Black Fashion Editors on The Rise

In 2013 when I first made my way to Paris Fashion Week to cover the shows for my website, I noticed that there weren’t many women attending who looked like me. There weren’t very many women of color period. In the last 5 years alone there has been so much change in women of color in leadership positions in fashion. Black fashion editors are on the rise.  I’ve just been soaking it all in and enjoying seeing these women make such amazing strides in their careers. I definitely hope to run into a few of these ladies when I attend Paris Fashion Week in September. Yes, my flight is booked and Jen and I are stoked to be finally going together! This lovely Sonia Rykiel number was a thrift find during my last trip to Paris. It’s actually stuffed in this bag, as I didn’t have time to run home before visiting a showroom.

Photography by Rose Lazard 

T-Shirt: H&M | Skirt: Sonia Rykiel | Mules: No 21

I am loving seeing how bonded these women are. Some of these women I follow and admire include Shiona Turini who left Cosmo and struck out on her own doing styling, creative direction and brand development. I also love watching her snapchat especially when Solange Knowles makes regular appearance. But just in case you are counting, the way I mentally do because it pleases me so much, you should be following: Nicole Chapoteau Accessories Director at Allure, Julee Wilson Digital Beauty and Fashion Editor at Essence, Nikki Ogunnaike Senior Fashion Editor at Elle.com, Ashley Weatherford Associate Beauty Editor NY mag and The Cut, Chrissy Rutherford Senior Digital Editor at Harpers Bazaar, Tiffany Reid Senior Fashion Market Editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine, Elaine Welteroth Editor and Chief of Teen Vogue, Kahlana Barfield Brown Editor at Large at Instyle Magazine, Jessica Andrews Digital Fashion Editor at Teen Vogue. If you aren’t following these women, you should be.

I could go on and on which just makes me so thrilled for the fashion industry. I have a secret dream to be an editor, actually I just want to write. I love the relationship these women have with each other and how they celebrate each others accomplishments. I’m really excited to be going back to Paris this September for Paris Fashion Week with Jen of Comme Coco and the prospect of seeing all these fabulous women! But for now I’ll stick to snapchat and admiring their awesome girl squad from instagram. Tomorrow I’m visiting the Massimo Bonini showroom to check out their Resort Collections, so make sure to tune into my snapchat: Monroesteele to get a glimpse into brands such as No 21 (these amazing mules I’m rocking), Oscar Tiye, Marco De Vincenzo and more.

Do you all think the influx of more women of color into top positions of prominent magazines will start to make a difference in what we see in those magazines as well as the content? Also please let me know any other amazing editors of color I should be following in the comments.

xx

Monroe