Tracking the Obama-Effect on New York Runways and in the Global Press

Today's Telegraph UK runs a headline "Obama Effect" hits New York Fashion Week. While I've not rummaged through that many runway photos, the headline may be an exaggeration, as least as defined by the London newspaper.

The 'Obama Effect' has hit New York Fashion Week, resulting in a style and cultural explosion as colourful and diverse as Africa itself. See Telegraph Video that follows.

Trust, me visions of the African Savannah or Charleston waterfront are not running wild in Manhattan.

In fact, a smoldering, intellectual sensuality is the mood of the moment. I find this to be very much Michelle Obama style, but this is not the story at hand.

We're talking Africa here.

My greatest point of curiosity this morning is whether there's any mention of the African Fashion Collective 2009 over at Style.com. Anna Wintour has been amazingly "of the moment" recently. (See Just IN: Michelle Obama's Vogue Cover & the Women of Anne of Carversville.)

I can't find any reference. The African Fashion Collectives four designers Xuly Bet from Mali; Nkhensani Nkosi who designs Stoned Cherrie, the South African label; and Fati Asibelua of Momo, and Tiffany Amber, both from Nigeria aren't in the designer review lineup.

The four African designers were sponsored by ThisDay, one of Africa's largest daily news outlets, and Arise, the glossy style magazine devoted to African global achievement. It was timed to mark the election of Barack Obama as President, and First Lady, Michelle Obama's championing of young, culturally diverse designers.

NYTimes Feature

via NYTimesAlek Wek models this dreamy creation from Stoned Cherrie, featured prominently in a NYTimes Style section article Revealing New Layers of African Fashion.

Guy Trebay reminds us that sub-Saharan Africa is currrently in vogue in everything from fashion to Africa-inspired bars. (See Anne of Carversville Elan: London's The Double Club, the Ultimate Pop Up). 

For some of us, there is a sense that South Africa MUST prevail. The psychological, emotional and financial investment in South Africa goes way beyond trendy.

I was thrilled reading Trebay's review of the Stoned Cherry collection, with references to Malik Sidibe, the much-lauded Malian studio photographer whose images of young people in Bamako in the 1950s and 1960s are a mine of late 20th century African style.

It's a decade ago that I wandered through The Cartier Foundation in Paris, immersed in Sidibe photos. You can see a limited number now in the Fashion Forward continuing exhibit at New York's International Center of Photography.

I will pull out an assortment of Malik Sidibe photos over at Anne of Carversville. African Art has been my beat for many years.

New Faces In Runway Casting

If I reject the suggestion that we are seeing an Obama-Effect cultural explosion as the main message on NY runways, I do agree that the Obama-Effect has hit the search for runway models.

Again, the NYTimes is writing the words that the newly-emboldened Vogue doesn't mention.

Models backstage at the Duckie Brown show during New York Fashion Week. Photo: NYTimesThere is a "Whites Only" code in magazines and the fashion runways. There is a strong belief that this code will change with the Obama influence.

“Oh, it’s totally about Obama,” said Marcus Lloyd, a 22-year-old African American model from Dallas. “I remember my agent was like, ‘If Obama does become president, there’s going to be a lot more work for you guys.”’

So there you go. A mini Obama-Effect style report from the trenches of Manhattan. It would appear that Michelle is not showing for Fashion Week, but a smart woman makes no projections.

The First Couple has perfected the art of the charming surprise. As for the real Obama-Effect, stay tuned for Europe, especially Paris.

The relationship with France and its former colonies may be an uneasy one psychologically and functionally. But the synthesis of African influences are much more a part of the culture in France . .. where they are frankly admired.

Anne