Daily excerpts of new fashion, culture, lifestyle, activism and women's news posts 2007-2019.
Adut Akech on Accomplishment for Sunday Times Style Magazine UK December 15, 2019
Adut Akech celebrates being named ‘Model of the Year’ by the British Fashion Council, covering the December 15, 2019 Sunday Times Style Magazine UK. Tony Irvine styles Adut in images by Giampaolo Sgura.
Adut Akech winning Model of the Year, getting a big hug from Naomi Campbell at Monday night’s British Fashion Awards 2019. © Darren Gerrish via British Vogue
In the words of British Vogue, “Adut Akech brought down the house”, winning Model Of The Year at Monday night’s British Fashion Awards celebration in London. Adut wore a voluminous Valentino gown that featured a ruffled midriff and a thigh-high split. Of course Adut used her speech to highlight the need for the fashion industry to continue its high-gear march towards far greater diversity.
The South Sudanese model is at the vanguard among the huge wave of creatives of color across the fashion industry, a trend that impacts photographers, stylists and countless other categories of vibrant talent virtually ignored by fashion industry leaders.
Adut Akech also brought her voice and status as a refugee born in then Sudan, now South Sudan, whose family migrated to Adelaide, Australia in an effort to remake their lives.
“It is important for all of us to remember that someone like me winning this award is a rarity,” she pointed out after expressing her gratitude for the statuette. “This is for the young women and men who found representation and validation in my work. I want them to never be afraid of dreaming big like I once did. To them, I say this: Whatever it is you want to do, whether it’s modelling or acting or medicine, you should never doubt yourself. Don’t let the world convince you that it is not possible.”
Akech appeared on the prestigious September 2019 covers of British Vogue, Vogue Germany and Vogue Japan. The British Vogue issue was guest edited by Her Royal Highness Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and featured women who are ‘Voices of Change’.
At a time when ‘refugee models’ are making their marks across the fashion and luxury market industry, Adut stands high on the list of beautiful young women enjoying their own mercurial success in an industry that has long shunned them.
The Aussie beauty’s activism and seizure of every limelight moment to discuss issues that matter to her is unrelenting, and in her own words: “I Will Always Be a Refugee”. As the model reminded us in her article ‘Refugees Are Just Like Everybody Else’ for British Vogue’s September 2019 issue:
“You don’t wake up thinking, I’m going to be a refugee. The only difference between a refugee and someone who grew up in the Western world is that we were forced out of our own country, out of our homes, because of fear – not out of choice.”
TIME Magazine honored Adut Akech on their 2019 TIME 100 Next list. Follow Adut Akech’s archives @ AOC.
Adut Akech’s September 2019 Vogue Covers
Fresh off her London honors as Britain’s Fashion Awards ‘Model of the Year 2019’, Adut Akech and Arizona-born Alton Mason are in total sync. The duo stars in ‘Where You Lead, I Will Follow, styled by Jillian Davison as an ode to Malick Sidibe’s “spontaneous photographs of youths at dances in Mali in the 1960s”. (Note, Sidibe died in 2016.) Photographer Nathaniel Goldberg captures the rhythm and chemistry for Vogue Australia’s December 2019 60th anniversary issue. / Hair by Lloyd Simmonds; makeup by Marc Lopez
Adut Akech Fronts 'Bag of Tricks' for Vogue US December 2019 by Erwin Wurm
Adut Akech strikes a series of amusing poses, inspired by the visionary wit and imagination of contemporary artist Erwin Wurm, who also photographs the fashion editorial. Alex Jordan Harrington.styles ‘Bag of Tricks’ for Vogue US December 2019./ Hair by Ramona Eschbach; makeup by Grace Ahn
Adut Akech + Henry Kitcher Front Givenchy 'Winter of Eden' FW Campaign by Craig McDean
Givenchy Artistic Director Clare Waight Keller taps Adut Akech and Henry Kitcher for the brand’s “Winter of Eden” Fall Winter 2019 campaign. Photographer Craig McDean captures the polished, heritage tailored looks in a luxury brand that has high hopes of catching Christian Dior, according to LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault.
Charlotte Wales Captures Adut Akech in 'New World Order' for British Vogue September 2019
Top model Adut Akech leads us into a third fall season of #blackgirlmagic, styled by Julia Sarr-Jamois in ‘New World Order’. Photographer Charlotte Wales is in the studio as Adut gets her groove on for Vogue UK September 2019./ Hair by Chris Colls; makeup by Jenny Myles
Adut Akech + Anna Ewers Front Bottega Veneta Fall/Winter 2019 Campaign by Tyrone Lebon AOC Fashion & Style
Bottega Veneta’s creative director Daniel Lee joins forces with photographer Tyrone Lebon to shoot the label’s Fall/Winter 2019 campaign. The setting is Joshua Tree, California for Bottega Veneta’s “new vision of a modern, unapologetic luxury” expressed by top models Adut Akech and Anna Ewers, accompanied by Fernando Cabral and Augusta Alexander. Marie Chaix styles the shoot with set design by David White./ Hair by Odile Gilbert; makeup by Lauren Parsons
Mert & Marcus Capture Adut Akech, Bella Hadid + for Missoni FW 2019 Campaign
Models Adut Akech, Alton Mason, Bella Hadid and Dong Su Moo are styled by Vanessa Reid in Missoni’s Fall Winter 2019-20 Campaign lesed by Mert & Marcus. / Makeup by Holly Silius; hair by Cyndia Harvey
Adut Akech Saddles Up In WOW Images by Vivianne Sassen for Dazed Magazine Autumn 2019
Top model Adut Akech poses for her first Dazed Magazine cover, the Autumn 2019 issue lensed by Viviane Sassen. Robbie Spencer styles Adut in ‘Saddle Up’ designs from Alexander McQueen, Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Ana Andrade, Bloody Mouth, Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood and more.
This is a stupendous editorial and I’m not even keen on saddling up! ~ Anne
Vogue Japan Spotlights 10 Models on 15 Key Fashion Trend Covers For September 2019
Vogue Japan kicks off the Fall 2019 fashion season, releasing a major parade of model covers styled by Anna Dello Russo. Photographers Luigi & Iango are behind the lens bringing 10 top models front and center. They include Adut Akech, Anok Yai, Fran Summers, Hikari Mori, Kris Grikaite, Primrose Archer, Rebecca Leigh Longendyke, Remington Williams, Signe Veiteberg and Ugbad.
On a side note, many of fashion’s most articulate voices — Naomi Campbell to name one — are watching this year of models of color on the march. Personally, I think we’re entering a period of continued ascendancy for models of color, who are being propelled forward in the culture from politics to Hollywood and beyond.
I’m one of the people who is counting, tracking, observing any sign of the fashion industry falling back into old bad habits (which is a nice way of describing past reality.) If Vogue Japan is an indication, this new, beautiful and inspiring reality is going strong into Fall 2019. Our foot is on the pedal, and we’re not letting up on the drive for women of color to finally bloom in all their glory. We want to kick that door wide open and bolt it to the wall, so that it never closes on them again. Ever. ~ Anne
Annie Leibovitz Presents A Great Model Gaggle In 'Check Please' For Vogue US August 2019
Abby Champion, Adut Akech, Andreja Pejic, Anna Ewers, Anok Yai, Ariel Nicholson, Fei Fei Sun, Fran Summers, Gemma Ward, Gigi Hadid, Joan Smalls, Karen Elson, Karlie Kloss, Kesewa Aboah, and Paloma Elsesser are styled by Sara Moonves in ‘Check, Please’. Annie Leibovitz captures the noble origins sorority girls en masse for American Vogue August 2019.
Adut Akech Goes Beautifully Bold, Lensed By Daniel Jackson For Allure US May 2019
The pervasive rise of model Adut Akech gets another boost, covering the May 2019 issue of Allure US. Daniel Jackson captures Adut, with styling in Prada, Versace, Balenciaga and more by Alex White. / Hair by Ward; makeup by Hannah Murray
Baze Mpinja conducts the interview. ‘Adut’s World’.
Adut Akech Is Sublime In 'My Seditious Heart' Lensed By Arthur Elgort For Vogue UK April 2019
AOC has followed closely the rise of South Sudanese model Adut Akech out of the horrors of civil war to the famous Kakuma camp for refugees in Kenya and then to Australia, arriving with her family into the waiting arms of Adut’s aunt.
The word ‘supermodel’ is thrown around so loosely today, that it’s almost meaningless. But the bone structure of Adut’s high-speed career feels very sound, truly solid — in an old-fashioned way. Her editorial work is truly outstanding, and editor-in-chief Edward Enninful pulled out all the stops for ‘My Seditious Heart’. lensed by Arthur Elgort with styling by Grace Coddington for the April 2019 issue of British Vogue. / Hair by Julien D’Ys; makeup by Francelle Daly; set design by Mary Howard
Adut, Anok + Kaia Spread Love In Fendi's Spring/Summer 2019 Campaign By Karl Lagerfeld
Rising stars Adut Akech, Anok Yai and Kaia Gerber front Fendi’s Spring Summer 2019 campaign, lensed by the now-deceased Karl Lagerfeld. For those who suggest that the love fest between Adut and Kaia above is staged for the ad campaign, the two young women are very close friends in real life.
As fashion struggles to acknowledge past sins around diversity and in our human relationships generally, we must also acknowledge the reality of inspiring relationships as well. While I am totally exasperated with Gucci and Prada over blackface sweaters and trinkets, and now we add Burberry’s lynching/suicide rope from the Fall 2019 show, I want to just scream.
Simultaneously, when deep relationships and friendships between black women and white women exist — as is the case between Adut and Kaia — they must also receive our positive acknowledgement. Many will accuse Lagerfeld of staging the intimate, powerful photo of Kaia and Adut that leads this post. Thankfully, it is for real, and I am grateful for their message for humanity. Goddess knows we need it. ~ Anne
Adut Akech sits near the top of the pyramid of rising fashion-industry stars who are women of color. Suzanne Koller styles Adut in what we believe is her first editorial feature — and cover — in a major French publication. Her American born — but equally fast-rising — photographer Tyler Mitchell captures Adut for the Feb. 15-16 edition of M Le Magazine du Monde. / Hair by Cydia Harvey; makeup by Janeen Witherspoon
As always Adult addresses her refugee status saying (translated into English):
Cass Bird Captures Adut Akech In 'Best of Spring' For WSJ Magazine February 2019
Beloved, star model Adut Akech is on a roll so intense, we had all better get out of her way. George Cortina styles Adut in ‘Best of Spring’, shot in Brooklyn by Cass Bird for WSJ Magazine February 2019./ Makeup by Frank B; hair by Tamara McNaughton
Femmes Adut Akech, Fran Summers, Guan Xiaotong, Indira Scott, Kiki Willems, Kiko Mizuhara and Sora Choi bring a fresh breath of global diversity to Coach’s Spring 2019 Ad Campaign, lensed by Craig McDean.
Adut Akech Suits Up For A Soft 'Power Play' Lensed By Tyler Mitchell For Vogue UK January 2019
Aussie model Adut Akech has dominated editorials in December 2018/January 2019 magazines. And while Adut didn’t win the British Fashion Council’s Model of the Year award — it went to Adut’s close ‘human rose’ friend Kaia Gerber — this enchanting beauty lives up to her extraordinary reputation in this aptly-named ‘Power Play’ editorial.
That would be ‘soft power’ Adut’s style of influencing the world around her. Riding the express elevator to fashion stardom, this South Sudan woman, raised in Australia via an extended stay in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee camp in is on the global record saying loud and clear: “I Will Always Be A Refugee”.
Adut, Anok, Eniola + Fatou Are Logo Rich In 'Say My Name' For Vogue UK January 2019
Models Eniola Abioro (above) and Fatou Jobe (below) headline this British Vogue January 2019 editorial ‘Say My Name’. They are joined by Adut Akech and Anok Yai in a logo-rich editorial styled by Poppy Kain with images by photographer Kristin-Lee Moolman.
Shalom Harlow Leads Bella, Irina + In Versace Spring 2019 Campaign Lensed By Steven Meisel
Supermodel Shalom Harlow made her first runway appearance in six years, closing Versace’s Spring 2019 show. Harlow returns again, captured mid-dance-step, wearing a pattern mashup jumpsuit in Versace’s Spring 2019 campaign.
Steven Meisel flashes Harlow and an expanded campaign cast including Bella Hadid and Irina Shayk in solo shots. Group shots include Adut Akech, Blesnya Minher, Imaan Hammam, Kris Grikaite, Rianne van Rompaey, and Vittoria Ceretti styled by Jacob K. / Makeup by Pat McGrath; hair by Guido Palau
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