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Home · Fashion Week

Black Beauties Rocking Ad Campaigns

From Kimye gracing Balmain ads to Nicki Minaj's stunning Roberto Cavalli campaign, more women and men of color are on the forefront of major fashion brands.

By Celia L. Smith · February 1, 2014October 27, 2020
01
Love On Top

Who: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

What: Balmain Spring/ Summer 2015 Ad Campaign

Details: Hollywood’s most buzzed-about “kouple” are killing it in the latest campaign for Parisian fashion house, Balmain. It doesn’t hurt that the two are besties with Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and that Kendall Jenner walked in the Spring runway show. It’s no secret for Rousteing, the designer is 100% supportive of what he calls on Instagram: “The Balmain Love”

Mario Sorrentini
02
Double Dose

Who: Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn

What: Burberry Prorsum Spring/ Summer 2015 Ad Campaign

Details: What the world and the fashion industry could certainly use more of, is love. British beauties, Naomi Campbell and Jourdan Dunn, two of the biggest supermodels in the industry, are featured together for the very first time–– not just standing side-by-side, but embracing for Burberry’s latest campaign. Kudos to the company on all fronts, for camrarderie and color!

Mario Testino
03
Cavalli Calling

Who: Nicki Minaj

What: Roberto Cavalli Spring/ Summer 2015 Ad Campaign

Details: If you ask us, the Trinidadian “Anaconda” artist partnering with leopard-print loving Italian fashion designer, Roberto Cavalli, is pretty genius––but the message is even better. “With this campaign, I wanted to send a strong countertrend message,” the designer told Forbes. “I wanted a sensual woman who is aware of her body – who is not afraid to show her curves. Instead, she makes them her strength.” Bravissimo to Cavalli for supporting curves and diversity in fashion!

Francesco Carrozzini
04
Natural Beauty

Who: Nigerian-British model Betty Adewole

What: Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2014 Campaign

Details: Who else but this bronzed beauty could show off shimmering nudes and splashes of hot color from Tom Ford’s Color Sheer and Nail Lacquer collection? The ad, shot by Tom Ford himself, is Adewole’s first make-up campaign.

Tom Ford
05
Dolled Up

Who: Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o

What: Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: The ad’s moody blue background and juxtaposed classics –– “bad girl bustier dripped with jewels,” paired with sweet Mary Jane’s were drawn from dream-like inspirations, according to the Italian fashion house. And as gorgeous as the 12 Years A Slave star looks, you would think it were a dream.

Miu Miu/ Inez & Vinoodh
06
Culture Clash

Who: Erykah Badu

What: Givenchy Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: We would have never guessed Givenchy Creative Director, Riccardo Tisci would tap one of music’s most eclectic talents, but then again, the collaboration is a match made in fashion heaven. Rocking an African-Japanese fused collection, the campaign truly captures Badu’s beauty and innate sense of style.  “She’s one of the most stylish women I’ve met in my life,” said Tisci. We agree.

Mert-Marcus
07
Rock Royalty

Who: Rihanna

What: Balmain Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: Six months after Balmain Creative Director, Olivier Rousteing met Rihanna, the two became besties and the singer inspired his spring collection. The result? A hot campaign featuring “a strong, real woman in the clothes, not just a model” –– precisely what the designer dreamed up.

Inez & Vinoodh
08
Boss Lady

Who: Joan Smalls

What: Boss Fall/Winter 2013 Ad Campaign

Details: This Puerto Rican top model is currently boss of the industry right now, so the collaboration featuring Smalls in clean-cut clothes and metallic accessories, couldn’t have been a better match.

Tom Munro
09
Ice Cold

Who: Joan Smalls

What: Fendi Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: “She had this incredible golden, glowing skin that made her look like some Etruscan beauty,” Karl Lagerfeld told WWD, the moment he laid eyes on Smalls in Milan. It’s that very essence the designer-turned-photographer captured in his ironically icy hot Spring campaign with the model.

Karl Lagerfeld
10
Burning Up

Who: Joan Smalls

What: Prabal Garung Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: We got a glimpse of this “Rose In Flame” campaign in a teaser post on the designer’s Instagram, which, in a nut shell sums up Joan Small: A beauty on fire.

Daniel Jackson
11
Understated Beauty

Who: Tchad-Polish born model Anais Mali

What: David Yurman Fall/Winter Ad Campaign

Details: With her peculiar background, Mali must have been the perfect match for the fine jewelry company’s Beauty In Contrast collection. “Through design, styling, and imagery, we tell a story of contrast in all its mesmerizing beauty,” said founder David Yurman, not a faar cry from the beauty herself.

Peter Lindbergh
12
Seventies-Chic

Who: Anais Mali

What: Juicy Couture Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: Pushing their velour track suits to the past, Juicy Couture first tapped Mali to appear in their fall campaign titled, “Bad Reputations.” Continuing on that bad girl streak, the model hits Venice Beach in foul-mouthed tees and and a fab ‘fro for Spring.

Claudia Knoepfel & Stefan Indlekofer
13
Green Light

Who: British model Jourdan Dunn

What: DKNY Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: Designer Donna Karan captures the color of New York with an unexpected mix of models: Jourdan Dunn, A$AP Rocky and Cara Delevigne. Despite the busy backdrop of the Time Square streets, Dunn somehow manages to stop traffic.

Mikael Jansson
14
Breakout Star

Who: Kenyan-British model Malaika Firth

What: Prada Fall/Winter 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: While this may look like an ordinarily chic Prada ad, this was a history-making moment for model Malaika Firth. It was unfortunately the first time the Italian fashion house casted a black model in 19-years. On the upside, selecting this beauty was a step in the right direction.

Steven Meisel
15
Camoflauged

Who: Malaika Firth

What: Prada Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: In a see of camoflauged color, Firth was fortunate to appear as one of two black model’s in the Italian brand’s spring campaign as well. The concept? “Teams of models hold us in their collective gaze, looking forward in a united vision.” Let’s hope!

Steven Meisel
16
Lady In Red

Who: Malaika Firth

What: Valentino Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: Firth’s finest campaign yet is undeniably this Italian vintage–esque fashion moment clad in the designer’s signature shade of red lace and piled on pieces of gold.

Craig McDean
17
In The Trenches

Who: Malaika Firth

What: Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: European fashion houses just can’t get enough of Firth. The British heritage brand tapped the model to effortlessly sport their classic trench coat and signature plaid handbags.

Mario Testino
18
Taste The Rainbow

Who: Congolaise-Italian model Cindy Bruna

What: Prada Spring/Summer 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: That other beauty in Prada’s spring campaign? That would be the new girl in town Cindy Bruna, apart of the Italian brand’s “modern feminine troupe,” shot by famed fashion photographer Steven Meisel.

Steven Meisel
19
Liya Kebede For Tiffany & Co.

Who: Ethiopian Model Liya Kebede

What: Tiffany & Co. Fall/Winter 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: Heres one way to outshine the carats in a Tiffany campaign –– cast Liya Kebede. The beauty dons the collection’s diamond drop earrings and an equally icy bracelet while clad in a silk screen-siren style gown. Stunning!

Michael Thompson
20
Black Out

Who: A mix of black models

What: Phillip Plein Fall/Winter 2014 Ad Campaign

Details: After casting an entire Milan runway show with only models of color, the Italian designer followed suit with his spring/summer ad campaign featuring a series of brown beauties decked in all-white and all-black and “dressed to kill.” Plein’s objective, “to push limits and transcend conventions.” Bravissimo!

Francesco Carrozzini

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