So, about that all-black issue of Italian Vogue: If you landed yourself a copy, you're one of the lucky few. "Even in New York City the few newsstands that carry the issue were sold out (one newsstand went through 400 copies) within hours. There were waiting lists and prepaid orders. Many of the customers, according to newsstand staffers I talked to bought all four-cover versions as keepsakes. At $16 a copy (one newsstand wanted to charge me $20 to prepay for his next batch expected in) it was a Circulation Directors' fantasy come true." One of our own editors is bidding on eBay for her copy.
But while the issue may have featured all black models, the magazine's publisher obviously didn't have enough time to have the ad pages reflect the editorial. Because next to the fashion spreads of Lily Taylor and Alek Wek, beauty products and designer labels were being plugged by a bunch of white girls. CONTINUED »
Although the recent LeBron James Vogue cover didn’t do so well on the stands for what, perhaps, are obvious reasons, there’s a lot of speculation that the all-black issue of Vogue Italia will exceed money-making expectations. For one thing the issue — see sneak-peek pics* from Naomi Campbell’s Vogue Italia spread above and below — has received international attention. For another thing, far more ads were sold for this special issue than normal. Sure, part of it is the novelty aspect. But it also dispels the myth that black models can’t sell magazines or products.
Surprise, surprise: Barack Obama was one of Vogue Italia editor Franca Sozzani’s inspirations when she decided to dedicate July’s issue of her magazine to black models. Of course, he wasn’t the only inspiration. Sozzani was well aware of the problem of the rapidly-disappearing black model.
Editorial Director
