Ebony Fashion Fair

On an 8 month stint, 11 girls and three men tour the country showcasing not only the latest fashions but also encouraging others to find the beauty within themselves. This diverse show in its 49th year beings the world of fashion to the African American community and has raised over 55 million dollars since its inception for various charities including for scholarship programs.

Models here may be tall as usual (5'10" for women for example) but they also include plus size models too. The talent here does not necessarily do the regular cat walk strut. They dance, spin and interact with the audience making for an entertainment extravaganza filled with wild colors and trends ranging from demure to outlandishly glam. They focus on everything from the "look at me" swimsuit to the "wouldn't you die to have this" ballroom gown to the "I'm hip and I know it" causal wear.

The show comes to watchers in acts, like in theater, and comes with names or themes like "hot chocolate," "paisley pepper" and "night life fever." But overall, the show is "stylishly hot!"

This creation is the brain child of Eunice W. Johnson, who has traveled the world selecting only the best for her show for nearly five decades. Her pieces celebrate the beauty of the human body with everything from plunging necklines to tightly cut bodices.

In the picture, shown here, "flickering flames engulf a trumpet train gown and ombre down a dyed fox cape creating this haute couture creation that inspired the theme of the 49th annual production of Ebony Fashion Fair," according the the company Web site, describing this dress by Angelo Marani Couture as seen in the Milan show. The list of involved designer runs the gamut and span the world, including Anna Sui, Bill Blass, Marc Bouwer, Oscar De La Renta, Christian Lacroix, Pierre Cardin,Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, Roberto Cavalli (featured in another blog posting here) and more.

Below is a schedule of some of the upcoming shows in March and April (some have already passed.) Look for a show in your town! For more information, visit www.ebonyfashionfair.com.