An out of this world-class production. Images shot by world-renowned fashion lensman Steven Meisel for Italian Vogue’s July issue.  Exquisite couture frocks: Missoni, Cavalli, de la Renta are draped on the frames of if-looks-could-kill models. (On set, I imagine stylists, creative directors, makeup artists, their minions, assistants, and interns swirled and raced to and fro to be sure everything was just so and not too, too.)

What may sound like any “fabulous” high-fashion shoot and its resulting spread or a slightly more-down-to-earth clip from America’s Next Top Model is truly  an even more extraordinary authentic, in-print first.  

Mr. Meisel’s posing mannequins don’t fit what has been the fashion industry’s hushed-or-worst-still- unspoken-rule-but-not-at-all-a-secret that it (the industry) has long preferred its models fair and toothpick thin; a subscription that leaves women—like me—feeling like an airplane passenger neighbor never greeted, seen but not worth the time.

But all Mr. Meisel’s subjects, though they fit designer sample sized duds (usually 2 or 4), the beyond-gorg gals are raven, caramel, and honey-toned in complexion.

While “Conspicuous by Their Presence” author Cathy Horyn’s interviews with fashion-mavens including Iman and Bethann Hardison suggests diversity (though sometimes contrived) has “improved” over the years, they also maintain that the “industry” is still NI (in need of improvement). Well, but of course!

Thank goodness for platforms like O, the Oprah Magazine, Marie Claire, Essence, Lucky, and ivillage.com that celebrate women for their diversity. And, though only annually in it’s Shape Issue, American Vogue has in recent years featured a few women close to an American woman’s average size 12. In support of its sister publication, I’m sure, the July 2008 issue American Vogue recognizes three black supermodels-in-the-making, Jourdan Dunn, Chanel Iman, and Arelis.

Kudos to Steven for setting the precedent. Hopefully with fotogs like him and ”Love the Skin You’re In” campaigns launched by Dove leading the way the trend of including women of every shape, size, skin-tone, ethnicity, hair length and texture will become the new standard in fashion and beauty. I mean, it’s ideal.

Until we’ll fully there…you be you! Be beauty-full!

Tai