Stephen Burrows, Tracy Reese and B. Michael have defined our times and weathered the storm that is the fashion industry (these days, everyone is a critic, aren’t they?) Here, I chatted with all three of these fashion visionaries.

STEPHEN BURROWS
When I arrived in New York in 1975, there were few African American designers and certainly none who had achieved any kind of stature–with, of course, the exception being Stephen Burrows!

TRACY REESE
Tracy Reese ranks as one of the fashion industry’s most successful African-American women whose realm is not only relegated to the runway.  In a business where few designer labels seem to make it past their fifth anniversary, Reese has two clothing lines, Tracy Reese and Plenty.

B. MICHAEL
This fantastic designer launched his first couture collection in 1999 and, similar to his approach to millinery, his design exudes a glamourous, clean aesthetic.  He heightens his couture vision by infusing emotions such as joy, adding a discern-able feeling and festive mood to his creations.

CONTINUED AT ESSENCE.COM

The Fashion Group International is the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and this year’s Star Honorees not only included my dear Michael Kors but also Frida Gianini of Gucci, Milliner Stephen Jones and Victoire de Castellane  of Dior Fine Jewelry.

The event was held at Cipriani Wall Street and packed with celebrities from Gwen Stefani, Eva Mendes, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Stipes, Mary J. Blige, Evan Rachel Wood, Emmy Rossum  and James Franco and fashion’s biggest talents from Michael Kors (of course!), Oscar de la Renta, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfigher  and Kenneth Cole.  

When I was just about to get up to present the award to Michael, I realized that I hadn’t  printed my speech in a bigger font….you see I need reading glasses so usually when there are no teleprompters I print my speech in humongous letters, but I didn’t check tonight as my assistant print it out for me!

I realized there is no way I could read this so I started asking around the tables for a pair of reading glasses.  After several tries and nothing, thankfully, a gentleman gave me his glasses that were a perfect match and I thought, “now I have to work the glasses in the speech!”  So I did…. and guess what?  WWD wrote:

“Iman could have easily picked up “crowd favorite” for her speech introducing fashion award winner Michael Kors.  She said ‘Thank you, Vera Wang, Tommy Hilfigher, Oscar de la Renta, and all the other designers who told me that I look more beautiful and younger than ever.  But ladies, don’t fret – getting older is a b–ch!’”

That is when I put the reading glasses on!  It pays sometimes to think fast on your feet and make mistakes or misfortunes work for you.

I said in my speech this (among other things,) “For 28 years, Michael was consistently stood for a relaxed kind of luxury which is the hallmark of American Style. His sporty glamour has traveled the fashion globe from Bond Street in London, to the Via Sant Andrea in Milan, to seven years at the helm of Celine in Paris. He has seen his American point of view become an increasingly international point of view. Watching his shows is like a 13 min escape from everyday life. He takes us away from Aspen to Gstad to Capri and Palm Beach and back to urban Manhattan.”

Congrats, Michael! Mwah!

Iman in custom made Michael Kors gown and Fred Leighton jewelry

Chanel Iman and me.

1. Were you named after me?
I would love to say I was named after such an amazing model, but truth is, I was named after a male cousin named Iman. My mother loved the name and wanted to used it for a boy or girl name when she was pregnant with me.  She had just read the book “COCO” and was inspired to name me Chanel after the great fashion icon.  So was born….. Chanel Iman. Growing up wanting to model… I use to say “Chanel Iman, like the model IMAN”. I’m proud to have your name.

2. What is your fave jeans?
It’s hard to find the perfect jeans, but for me William Rast or Rock & Republic.

3. Who is your fave designer or designers and why?
I have so many fav designers, I love them all for different reasons. Zac Posen has dressed me in some of my favorite looks like the amazing gown I wore at the last Met ball….LOVED. I always look forward to working with John Galliano ….. what a creative designer! I could go on and on about each of them, and in the end I have to say I love them all.

4. Who is your fave photographer or photographers and why?
As a model who loves working with Photographers around the world, its impossible to pick just one or a few that I love. I learn so much from each of them as each brings out a different Chanel Iman in me. I will say, my favorite part of being a model is the experience of working with so many creative photographers.  I love photo shoots.

5. Who is your fave model of all time and why?
When I think of Favorite Models of all times, I have to think of those who have had struggles to become who they are in this industry. Knowing what struggles are (as I have had a few of my own) I am inspired and grateful that many paved the way for me.  You Iman, Beverly Johnson, Tyra Banks, Naomi and Alec are an inspiration to young girls around the world.   I also have to say Kate Moss who has had her own struggles and overcame them. I love you all.

6. Among your contemporaries who is your fave model and why?
I’m not really a person who has favorites when it comes to people who are close to me. There are many models I love seeing when I’m working, but there are those that I consider my friends and we receive each other like family.  Just to mention a few and not in any order, Doutzen, Jourdan, Karlie, Hillary, Agnes, Coco, Jessica, Marina….. the list goes on. My best friend is a model and room mate, Heidy Allende.

7. What is your beauty essential?
My beauty essential is simply clean skin and hair.

8. You travel a lot… what is your fave luggage?
I’ve heard some horror stories about stolen item from luggage during travel. I take and check my most raggedy bag so that the outer value won’t determine the inner value of what I’ve packed. However, my carry on is my ole faithful Louis Vuitton.

9. New York, Paris or Milan…. which is your fave city and why?
After NY during the fashion tour London, Milan and Paris, I look forward to Paris the most. Paris because I’m most at home there. Also because it means fashion week is almost over and I get to go home.

10. What was your first major cover? who shot it? any personal story behind it?
My first major cover was Vogue. Anna Wintour selected 10 girls naming them the World’s Next Top Models shot by Steven Meisel. I was the youngest (16) and the only minority…  In fact the third African American to ever grace the cover of Vogue. I know there were other Blacks, IMAN, Naomi, I think Alec and Liya.  But only three African Americans….. Beverly Johnson, Tyra Banks and Chanel Iman.

11. The Met/Model as a Muse…. what was the highlight of the evening for you?
The Met Ball always makes me feel like I have arrived! To be in the presence of such an prestigious group is just amazing to me. To be in the mist of the worlds most creative fashion people is a night never to forget.

12. What is on your iPod?
Beyonce, Mary J. and Madonna.

13. We know models eat. What is your fave food?
I love to eat.  Everyone knows I love soul food and have a weakness for sweets. I eat all of the time. Lately, I’ve been cooking at home. I’m learning the art of cooking and really enjoying my own family recipes in my own kitchen.

14. Guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is the spa. I say guilty because when I am submerged at the spa, I know there are those that will never experience the feeling of such an awesome luxury.

15. Describe your perfect day.
My perfect day is somewhere on a beach front or by the pool at a resort. A perfect day can also be at home in LA, in my car, visiting my family and friends.

Want to see more? Watch the behind the scenes video of People Magazine 35th anniversary shoot with me and Chanel Iman on Modelinia.

Fashion's Night Out - photo: courtesy of wireimage.com

I started first doing homework with my daughter and then preparing dinner for her and then it was time for mommy to get ready for a shopping night out. My friend and makeup artist Sam Fine met me at home and hooked me up with a good face and I put on an Alexander McQueen jacket with leggings and over-the-knee boots! I found in my storage a 1980’s Thierry Mugler over the knee boots… very S&M! That is why I never give away my accessories because they never go out of fashion or at least the trends keep on coming back. Accessories are those extras that keep on giving.

We started with Barneys as the idea was we will hit one mega department store and we chose this… it was a complete mayhem but in a good way…. people were actually shopping! I saw boys actually buying girls jackets… talk about androgynous! Then we were off to Dolce and Gabbana to pay a visit to my friend Megan who is the pr but then realized when we got to the store that she was at D&G in Soho so we ran back in the car and we were off to Dior and on our way there we passed Bergdorf Goodman and there were lines outside… my goodness, you would think they were giving clothes away and the streets looked like a fashion show. Fashion turn to the right… Fashion turn to the left… Fa Fa Fa Fa Fashion…… everyone was dressed to the hilt… killers!

Dior was a little bit civilized but every hip hop artists and wanabees were in there and I am sure paying full retail. My friend the photographer Arthur Elgort set up a make shift studio and we took pictures together… let me give you a bit of history here… Arthur was the first photographer who shot me for a magazine and it was for Vogue on my third day in New York way back in 1975! We laughed about that! Dorothy, we are not in 1975 anymore.

Sam insisted we stop by Prada on our way to Soho and so we did and we just missed the book signing of Grace Coddington, Creative Director of Vogue … don’t miss her great “acting” performance in The September Issue documentary that is in theaters now.

I was getting pooped and, girl, my bunions were killing me but we had one more stop at my dear friend Rachel Roy’s pop up store you definitely have to check out her new line Rachel Rachel Roy (very affordable and very downtown chic) exclusively at Macy’s.

Well, Spring Street in New York is a mess even on a good day and tonight it was a lot of a mess. It took us forever to get there but it was worth it as she was shocked to see me that I made the effort and said that she owes me till eternity… You are my witness in case she forgets that promise! It was worth it but was way overcrowded. Lots of beautiful black girls including Estelle ( she is collaborating with Rachel on a jewelry line) who was ensconced in a corner but I never made it to her as I was famished so we were off to Indochine where we met up with Tyson Beckford and his beautiful Australian girlfriend, my closest friend Bethann Hardison, Eric Sartore of Betsey Johnson and a sleuth of rotating friends. Tonight was a huge success and I only wished that they had made the whole week Fashion’s Week Out and allocated one day to Madison Avenue stores, next to 5th Avenue stores day because I felt we lost a lot of time in traffic traveling from one end to the other.

Came home very late, barely got out of my clothes and committed a beauty sin that I haven’t done since my Studio 54 days…I went to bed without taking my makeup off! Bad, bad very bad girl. I am sure to regret this! Pray for me!

With with Duro Olowu

My dearest friend Thelma Golden’s husband designer Duro Olowu was in New York for a trunk show at Barney’s and Vogue’s Sally Singer gave him a wonderful fun dinner at Norwood in New York (It was also Duro’s bithday!) Duro’s clothes are a combination of couture shapes with African inspired prints and outrageous colors all in the best Italian and French silk. Thelma presented him a delicious red velvet cake with “beet juice” apparently the beet juice makes it red and not food coloring… from Harlem bakery, Make My Cake. Happy Birthday Duro… we love you!

in Oscar de la Renta gown

Our First Lady, Michelle Obama, was the biggest star at this opening gala. Looking beautiful, stylish and elegant in an Azzedine Alaia dress she brought modern dressing at a black tie event. She received such a high standing ovation when she took the stage and we were all star struck. The program included excerpts from Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet and a jazz number by Herbie Hancock on piano. I wore a green Oscar de la Renta, beautiful but extremely big, that confirmed why i don’t wear long frothy gowns as they are very difficult to maneuvre … I am no SJP!

Image courtesy of Wireimage

The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala is dubbed as The Party of the Year and this year it was a salute to The Model as a Muse and it was about time. It was a celebration of the real-life heroines of fashion-The Model. It was a multi-generational love fest and there were a lot of models whom I haven’t seen for over 20 years, Lisa Taylor! I met for the first time Twiggy! and was hugged and loved by new girls of the moment like Raquel Zimmerman in the bathroom – no less! And I couldn’t have been more elated to see one of my fave model/ friend Yasmine Le Bon and her gentleman of a husband, Simon Le Bon. I was even one of the first on my feet dancing when Kanye West took the stage and he blew the roof of the Met! For those who are not in the loop… I wore custom made Donna Karan and Fred Leighton jewelry… and my date was Donna Karan as I am her muse. Thank you Anna Wintour for celebrating us!

In and with Biddell

I went to Toronto Fashion Week to shoot the finale of Project Runway Canada and all I can say is tune in on April 14th to witness the winner of season 2! I think we have outdone ourselves this season and definitely will show the whole of Canada why we won a Gemini award for the first season and surely have shown class and great design! The finalists showed their collection at Toronto Fashion Week and I invited season 1 winner Biddell to come to New York first to do a fitting and design for me a dress to wear on the final show.

At Holt Renfrew

I was flabbergasted to find out he has never been to New York! WOW! How can a designer live so close to New York and not ever visit the fashion capital of the world? He did this beautiful dress for me which i am wearing it so check it out below.

With Beau Nelson

But that wasn’t the only thing I did there…. I also, went for a cocktail party at the famous Holt Renfrew dept store and posed with half of my glam team, Beau Nelson, for the final time this season. Ah… the beauty, the beauty of it all…. Au Revoir, Canada!

I am trying something new this time for the diary as i am very excited about the Fashion, Beauty, Accessories and all the other extras this fall. I am going to share with you my Fall’s must-haves to make you look fabulous and chic.

FASHION
If I have to singularly choose one designer it will definitely be Balenciaga.

Balenciaga on the Runway

After baring lots of skin all summer, it’s nice to finally feel pulled together with his skinny gray pants and Goya-inspired draped velvet and taffeta tops.

skinny gray pants and Goya-inspired draped velvet and taffeta tops

The dresses were so modern – scrolled peplums, slit skirts and armband sleeves – fiercely genius!

SHOES & BOOTS
This fall must have boots for me is from Gucci as they have the new slouch and major hardware….

Fall Must Have Boots from Gucci

…they instantly give you that Studio 54 look and trust me I had many nights at Studio 54. The shoes it’s a tie between Balenciaga’s concorde/Jetson style silver killer!

Balenciaga Silver killer!

and YSL new black everyday shoe…. ha!

Black by YSL

BAGS
My Iman Global Chic are the bomb! It is high fashion coupled with great price that can’t beat. Try on for size—Chic City Tote in Black Patent, Plum Patent, Amethyst and Caramel—Icon Shopping Bag in Black Patent and Denim for your days off from work.

BEAUTY
This is the time to do a sophisticated and an updated fall look. I love fall’s colors and textures and usually I take my cue from the fashions. At IMAN Cosmetics we are bringing on full luxe chic with luminous skin using Second to None Luminous Foundation with Luxury Mineral Enriched Semi-Loose Powder. On the eyes try Luxury Eyeshadow Duo in Mysterious.

On cheeks: You can never go wrong with Afterglow for that flush of bronzer that we all need during the winter months.
On lips: line your lips with Perfect Lip Pencil in Espresso and finish it with Luxury Lipstick in Black Brandy.

ACCESSORIES
Extras! Extras!
Fall gives you so many options to be creative, daring and inject some fantasy. Gold and bold jewelry is cropping up everywhere and can be intensely flattering. Purple was the major color and necklaces have taken centre stage.

Check out Iman Global Chic
—Golden Goddess with Amethyst necklace
—Golden Goddess with Amethyst cuff
—Grecian Style Hammered Cuff
—Jeweled Stretch Branch Bracelet in Gold and Silver
—Knock Out Ring in Amethyst, Green Tourmaline and Citrine
—Jeweled Onyx Ring

Check out IMAN Global Chic, on hsn.com for all you will need this fall check me out on Sept 27th for all new products introduction.

With Brian Bailey

Both Brain Bailey and I are back for season 2 of this series and this year we are taping in Ottawa. The first season has been so successful that now it will be aired on Global Television and we will up the ante for the wannabe designers. As they wrote about me: “She has natural elegance, stunning beauty, sharp wit and intelligence- the perfect combination for Project Runway Canada.” It sounds like I can rule the world.