Is Ethnic Beauty The New 'It' Factor?

Check out this recent article from CNN:

(CNN) -- Women who desire a more "exotic" appearance are looking to the fashion world's growing multi-culturalism for inspiration.

There was a time when the Caucasian girl-next-door looks of Christie Brinkley, Cindy Crawford and more recently Kate Moss dominated the fashion pages. Then came new fashion icons: Naomi Campbell, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce - and then Giselle, Kim Kardashian and Shakira.

More voluptuous figures, fuller lips and darker skin, features traditionally associated with women of African, Latin and Asian cultures, are "in." Over the past decade, an appreciation for ethnic beauty has been on the rise, and these natural features are becoming popular among Caucasian women who desire to look more "exotic."

Dr. Nancy Etcoff, a Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist who studies the science behind the brain and beauty, believes that the shift in our perception of beauty is a sign of the times.

"Our standards of beauty are changing and ethnic women are at the forefront today," she said. "It emulates our growing sense of cultural awareness."

Etcoff, who also authored "Survival of the Prettiest," adds: "If you study plastic surgery textbooks, the notions of an ideal feature have changed. In the 50s, the ideal look featured thinner lips, upturned noses, smaller eyes, and paler makeup," Etcoff said. "Now you see broader noses, darker skin, and larger eyelids. All these attributes suggest shifts in demographics and an appeal to a more multicultural look instead of an overly Caucasian appearance."

Read more by clicking here.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Some women desire ethnic features to achieve an "exotic" look,
- Larger bottoms and fuller lips are among the most popular exotic beauty trends,
- As America's population changes, the standards of beauty change experts say,
- Companies earned over $3 billion between 2005 and 2009 in multicultural beauty market .

First Nations Fashion in Cowgirl Magazine

Angela DeMontigny's fashion designs are currently being featured in COWGIRL MAGAZINE. Here's a sample of the latest Fall Fashion Feature:


A RUNWAY SHOW ~ Fall's Important FashionTrends
- Animal Prints
- Black Leather
- Hair-on-Hide Handbags
- Furs & Fringe

You can find Cowgirl Mag at your local Barnes & Noble or Borders bookstores.

Native Peoples: Native Fashion On The Cover

If you haven't caught it yet, jeweler Kenneth Johnson is on the Sept/Oct cover of Native Peoples Magazine, wearing clothes by Cochiti fashion designer Virgil Ortiz.


ON THE COVER
Jeweler Kenneth Johnson (Muscogee/Seminole) is one of a handful of notable contemporary Native jewelers producing cutting-edge rings and other forms of jewelry. See related story p. 32. Photo and styling by Virgil Ortiz (Cochiti Pueblo), best known for his outstanding works in pottery and fashion (see “Galleries,” this issue). Kenneth is wearing the 2010 VO Signature T-Shirt by Virgil Ortiz. www.virgilortiz.com.

A Beaded Gift for the First Lady

First Lady Michelle Obama's staff bought a purple beaded clutch made by Teri Greeves to give as an official gift to First Lady Margarita Zavala (the wife of Mexican President Felipe Calderón).


For more about Teri Greeves, read my previous designer profile on her.

Victorialyn McCarthy: A Knack for Fashion

Young Navajo designer Victorialyn McCarthy is in the news again!:


Victorialyn McCarthy: A knack for fashion
By Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan, Today correspondent
Story Published: Aug 30, 2010


Victorialyn McCarthy grew up wanting to be a police officer like her grandfather but is now making her mark as a fashion designer.

“My grandfather always told me stories about catching the bad guys and all the places he got to travel to. I really wanted to have all the same kinds of adventures.”