And The Snob says, welcome to the next four years of ‘Nothing Is Good Enough!’
Amnau Eele, co-founder of the Black Artists Association, told fashion industry publication Women’s Wear Daily she plans to “file a formal appeal” with Michelle Obama’s office about the lack of a black designer.
“It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We are the World’ by representing all different countries,” Eele is quoted as saying at wwd.com, the magazine’s Web site. “But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something, too?”
First of all, I wasn’t aware that American citizens Jason Wu, Maria Pinto and Isabel Toledo were foreigners. Yes. They weren’t born here. But they’re citizens. They vote. They pay taxes. They love designing clothes. They loved this country enough to move here and go through the citizenship process, so the “Kumbaya” thing was a bit of a low-blow. Are we kicking out all Americans who don’t look white or aren’t part Nat Turner now? Do Asian American, Cuban American designers have it any easier in what is a game largely ruled out of the houses of France and Italy?
Le sigh.
I love black designers. I want to see black designers succeed. But if anyone is going to pick a fight this is a pretty lame fight. So far Michelle has picked relative nobodies, many of the minorities to wear for special occasions. Most of her hair and makeup stylists (most notably Johnny Wright who’s getting a TV show out of this) have been black. Can we, I don’t know, give her a few more outfits before we accuse her of snubbing anyone? This isn’t a 100-yard dash of fashion. The woman will be first lady for the next four-to-eight years.
That’s a lot of dresses, suits, pants suits, skirt sets, casual wear, ball gowns and party gear.
And considering for past first ladies it’s been Oscar de La Renta or nothing, I think they should maintain some perspective. They actually have a shot this time along with countless other independent, fresh-faced, young, new, relatively unheard of designers.
Lastly, Shelly O is First Lady of the people. Not just “Our Kind of People.” Or the permanent tan people. Just keep your hustlenomics game going. Keep an eye open for opportunity and if she goes a whole year pretending like Rachel Roy, Kai Milla Morris and the parade of black designer aspirants don’t exist, then pitch a fit.
And if this is about Michelle and how for the past two years she’s been largely faithful to Chicago-area designer Maria Pinto (also not a Negro, but also not Oscar, yet very, very American), keep in mind, Pinto is a favorite of Oprah and numerous other people of a certain class. I’m pretty sure that was a “hook-up” situation — a hook-up that worked marvelously in her favor.
Which means, if you’ve got the goods to make Michelle Obama look good (which I think Kai Milla does. I love her work), then get crackin’. Stop yappin’.
Only the strong design. (Source: Chicago Sun-Times)
Live Your Best Life. 
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