50 years of fashion and beauty

Ebony, August, 1995 by Lynn Norment

In the '60s, EBONY showcased beautiful Black models who sported the newest fashion craze, the Afro hairdo, which symbolized the "Black is Beautiful" revolution that was sweeping the nation. One of the most popular Ebony Fashion Fair models during that era was Terri Springer Walker, who was among the first to demonstrate on a broad scale that ebony-complexioned women could look vibrantly beautiful in bright, bold colors.

Throughout this pivotal decade, EBONY published regular and frequent articles that informed our readers about the latest trends, not only in women's fashions, but also in hairstyles, hats and other accessories. The most contemporary swimsuits were featured as early as January 1960, when a slim sheath suit was described as appearing to be "poured onto the figure" and "rich in long flattering lines." That same year, there were features on "dazzling chokers" that gave an elegant look, Easter fashions for little girls, "smart styles" for travel, and satin and sequinned evening gowns. There were also articles that focused on sportswear from Hawaii, fake furs for fall, fashions with an Oriental flair, back-to-school attire, sew-your-own suede ensembles, and bridal fashions.

An October 1960 men's fashion article featured wool, checked, three-button sport coats with narrow lapels that were worn with string ties. In April 1962 it was proclaimed in the article, "Light And Bright For Spring and Summer," that the "new frontier" in men's fashions featured the comeback of striped and two-button suits.

During those early years, EBONY also kept our readers informed about beautiful Black women who were breaking barriers in the world of beauty pageants. In 1960, Corrine Huff, Miss Ohio, was a finalist in the Miss USA competition, which qualified her for the Miss Universe Pageant. Dorothy L. Johnson, Miss Idaho 1964, was one of 15 runners-up in the Miss USA competition. Also participating that year was a contestant from Nigeria and three Black women from the Caribbean. In later years, EBONY gave extensive coverage to the Black women who have been crowned Miss America, starting with Vanessa Williams, who in 1983 became the first Black woman to wear the coveted tiara.

Throughout the '70s, EBONY continued to showcase the cutting-edge fashions of that trendy decade. It was a period during which the independence of women in the workplace and in the world of fashion was stressed. Necklines were lowered, hemlines were raised. There were see-through blouses and dresses, miniskirts, slit skirts, hot pants, unisex attire, an abundance of bell bottoms, and ruffled lingerie ensembles that exuded sensuality. Scott Barrie in 1978 designed a dazzling purple jersey slip dress with high front split worn with a fuchsia coat, and Stephen Burrows created a disco ensemble of hand-painted silk crepe with a decollete midriff top.

During the early '70s, Fashion Fair Cosmetics was launched by Johnson Publishing Co. At the time, other major cosmetics companies offered few products that complemented the skin tones of Black women. The idea for the line was conceived by Eunice W. Johnson, wife of Publisher John H. Johnson, when the Ebony Fashion Fair models were unable to find cosmetics that matched their deeper skin tones. Once the cosmetics line was developed, it steadily moved to fill that void. Fashion Fair Cosmetics, which first appeared in department stores in 1973, now has more than 300 products, including a fragrance-free line. It has expanded to more than 2,000 stores in the U. S., and is also available in Great Britain, France and at stores and military post exchanges around the world, including the Caribbean, Africa and Canada.