Volume 143, Issue #2
NAOMI CAMPBELL STRIKES A POSE FOR CITY COLLEGE EDITOR
The W Hotel hosted a much anticipated and exclusive event for City College fashion students on Jan. 25. The air in the upstairs meeting room was thick because of the rapid, but hushed breathing of its guests. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in – THERE SHE IS! Renowned supermodel Naomi Campbell burst through the doors in a tasteful, black mini-dress and suede, knee-high boots. Her sharp, shiny bob glinted in the spotlight as she seated herself on stage next to legendary fashion producer Kevin Krier. The duo had been dashing around the city all morning to promote FashionWeekLive!, a night of runway magic in March, which will give audience members an eclectic preview of the Fall 2007 collections from America’s leading fashion designers. The fashion students had a rare opportunity to participate in a tell-all, question-and-answer session with Campbell and Krier. Topics discussed included tips on getting noticed as a designer, racism or, as Campbell called it, "territorialism," in the industry and reflections on Campbell’s career. At one point, a student asked Campbell if she could “show us the walk?” Campbell obliged and the room erupted in applause as she demonstrated her signature strut. “I never wanted to be a model,” Campbell said. “I mean, I never had any set goals. I just went along for the ride and am very thankful to be sitting here today.” In her 20 years of modeling, Campbell was the first black supermodel to appear on the covers of Time magazine and both British and French editions of Vogue. “For my first cover,” Campbell said, "the magazine initially wouldn't put my face on the cover because I was black. So, I went to a designer I was working with and told him. And the designer told the magazine, 'You have to put her on the cover or I'll pull all my advertising.’ The magazine couldn’t afford to lose his advertising.” Krystle Hatchett, a City College student, used the occasion to ask Campbell about the new Body Mass Index guidelines set in place for Madrid and Milan fashion weeks. The guidelines, which include offering runway models healthy food backstage and guidance counseling, were created to foil eating disorders within the industry. “Do you see the fashion and modeling industries going toward more realistic body shapes and sizes?” Hatchett asked. “Or will the stereotypical model size continue to be the standard?” “The fashion industry is taking their position on giving guidance and education about eating disorders,” Campbell said. “I find the media backlash blaming the industry for something that is totally psychological. You can’t blame an industry for someone with a disease in their brain. However, some girls are just naturally thin. I eat so much, but just have a fast metabolism. My friend, Kate Moss, eats a lot, but that’s just the way her body physique is.” Sarah Berger, the event's publicist, added, “And I will say that Naomi ate fried chicken today.” Krystle Hatchett asked the question that was on every attendee's mind: "Will City College fashion students be able to get involved with FashionWeekLive!?" All eyes in the room shifted to Krier, the event's producer, who is also working on New York Fashion Week . “In terms of backstage production and support staff,” Krier said, "there will probably be a role that will need to be filled as we get closer to March 15. We have to get through Bryant Park first and then announce later if we can include you." After spending 30 minutes on stage, Campbell and Krier spent an additional 10 minutes posing for photographs, signing autographs and having one-on-one conversations with audience members. “I was surprised to see how humble Campbell is,” Hatchett said after the event. “For me, this experience was very motivating.” Diane Green, chair of the City College Fashion Department, expressed her students' gratitude. “They are thrilled that Naomi was so real and generous in spirit,” Green said. "They were so surprised that someone so big in the industry would take time to do a question-and-answer session with them." Although Green does not know if her fashion students will participate in FashionWeekLive!, they have had experience dressing models backstage. The fashion program requires students to contribute their time and talent for shows presented by Macy's, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale's. "The students get paid to work at these shows and receive first-hand experience as dressers,” Green said. “This is a very important part of a show because it’s difficult to dress models quickly enough so they’re out on the runway on time. It’s extremely hectic.” FashionWeekLive! will be held at Fort Mason's Festival Pavilion on March 15. Tickets are $500 a person and include the show cocktail rendezvous, the 35-minute program and after-party a-la-mode. Along with Campbell, international model Gemma Ward will feature pieces from Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs. Visit www.fashionweeklive.com e-mail:bmarsh@theguardsman.com
STATE YOUR FASHION CITY COLLEGE EDITOR
Fana Hiabu, 18 Eritrean-born Fana agreed to this profile with a timid handshake and a whispery okay. Her cleverly layered outfit, however, was screaming “photograph me!” When we pointed the camera at her she transformed, striking poses like a seasoned runway model. Turns out she’s been hitting runways in Oakland for more than a year for Mario B Productions. She paused to credit Gwen Stephani, creator of the upstart fashion label LAMB, for inspiring her personal sense of style. The interplay of the lacy shirt and fishnets under cut-off jeans is very rock and roll. The casual feel of her cap and sweater gives her a cosmopolitan edge.
Fortina Bornes, 21 For Minister Fortina Bornes sporting a righteous ensemble is a must. As a Hurricane Katrina survivor the faith that brought him through the flood extends to every aspect of life. “They way you dress determines the outcome of what your trying to do,” says the 21-year old minister. In the year and a half since he relocated from his ravaged and neglected home city, he has been embraced by local Evergreen Baptist church, and what’s more, he is behind the pulpit for Sunday services. From the classy Kangol fitted, to his tailored jacket over a sporty Ralph Lauren button up, all the way to the crocodiles on his feet, its clear that Bornes has the faith and the fashion to come out on top.
e-mail:a_e@theguardsman.com
"JUGGAKNOTS" Use your confession
Hip-hop is not dead— it’s just really tripped out. With their latest release, the New York City sibling trio “The Juggaknots” emerge as the foil to Huston’s codeine screwed and chopped Atlanta’s crunk movement, and thizzed out Bay Area hyphy, with an LP of sonic psilocybin.
—Larry Simpson "SAINTS ROW" Xbox 360
In “Saints Row” free-roaming crime based games – think Grand Theft Auto rip offs- step into the next generation. Turf war is the name of the game, multiracial gang in West Coast City, with districts like ‘the Mission’, ‘the Sunset’ and ‘Visitacion Valley’. Between taking over turfs, gamers can hone their skills in gorilla pimpin’, drug trafficking, insurance fraud and much more.
—Larry Simpson |
