JOYS of
YOUTH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIAN PEEPLES STYLIST LeANAREE MODEL LIL MS. BIG HAIR AKA CHARLI’
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JOYFUL STROLL Photographer Anthony Josey . Model Patricia Alves
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JOYEUX A‘ NEW YORK
MODEL AWA . PHOTOS & CLOTHES BY BAILEY.IV . MAKEUP RAVEN MILLER
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H er bold red lips and that laser gaze pierce through angelic layers of white tulle, resulting in a presence of emotion that emerges from her quietly penetrating mind.
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AZIA
PROOF
Agency: @theevoagency Stylist: @shademarshelenewyork Photographer: @bailey.iv Hair: @skye_dior Makeup: @callme_bonnie Venue: @bronx.photo Talent : @azia.iam
Bustier by Fanny J Skirt JVAL by Jordan Valois Belt by Dsquared Gloves, shoes & jewelry by Stylists Own
AZIA (Pronounced as “AY-Z-YAH”) is a Recording Artist, Actress, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist & Star of BET’s new reality show entitled, Hustle in Brooklyn. Azia loves to showcase her multiple talents when it comes to acting, modeling, and designing. Before all the success,fame and the game, Azia was a creative little girl following her dreams in New York City. Brooklyn, to be exact , and that’s where all her sassiness was born. “Haitian mixed with Trini” was something Azia never shied away from in discussion. In fact, one of her hottest singles entitled “Pull Up” shows her embracing her coconut Caribbean roots. The musical origins derived early on from her father who has more than enough credits in the music industry to back her up. As a teenager, she hosted parties and a cable access tv show called Flex in Brooklyn
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PHOTOGRAPHY & CLOTHES BY BAILEY.IV MODEL IS TIAN-YI CHANG MAKEUP BY RAVEN MILLER WRITER ELIZABETH KIER
SATURDAY
NIGHT
70s The magic wonder-key to transcend the usual decades while hinting at hot style moments is now made iridescently possible by layering only the best textures for a Friday night galivant. Specifically, in this new Age of Aquarius, a glam rock constellational blazer is nothing to shrug at. Whether you stargaze or straddle social distancing measures like a masked butterfly in the night, this piece has the lift to attract blazing looks. Up-and-coming fashion titan Chris Bailey presided over its design and styling.
The magic wonder-key to transcend the usual decades while hinting at hot style moments is now made iridescently possible by layering only the best textures for a Friday night galivant. Specifically, in this new Age Now, of Aquarius, a glam rockin if you dare to flare constellational blazer is nothing to shrug at. Whether you stargaze or straddle social distancing measures like a masked gold faux leather, then walk butterfly in the night, this piece has the lift to attract blazing looks. Up-and-coming fashionthose titan treasured Chris Bailey presided gams right on over its design and styling. through lockdown or sun-
down, whichever suits your healthy body temperature and fluctuating regulations. (Saturday Night Fever is for watching, not for catching, right!?)
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During phase one, Black creatives realized how underrepresented, underpaid, under supported and underappreciated they were. It took a pandemic to motivate us to push forward in our excellence. With the world being shut down, creatives were forced to re-invent, strategize and improvise their crafts by digging deeper into creative spaces in order to generate income and make ends meet. In the same way pressure makes diamonds; Black creatives started recognizing one another, creating platforms to highlight Black businesses, paying homage to legends who paved the way, opening businesses and investing in financial literacy; all while holding businesses and big brands accountable for their diversity initiatives and reserving open seats at the table. Platforms supporting and highlighting black owned businesses, such as Black Owned Everything, founded and curated by Zerina Akers-endorsed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter was birthed. The Black In Fashion Council, founded by Lindsay Peoples Wagner and Sandrine Charles, was launched bringing us back to Black, proving there were changes that needed to be made and there was more room for Black creatives to support one another. We can’t expect other people to accept, acknowledge, amplify, celebrate, support, and showcase our work if we don’t do it first. While fighting for a seat at the table, we were also fighting for our lives. Phase one allowed us to look at the world around us beyond our own backyards. Being Black is not temporary or a part time job. Who we are and what we embody is a 24/7-365 full time experience. 2020 made us realize we were still fighting the same fight our great-grandparents fought to get us where we are politically, economically, socially, educationally and artistically. The country we pledged liberty and justice for all wasn’t reciprocating its vows, so creatives took to the streets. We spoke up, we fought back, and we stood for something greater than ourselves. It was greater than our latest sketch, runway walk, spring/summer collection and fashion week show. We used everything we had as Black creatives to get our messages across. We turned our pain into poetry and our anger into art. We went back to Black! For once, the spotlight was on us. We demanded change that needed to be made in order to excel in an industry that is still predominantly occupied by our white counterparts. Brands started to listen and joined in unity. Brands such as
Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Area, Versace, Fendi, Supreme, Prada, Dior and Burberry offered support by sharing resources, making donations and diversifying their corporate teams in solidarity of its employees, industry counterparts, celebrity clients and target audience. While some responses to the cause seemed like a PR move, the unity across the fashion industry was well received. This was a long overdue victory for Black creatives, deriving from a place where many high-end brands have misappropriated the culture. Making a mockery of past traumas through misinformed advertisements, insensitive visuals, lack of representation, offensive verbiage and careless efforts. It is imperative for Black creatives to continue applying pressure by holding brands accountable, in order for the effects of change and diversity to become long term. Since the start of the pandemic, it has put a spotlight on the imperfections of the industry. However, I’m confident it will start to shift in a more inclusive direction. Regardless, one thing we can’t deny is it pushed us to prioritize ourselves and motivated us to get BACK TO BLACK.