It’s fun to watch the fashion industry anoint and dethrone new trends each season. But when it comes to who is in or out, that fun can turn cutthroat—and tends to make for a more homogeneous-looking industry.
The prevailing look, which over-indexes on thin, white bodies, has been challenged throughout fashion history, often by Black trailblazers devoted to pushing the boundaries of what a fashion icon looks like. But their work to drive the industry forward isn’t always met with the accolades they’ve earned. It’s something top of mind for TV host and style expert Melissa Chataigne, a TODAY Show regular who uses her platform to advocate for a more inclusive fashion scene, from Los Angeles Times op-eds to her blog and weekly newsletter, Elevated Living.
“It feels like all the ‘great ones’ are departing daily,” she says. “The recent passing of fashion editor, tastemaker, and creative director André Leon Talley has made me think of how much he and countless other Black creatives contribute to the luxury fashion world playing the proverbial ‘maid,’ ‘assistant’ or ‘friend,’ only to never receive due credit from the celebrities, designers, and people they made into millionaires.”
“These mavericks laid the groundwork for how we view the arts and paved monumental opportunities for us,” she continues. “And yet, Tally died facing eviction, fighting bankruptcy, and feeling rejected and disposed of by many of the people he made rich and famous.”
Here, Chataigne pays tribute to Tally, plus nine more fashion industry giants who didn’t just elevate style as we know it, but made it possible for new generations to move the needle even further.
Image by Rudzhan Nagiev/Getty Images
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MC: “Victor Glemaud is one of my favorite designers, known for his joyful knits that stun on the runway, as well as in his recent diffusion line for Target. Glemaud is of Haitian descent and started his career in fashion PR before going on to create a name for himself with stunning, size-inclusive knitwear adored by stars like Selena Gomez and Ashley Graham. He’s also an incredible example of someone who ‘lifts as he climbs,’ having recently started the digital-first networking and mentoring group IN THE BLK, devoted to ‘creating and expanding spaces for fellow Black designers.’ I’m always inspired by his passion and vision, as well as his mindful aesthetic.”
Salone Monet Talks Shoe Company and Inclusivity [WATCH]
MC: “It’s easy to write off nude heels as a frivolous accessory—unless they literally don’t exist for you. So I’m grateful to Salone Monet, who launched a line of color-inclusive nude shoes that quickly became favorites of Oprah, Beyoncé, and other one-named wonders. She’s a brilliant designer who works to identify barriers hiding in plain sight; keep an eye out for her designs, which will also be featured at the Black in Fashion Council discovery showroom at Fashion Week in fall 2022.”
Melissa Chataigne
Melissa Chataigne is a television host, style expert, speaker, and content creator known for her on-screen work for TODAY, Access Hollywood, and E!’s Daily Pop—as well as her YouTube channel, The Chataigne Room.
A Chicagoland native and Haitian-American, Chataigne is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and has over 13 years of experience styling celebrities and working as a brand ambassador and style consultant for some of the biggest names in fashion and beauty. In addition to her writing work (from the Los Angeles Times to her blog and weekly newsletter, Elevated Living), Chataigne is the founder of lifestyle brand, Oui Carole, known for handmade ceramics for intentional living.