Transformations Fashion Show

Friday night, I saw an awesome show. Transformations is an annual show designed and produced by Catherine Fritsch for DivaFest.

Fristch speaking with the audience

 Fritsch is owner and designer of Mercurious Designs and Sweet Revenge Lingerie. She has 18 years experience in designing, pattern making and sewing services. In my book, she is the one of  the gurus of design AND she is one of the most humble and nicest person you will ever meet. She's also one of our clients at Aesthetic Design Style.

In the Transformation show, Fritsch takes off the wall objects, like styrofoam from bean bag chair and balloons, to make modern Victorian pieces. Models were supplied by LModelz Modeling Agency. Makeup was done by our own Julia Rutland and Christopher Thompson of Re-Creations and Kathy Moberly of faces by klm. Hair styling was provided by Geneva Hair Studio and jewelry by Cheeky Couture.

  

I was excited all week about this show. Here are a few of my favorite.

To find out more about Catherine Fritsch or Sweet Revenge Lingerie, go to her website.

The Achiever: Tyra Banks

Tyra Lynne Banks was born in 1973 in Inglewood, CA. Her mother is a fashion manager and a NASA photographer. Her father is a computer consultant. Banks was accepted for UCLA and USC to major in television producing.

Banks began modeling as a junior in high school. Banks has been on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Harper's Bazaar. She's walked the runway for many designers including Chanel, Anna Sui and Christian Dior. She was the first Black woman to appear on the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition. Banks was also the first Black woman to appear on the cover of the Victoria Secret's catalog. Banks retired from modeling in 2005 to concentrate on her television career.

Banks has done numerous acting spots on the small screen like Fresh Prince of Bel Air, MadTV, Felicity and many more. Banks started her own production company, Bankable Productions, and released her own talk show. She introduced us to the world of modeling with her reality show contest, America's Next Top Model. Banks received a Daytime Emmy in 2008 for the Tyra Banks Show.

Banks was also a featured in movies including Higher Learning, Love and Basketball and Halloween: Resurrection.

The entertainer also tried her hand in music. Along with being in many music videos, the model released her own music single, Shake Yo Body. Banks also released a song with NBA player, Kobe Bryant.

Banks is still working but has recently been accepted to Harvard Business school.

The Entrepenuer: Iman

"My dream woman is Iman" - Yves Saint Laurent

Iman, born Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajiid, was born in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1955. Her father was an ambassador to Saudi Arabia and her mother was a gynecologist. Iman studied at Nairobi University in Kenya and majored in political science. She was discovered while attending Nairobi and moved to the United States in 1975. The model is fluent in five languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, French and English.

The supermodel was featured in countless fashion magazines, including Vogue, and walked for many designers during her two decades of modeling. She was also the muse to some of the top photographers in the world.

In 1994, Iman started her own cosmetic line geared toward women of color to fill the void of hard to find colors. Iman Cosmetics was worth over $25 million in 2010. Iman also has a fashion line featured on HSN called Global Chic.

Iman has been on numerous television shows and movies and is the current host and judge of Fashion Show, a reality fashion designer competition show on the Bravo network.

She continues to help her native country with numerous charities and fundraisers.

The model is married to rock glam god, David Bowie and is still one of the hardest working women in fashion history.

Video Vixen: Beverly Peele

Beverly Peele was born in Los Angeles in 1975. She began modeling at 12 years old. Peele appeared on her first magazine cover, Madmoiselle, in 1989. She's done covers for Vogue, Elle and Cosmopolitan and has done runway shows for designers like Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Versace.

Peele retired from modeling in 1995. After the birth of her daughter, Peele's modeling prospects dwindled and she began acting. She was featured on shows like Sister, Sister and Girlfriends. The model is also known for her music video work being featured in George Michael's Too Funky and Heavy D's Nuttin but Love videos.

The model got into some legal trouble when she was arrested in 2005 for credit card fraud; using a card she found in a shopping mall. She appeared on the Tyra Bank Show in 2006 to speak out about the dangers of modeling. Peele was also in a major car accident in 2010 leaving her and her daughter is serious condition.

The Pioneer: Beverly Johnson

There wouldn't be a present day black model if there was no Beverly Johnson.

Born in 1952, Johnson grew up in Buffalo, NY with the desire to have a career in law. While studying criminal justice at Northwestern University, Johnson began modeling. Johnson has been on over 500 magazine covers and is considered to be the first "black" woman to grace the cover of Vogue Magazine in 1974.

The model branched out to acting in 1976. Johnson has appeared in movies and television shows like Ashanti, Law & Order and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. She was a judge for model reality show, She's Got the Look for two seasons.

Johnson authored a book, Beverly Johnson's Guide to a Life of Health and Beauty, which was released in December 1981.  Johnson is also an entrepreneur with a line of African American hair care products and wigs.

Slave to Uniqueness: Grace Jones

She paved the way with her high top fade. She opened the door for Lady Gaga, Lil' Kim and Nikki Minaj.  Grace Jones is the androgynous entertainer that shocked and wowed the industry in the 1970's and 1980's.

Born Grace Mendoza in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1948. Ironically, her father was a minister. Her family left the island and came to New York in 1968. She soon started modeling and signed a recording contract with Island Records in 1977.

The then disco queen transformed in to a new age goddess in the 80's. The entertainer won a Grammy in 1983 for her long video, A One Man Show and in 1986 she won a MTV Video Music Award for her hit, Pull Up to My Bumper. Jones starred in 19 films including Conan the Barbarian and Boomerang.

Jones was best known for her antics and her unique personal taste. At times a welcome gesture would be a lick to the face. Conan co-star, Arnold Swarzenegger complained that Jones was "too tough" during the filming.  She hobnobed with Andy Warhol and was once engaged to actor Dolph Lundgren.

Jones quoted, "Models are there to look like mannequins, not like real people. Art and illusion are supposed to be fantasy."

Bald is Beaming: Pat Evans

Pat Evans was a revolutionary model; on the scene in the 1960's and 1970's.

Evans was featured on in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and other fashion magazines, but earned her acclaim from music group the Ohio Players' album cover and photos with legendary funkman Issac Hayes.

Evans spoke out against the racially charged modeling industry saying, "black modeling is a form of prostitution" in an article in Essence Magazine printed in 1974. Shortly before her article was printed, the model disconnected ties with the modeling industry. 

Evans now has her own modeling agency, Pat Evans Models, out of New York. Her models are seen on advertisements like Smirnoff and Colgate. She also travels with celebrities as a makeup artist.

As of 2009, Evans now lives in Pennsylvania and is a teacher at Northhampton Community College. The former model teaches two classes; a modeling course and a beauty class.

Tragic Endings: Donyale Luna

As the first African American model to be put on the cover of Vogue, Donyale Luna had great potential. Born Peggy Ann Freeman in Detroit, Michigan in 1945, Luna was always described as a person living in a fairy tale.
 
Luna was featured in sketch from on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in 1965. Soon after she graced the cover of Vogue. A London magazine hailed Luna as the complete new image of the Negro woman. Luna appeared in Playboy in 1975.

The model turned actress was featured in films like Andy Warhol's Camp, the Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus, Salome and many more.When asked about her fame in Hollywood and how it would benefit the minority culture, the model mention it could be "groovy" but "she could care less".


The model enjoyed the use of LSD and died of a drug overdose in 1979, at the age of 33.

You Better WORK! Pat Cleveland

Pat Cleveland is a supermodel known for her amazingly entertaining walk and her mounds of gorgeous flowing hair. Her Black-Cherokee-Irish mixed ethnicity wows the masses. Even Josephine Baker wanted the model to play her in a biopic.

Cleveland was discovered at 15 years old in 1967 by a Vogue editor, Clarie Donovan, on the subway in New York City. the model has walked the runway for many designers like Karl Lagerfeld and Halston.

Cleveland is also a poet and wrote a book called, "In the Spirit of Grace".

Cleveland still graces runway and magazine with her presence. Her daughter, model Anna van Ravenstein, follows in her footsteps.

Black is Beautiful: Naomi Sims

Black History Month runs from February 1st until February 28th.  We want to celebrate all of the amazing women who have brought so much to fashion and to the world.  So many times we separate ourselves because of race, religion, creed, etc. and forget we all have one common thread that connects us; we are all women.  For centuries, no matter what race, religion, creed, etc. to which we belong; we as women, have been second class citizens.  In this day, we want to uplift and support women around the world and create a system that is not biased, but based upon what one can bring to the table - period.  For this very special month we celebrate the African American women who, some you may know and others you may not be familiar with, made an impact on the world in their own special way.  Visit our blog each and every day through the month of February and get to know these beautiful women and the extraordinary lives they lived or are living.

Cover of Life Magazine 1969

Today we will feature Naomi Sims.

Considered the first black supermodel, Naomi Sims was born March 30, 1948 in Oxford, Mississippi. After growing up in Pittsburgh, Sims majored in psychology at New York University at night while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. Sims started modeling with the help of Wilhemina Cooper, founder of the Wilhemina Modeling agency.

Cover of Cosmopolitan 1973

Though Sims was repeatedly shunned because of her dark complexion, she was the first African American to grace the covers of magazine like Ladies Home Journal and Cosmopolitan, a feat that is difficult for even current black models and actors.

In 1976, after Sims' stint as a model, she started a multimillion dollar wig line called the Naomi Sims Collection and a cosmetic company soon followed. Her beauty products are still sold online and throughout the New York City area. Sims wrote five books on health and beauty.

Sims lost her battle to breast cancer on August 1, 2009 at 61 years old.