45 years of stylish trends: "The long and the short of it." - 45th Anniversary Edition

Ebony, Nov, 1990 by Eunice W. Johnson

45 Years Of Stylish Trends

"The Short And Long Of It"

FORTY-FIVE years ago, glancing through the pages of top women's fashion magazines, there was not a bronze-skinned model to behold. EBONY changed all that when, in the mid-40s, we showed that Black women not only have a keen eye for fashionable clothing, but also look sensational in them.

For almost 30 years I have traveled regularly to the fashion houses of Florence at first, then Milan, Rome, London, Paris, and New York to select the most dazzling fashions and to personally supervise photography of the fashions for EBONY. It was in 1962, while working as secretary and treasurer of Johnson Publishing Co. and producer and director of EBONY Fashion Fair's traveling show, that I acquired another "hat" and became the fashion editor of EBONY'S fashion pages.

Over the years EBONY Magazine as well as EBONY Fashion Fair have revolutionized the fashion industry by showcasing beautiful Black models in the latest styles.

We have featured creations from the world's top Black designers, such as Stephen Burrows, Jeffrey Banks and the late Patrick Kelly and Willi Smith. Over the years, EBONY featured styles for the full-figured woman. In our traveling fashion show, we feature a full-figured model whose clothing and personal flair bring down the house.

In 1963, Emilio Pucci telephoned us from Florence, Italy, saying that he had just returned from a trip to Africa and had the inspiration to show his ready-to-wear fashions with fabric that he had designed featuring African masks. He wanted me to provide him with two "black models who look like Lena Horne." He later came to our office in Chicago, where we provided him with the two models that he used in his ready-to-wear show at the Pitti Palace in Florence, Italy, in 1963.

This was the first time Black models had ever paraded down the runways of Europe and the first time they had appeared at the Pitti Palace.

Perhaps the best indicators of fashion changes over the years are hemlines. Today, at the beginning of a new decade of rapid change, EBONY continues to capture the ups and downs of fashions. On the street, at the office and at high-brow formal affairs, today fashionable women sport everything from the micromini lengths to skirts just above the knee. But hemlines are a matter of choice; some are at the knee, while others are even to the ankle.

In today's fast-moving, high-tech society, almost everything goes, and women prefer to exercise their own options in fashions as they do in other aspects of their lives.

Options are exactly what the EBONY Fashion Fair feature has been providing our readers with for the last 38 years. Enlightened excitement concerning the latest fashion trends will continue to be our goal.

PHOTO : This 1945 sheer marquisette gown with sequin trim worn by prominent socialite featured

PHOTO : a sheer matching shawl (above).

PHOTO : Over the decades, swimwear has grown skimpier from this 1946 two-piece suit (left), to

PHOTO : 1967 bikini-with-cover-up shift, (below), to bikinis and decollete maillot from 1986.

PHOTO : Far left: Crepe striped evening gown with solid beaded cardigan was designed in 1967.

PHOTO : Left: In the '90s, a short Italian sequinned mini is just as popular for the young as

PHOTO : floor-length gowns.

PHOTO : Black crepe dress (above) was 1946 version of basic black dress. Top right: In the '60s,

PHOTO : casual dresses were colorful and fun like this trio of orlon jersey knits. This strapless

PHOTO : cocktail dress with tucks (far right) was a hot number in 1989, and typical of the 1990s

PHOTO : is this short red party dress with bolero jacket.

PHOTO : Pants, such as this pair (top, left) in black satin with pin-striped blouse, were

PHOTO : favorite leisure attire in 1946. In 1967, singer Dionne Warwick modeled this three-piece

PHOTO : culotte ensemble (far left), which offers interesting contrast to 1989 three-piece suit

PHOTO : (left) with cuffed Bermuda shorts. Above, brown suede pants with silk satin blouse and

PHOTO : suede fez are from the 1990 Italian collection.

PHOTO : Suits have undergone a dramatic change since this classy 1946 black and beige outfit was

PHOTO : in style. At right, blue nubby wool suit with white crepe cowl neck blouse was fashionable

PHOTO : in 1967, as was this white jacket with exaggerated tuxedo front over super mini black

PHOTO : skirt in 1986.

PHOTO : In June 1947, this bride in traditional ivory satin wedding gown (far left) graced the

PHOTO : cover of EBONY. In June 1989, we featured this white cotton denim wedding ensemble for the

PHOTO : avant-garde bride. It includes slim pants with removable train/skirt, and short bustier

PHOTO : encrusted with buttons, pearls and gold chains. Note matching gold hat with white tulle.