yves Saint Laurent Atelier along with Yvette Saint Laurent shoes and Chopard jewelry as she arrives the Academy Awards.


I'm not sure if I like this outfit. Anyway, Queen Latifah here wears Georges Chakra gown with William Goldberg diamonds and Gucci shoes. She is captured here by AP's Matt Sayles.

Anne Hathaway is so excited for having a job and you bet she is going to get all that Hollywood wants. Here she wears white Armani Prive gown with Casadel shoes and Roger Vivier bag topping it off with Cartier jewels

The prediction was that white was going to be the flashing point this year on the red carpet and Henson did just that. She captured my eyes.

CARTOON: Wuruwuru Country

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS

La Lohan shot by Hedi Slimane

Lindsay Lohan served it up for famed photog Hedi Slimane recently and...wow. I'm actually amazed at the beauty of these shots. She's definitely giving me "strung-out sexy," meaning way too skinny and looking kind of unkempt. But then there's also this quiet vulnerability in her eyes that I am connecting with! She is werrrrking her long locks and giving such a range of poses. All in all, well done Linds!















Check out all the shots, here!

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Carlos Falchi Trunk Show

Red Carpet Recap: The Oscars 2009

Pale really is the new black! It started at the Golden Globes, which saw no less than thirteen actresses wearing long, light-colored dresses on the red carpet. The 2009 Academy Awards followed a similar color story, with the best example by far being Sarah Jessica Parker in what she described as a "barely mint" gown by Christian Dior Couture. I simultaneously gasped and clutched my pearls when I spotted SJP in this gorgeous confection. Her hair is the perfect shade of chestnut, her rack looks amaaazing, and the light layers of tulle cinched with a swirling, sparkly belted corset are giving me "fierce fairy tale princess." Yes, SJP, this will do.

Taraji P. Henson looked happy and beautiful in an airy, ivory Roberto Cavalli gown. Great hair too...she made me want to start growing mine out!

Evan Rachel Wood also went pale in an Elie Saab Spring 2009 Couture gown that matched her skin color a little too well. She's fading into the background with this one.

Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway chose a glittering Armani Prive Spring 2009 gown that was dripping with paillettes.

Penelope Cruz won for Best Supporting Actress in this vintage Pierre Balmain Haute Couture gown. I thought she looked fantastic on camera.

Jessica Biel appeared on the carpet in this satin Prada gown with inexplicable billowed material. Just not flattering, darling.

On the other hand, Marisa Tomei's one-shouldered Versace Atelier gown had the most beautiful detailing in the front and fit her like a dream.

Red ruled the red carpet last year, and this year a bunch of starlets chose the classic color. Amy Adams wore this Carolina Herrera strapless gown, but I couldn't cosign either the dress or the Candy Land necklace by Fred Leighton.

Amanda Seyfried chose a Valentino Spring 2009 Couture gown with a huge bow.

Heidi Klum was in red (again), this time by Roland Mouret and accented by the sickest jewelry. Those bangles alone...

Freida Pinto looked beautiful as usual in John Galliano Spring 2009.

Kate Winslet looked nice but kind of tame in a grey YSL Atelier one-shouldered gown. Love the blond highlights though.

Angelina arrived in black (of course) Elie Saab. The green Lorraine Schwartz earrings definitely provided a much needed punch of color.

Natalie Portman stood out in a pink Rodarte chiffon strapless gown...I like.

Alicia Keys wore a similarly colored pink/lilac gown but I was disappointed and distracted by her lacefront.

Beyonce can do no wrong in my eyes but may I just suggest that she stop wearing House of Dereon Couture. As a matter of fact, she should stop making it altogether. The good news is that she looked amazing in terms of her minimal hair, makeup and jewelry.

Meryl Streep walked the carpet in an Alberta Ferretti gown. She's Meryl so she can get away with this.

Tilda Swinton, who's clothing I love to hate, chose a Lanvin Pre-Fall 2009 blouse and evening skirt with gathered detailing. Interesting.

Couture is wasted on this girl. I would say that Miley Cyrus wore a Zuhair Murad Spring 2009 Couture gown, but it seems the gown actually wore her. Not a fan.

Sofia Loren...why?

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The Oscars & Taraji P. Henson

Before the shooting of "No More Bloodshed" commences on the streets of Los Angeles in which Taraji Henson plays a significant role in a movie to be produced by Pascal Atuma Productions and also starring Atuma, Henson, tonight will be walking on Red Carpet along with her mom and Grandma to the Oscars in Hollywood for her Supporting-actress Oscar nomination in the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." She is so excited and listen to her comments :"I'm still kind of numb. I'm waiting for someone to say, 'Wake up!' I'm just really excited about it, and trying to enjoy each and every moment," she says. "But at the end of the day, I'm still TJ. That's what my family used to call me, and they still do."

So excited that when she called her Grandma it was another drama... "Hey Grandma, we got an extra ticket for the Oscars, you wanna come?"

"I sure do baby!" her Grandma would say.

According to the nurturing Queenie in this movie and with the Oscar nod, Henson says "a different caliber of people wants to sit down and talk to me" meaning the opening is out there in all spheres and the sky now the limit. She's got much in her fold and hanging out around her is fun.

I'm just too busy to be writing about the Oscars now as the overwhelming Hollywood traffic has caught up with me and it's not going to be over untill about 2 in the morning when all the Oscar parties will be over. That of the Governor's Ball is where hell will get loose and knowing Hollywood for its "flickjams" one needs to go well-prepared.

But anyways, the Oscar is on right now and the wild Hollywood is roasting. I want Henson to win because her next step is a Los Angeles street thriller to be produced by my homie, Atuma in "No More Bloodshed."

CARTOON: "Rule of Lawlessness"

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPERS