The red hot male models of Red NYC and the new reality show Model City channel the mod and sophisticated aesthetic of the iconic 'Rat Pack' for Uptown. Sumner Dilworth lensed the retro glam editorial that features Rod 2.0 faves (L TO R) Salieu Jalloh, Nelson Nieves, Ibrahim Baaith, Shawn Sutton and Wendell Lissimore.
The photography, models and styling are ferosh. More images WHEN YOU JUMP ...
Continue reading "Retro Glam and Rat Pack Swagger for the Men of "Model City"" »
Anthony Gallo is still on fire. The "It" boy, model of the moment and Rihanna video hunk is featured another full-page advertisement for DSquared2's Spring/Summer 2009 menswear collection. The DSquared2 campaign was lensed by Italian-based fashion photographer Rohn Meijer.
The campaign also features Ibrahim Baiith, in the two photos at left, and Rod 2.0 crush object Tyson Beckford, seen behind Anthony. Oh and since we were talking about fashion and beefcake photographer Joseph Bleu yesterday, you should appreciate these newish images of Gallo that were lensed by the Bleu for Major Models.
Didn't catch Anthony Gallo in his very very revealing Dsquared2 swimwear the first time around? That image and more of Anthony's bulging muscles by Joseph Bleu are AFTER THE JUMP.
Continue reading "Anthony Gallo Still Bulging in All the Right Places" »
"It" boy and model of the moment Ibrahim Baaith and Rihanna video hunk Anthony Gallo are featured in the new full-page adverts for DSquared2's Spring/Summer 2009 menswear collection. The advert was shot by Italian-based fashion photographer Rohn Meijer.
This ad spotted the new VMan that features the very bulging underwear model Justin Gaston playing with his "balls."
Didn't catch Anthony Gallo in his very revealing Dsquared swimwear the first time around? Oversized Anthony and Ibrahim hotness AFTER THE JUMP.
Continue reading "Anthony Gallo and Ibrahim Baaith for Dsquared2" »
Red Models NYC has new Polaroids of rock-socking, rock solid model of the moment Ibrahim Baaith. in addition to illustrating this season's best accessories are firm pecs, shredded ads and bejeweled leather belts, Ibrahim demonstrates a few kickboxing moves. Very nice to know that Ibrahim is flexible.
Ibrahim Baaith was recently seen in Flaunt, the Barack Obama-inspired fashion editorial in Paper, and, the all-black runway extravaganza for Sean John. The Ibrahim hotness also appears with fellow Rod 2.0 faves Salieu Jalloh, Marcus Lloyd and Wendell Lissimore in the vintage Sean John retrospective in the September issue of VIBE.
More and larger Polaroids at Red. This was your Friday morning wake up call.
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Yesterday, we mentioned the fact that several magazines are featuring all-black male fashion editorials in their current issues. One of those magazines is Paper, the New York City-based fashion-forward lifestyle bible. Barack Obama fans will be particularly thrilled because the editorial is entitled "Mr. President" and is dedicated to the fashion aesthetic of the Democratic presidential front runner.
Well-known fashion photographer Richard Phibbs lensed the project. Phibbs, of course, was responsible for those sculpted and muscled images of Nigerian model Kwame. Speaking of African models, the lead model in this editorial is Red NYC's Salieu Jalloh, seen above, who is from Sierra Leone and was last seen ripping the runway for Sean John in its all-black male fashion show. Below is Ibrahim Baaith, also with Red NYC.
Red's Marcus Lloyd is also featured. Marcus and Ibrahim were also featured in the Sean John show.
The Obama fashion aesthetic—previously discussed on these pages and at The Huffington Post—certainly works to the candidate's advantage. The greys and muted colors convey a Kennedyesque earnestness, the open shirts are casual show confidence, at least in our opinion. The designers represented here are John Varvatos, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Michael Bastian. The models below, left to right, are Robert Joseph (Fusion), Sandy Oumar (Wilhelmina) and Ibrahim Baaith.
Cynics will probably dismiss the "Mr. President" fashion editorial as a gimmick, which would be typical, but that also demonstrates a failure to grasp at least some of the "meta" rationale for Obama's candidacy and/or presidency. If our country is going to have a black presidential nominee, or president, it opens a larger conversation on race. (The meta-conversation on Hillary Clinton's campaign and sexism, sadly, has yet to arrive.) Just like many boardrooms and executive offices, the fashion pages and runways are notoriously monochromatic. In the months to come, it's likely many companies will reevaluate their complexion of their executive offices, and more magazines and designers will hire more black models.
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Sean "Diddy" Combs takes a strong stand against the lack of diversity in the fashion industry with his breakthrough Sean John runway show that capped Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Friday. The entire show consisted of black male models.
The new collection boasted fashion forward designs—especially buzz-worthy are the sweaters and high-waist trousers—and gorgeous faces of yesterday and tomorrow. Will Lemay was one of the prominent models walking in the show—he was once the brand's signature model, opening many shows and appearing in the print campaigns.
Models of the moment Salieu Jalloh, Ibrahim Baath, Marcus Lloyd and Wendell Lissimore, all of whom are represented by RED, walked in the show. One of the top bookers at the agency says he is happy the "beautiful black boys were given a shot to strut their stuff. ... There still seems to be a very narrow and closed-minded approach used by many casting agents and designers to exclude blacks and other ethnic groups from their projects."
The real surprise was at the end of the collection when Rod 2.0 fave Tyson Beckford walked for Sean John. Formerly one of the brand's top faces, Beckford has been feuding with Combs and filed a lawsuit against the producer slash designer and his brand. It looks like they kissed and made up. For now.
Beckford attended several shows at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and told the Associated Press the lack of black models this season has been particularly acute. "What happened to all the black people on the runway? ... There used to be myself, Naomi Campbell, Veronica Webb, Tyra Banks. There used to be a lot of us out there, but today a lot of the designers just aren't catering to black people."
On a final note, several times Rod 2.0 has reported that iconic fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg—whose studio and atellier is around the corner—has always supported black models and designers. Remember her rave reviews for Michael Knight in Project Runway? In her new role as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, she reportedly has "sent a memo to its members encouraging them to create fashion shows 'that are truly multicultural.' "
Fashion Week Hits Diversity Problem [AP]
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