FAB Alert: Adele Covers Vogue

About two years ago when Adele released her debut album 19, it was rumored that she was to cover Vogue magazine at that time, but she did not because Anna Wintour thought she was fat. We all know how Anna abhors “fat” people and even went as far as suggesting the camera man for “The September Issue” documentary about the legendary mag work on his stomach a little bit. She is not the only one because Karl Lagerfeld (say it ain’t so Uncle Karl) even recently referred to Adele as “too fat” and soon after said his comments were taken out of context. It is no surprise how the fashion industry feels about anyone larger than a size “0,” but even Vogue has to admit that Adele is the most talked about cover from them in months and has garnered them a lot of publicity. Furthermore, this will probably be one of their top selling issues this year (next to the September issue of course).

I have been waiting for this day since the original rumors began and I am so glad it has finally come. After looking at the photos, I am sure Grace Coddington directed this shoot because it has her name all over it and she did Adele justice. When I first saw the picture of her on the cover, I was literally speechless and just starred at it for a minute. She looks so fabulous! Of course there is a little air brushing, but who has an air brush not helped from time to time? So when the magazine hits newsstands, make sure your pick it up to show your fabulous support because this is as fabulous as it gets. Now that you are up to date on all things fabulous, back to our regularly scheduled fabulous programming…

Click "read more" below to see all of the photos.

A Fabulous Way to Show Your Support

Anna Wintour

For some reason, I have never been able to explain my ineffable infatuation with Anna Wintour. Honestly, she is the only person in this world that could tell me to lick their shoe and I would actually do it. If you are one of those people who are not aware, “The Devil Wears Prada” is loosely based on her (some say it was more truth than fiction).

When people say she is the Queen of Fashion, they mean it. Unlike the Queen of England who is more for show than function, Anna Wintour dictates the clothes we wear everyday and the trends sold in stores solely because she is the Edtor-in-Chief of Vogue magazine.

Sometime ago Lazaro Hernandez of  Proenza Schouler ran into Anna Wintour on a plane. He was too nervous to speak to her himself, so he had the stewardess give her a napkin that told her about him, how much he adored her, and his love of fashion.

After a few weeks passed, he received a phone call from someone at Michael Kors telling him “Anna said you should work here.” A couple years later because of this chance meeting with her, Proenza Schouler became one of the most sought after designers in the world.

This time around she is using her power to re-elect President Obama. She has recently influenced a long list of designers to support his re-election efforts by designing “Obama-inspired” items with the proceeds going to the Obama Victory Fund.

“We’re launching something new, and a little different, over the next few weeks: 'Runway to Win,' a collaboration by some of the country's top fashion designers in support of Obama 2012.” BarackObama.com

Obama Tee by Beyonce & Tina Knowles

Canvas Tote by Rag & Bone

                                        

Some of the designers working on the project include Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Tracy Reese, Jason Wu, Narciso Rodriguez, Alexander Wang, Rag & Bone, Joseph Altuzarra, and Tory Burch. Do not get too excited yet because there will only be basic items like canvas totes, tees, and things of that nature. However, I could see me walking down the street in a shirt that reads “Vote for Obama Wearing Jason Wu.” Of course I doubt the shirt will actually say this, but here is to a little hopeful thinking.

I just love it when fashion serves a purpose for the greater good (I think it is also because it gives me another reason to shop). The best part of this idea is that it makes us feel fabulous while we are showing our support. So be fabulous and go out to vote this year everyone, no matter who you support because it is just the fabulous thing to do.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Visit the website to see some of the items available for purchase at this time with more to be released soon: RunwayToWin.com

My Fabulous Inspirations!

Andre Leon Talley
and Anna Wintour

I will never forget as a child the day I was watching the Style Network (back when it was non-stop fashion) and there was this special they showed with Andre Leon Talley from Vogue. I instantly admired him because I had never seen an African-American, homosexual male on TV with a Gucci bag so big before.

In retrospect, I do not know if I admired him or his Gucci bag more, but this set the stage for my fabulous journey to get me where I am today. This one moment changed everything in my life. He served as my inspiration to become who I am today and allowed me to believe I am able to be just as fabulous as him, if not better.

One of the people who have recently inspired me is Diann Valentine because when I met her two months ago, she blew me away with her fabulousness, so much so I had to tweet about her. Here is the tweet:

Daryl J. and Diann Valentine

Even though she is one of the most fabulous people I have ever met, she is so humble and sincere, which made me like her more. She was so eager to take a picture with me which came as a surprise, but I am thankful she did. So please make sure you support her fabulous every week by watching her show “I Do Over” on WE TV.

What I love most about the picture is that even though neither of us has on a stitch of make-up, our fabulous radiates through the picture. It is because she owns her own business, has a TV show, and is fabulous beyond measure, she inspired me to start this blog and pursue my fabulous dreams as she herself has done. 

People are often not aware of it, but being fabulous is a process and the initial steps of the process require you to determine who inspires you in a fabulous manner and to emulate a part of them. It is true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but being fabulous is more about taking bits & pieces from others while making sure you are not just a carbon copy of the original.

In high school when I was learning about writing style, I was taught you have to study the style of great writers (I used Zora Neale Hurston and Ralph Ellison as my writing inspirations) and merge the style of the writers who inspire you to create your own style. And honestly, being fabulous is no different. It is about taking what you find fabulous in others, combining it, and making it your own.

Trust me, it takes time to find your inner fabulous and there is nothing wrong with experimenting until you get it right. But when you finally determine what makes you fabulous, you will know without a doubt and others will begin to take notice.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!