I just returned home from Italy and I must say... racism and discrimination are still alive and well here at home as well as in Italia.

If we were really smart we wouldn't worry about it so much because, the second hand store finds are just a s treasureable as the expensive pieces of cloth on models who aren't realistic in size to the everyday woman or even connected to our culture.

Jeffrey Banks, Stephen Burrows, Roger Gary, Shaka King, b. michael, Douglas Says, Sixxfoota, Monif C, Edward Wilkerson of Lafayette 148, Moshood, Byron Laws, Tracy Reese, Anthony Mark Hankins, Jeffery Banks, Tony Whitaker, Anthony Liggins, Denise Goring, & Kevan Hall. These are some of the Black designers that I know of. But then again if you are brainwashed to believe that you are somehow inferior, you would think the same of these very talented individuals. Their clothes are not as expensive as their counterparts but it is up to you to decide which is far more important surviving or fashion? Just like the other designers, they too do not design for one type of demographic. If you live in NYC, you have an array of independent designers to chose from. Seek them out because true style is really about individuality.

Ok! Most of us bought the July edition of Italian Vogue. I wonder has anyone seen the August-September Issues? Just a thought.

OH MY GOD, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH J JOHNSON. ESSENCE, I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR MAGAZINE AND I AM A FAITHFUL SUBSCRIBER, BUT THAT STATEMENT WAS TRUE. YOUR MAGAZINE DO PERPETUATE THESE OUTRAGOUSLY EXPENSIVE ITEMS TO US. WE ARE EVERYDAY PEOPLE THAT CANNOT AFFORD A 2,000 DOLLAR JACKET. ARE THERE NOT ANY REASONABLE ITEMS MADE BY LESS THAN POPULAR DESINGNERS THAT OUR BUDGET CAN RELATE TO?