I'm staring at the cover of Elle's issue featuring Gabourey Sidibe. And I'm wishing that I had the entire issue in my hand - rather than just a cover image - because I'd like to see how she's styled on the inside pages. I have a lot of faith in Joe Zee and Roberta Meyers because I think they are both smart and sensitive and I don't think they would intentionally do wrong by Gabourey.

 But I do not think the cover is attractive. I don't believe they lightened her complexion for any sort of nefarious reasons and I don't believe that anyone over at the magazine said, "Hey, let's do something really unflattering to her hair." Do I think they lit her like crazy in order to bring out more detail in her fact? Yes. Do I think that someone went bananas with the flash? Yes. Gabourey is a dark-skinned woman and it takes skill and practice in shooting someone with her skin tone so that they look like themselves and yet, the reader can see the nuances in her face. It's not brain surgery, but it doesn't just magically happen. And some might argue that any professional photographer worth his paycheck ought to be able to do it, I know more than a few well-paid hairstylists who'd have a coronary if they had to style nappy hair. 

Education is a powerful thing. I recall when Forrest Whittaker directed "Waiting to Exhale" and people commented on how beautiful all the black actresses looked. He responded that they had finally been lit properly. The lights had been set for them, not for a fairer skinned colleague with whom they were sharing a scene. 

Still, I think something went wrong with that cover. Gabourey is not a classic beauty. She has a lot of personality but she is also severely overweight and that makes finding clothes that will both fit and flatter her figure - clothes that are also age-appropriate - a challenge. If you're going to be in the beauty/fashion business, you should be able to take on any body type, etc. and show it off to its best potential. But it takes practice. And the problem here, is evidence that those folks involved didn't seem to have a whole lot of practice in working with her figure, her hair and her skin tone.

I recall when the model Alek Wek appeared on your cover. It was your cover, wasn't it? She looked stunning. But then, she's a model who knows how to show her face to its best potential.  

Gabourey looked better when she was featured in Ebony magazine. Ebony has more practice than Elle. So let this be a lesson to Elle, you need to do better. This, quite simply, was not an acceptable effort. You meant well and you misfired. 

That said, I also put a bit of responsibility at the feet of Gabourey herself and the folks who "handle" her. Someone should have taken a look in the mirror at the styling of her hair and said: This isn't working for me. As she becomes ever more famous, she has to be in charge of her own image. 

So the whole Essence brouhaha erupted while I was on vacation and I was determined to enjoy my time away and not weigh in. Besides, I had planned to do a feature about the magazine's 40th anniversary. I'd had the conversation with the magazine's pr department. They were willing. I was tentatively scheduled to interview Angela Burt-Murray, the editor, when I returned from vacation. The point of the story was going to be how the mission of the magazine had changed over the years and how it might now be described when black women had accomplished so much. (See: FLOTUS)

I was hopeful that the magazine would go ahead and do the interview because I like to think that I always try to be fair and thoughtful. Alas. No interview. Of course, I went ahead with a column. But I do think it's unfortunate that the magazine didn't get out there and talk about the issue. As we're so fond of saying these days: It was a teachable moment.

Anyhoo, I thought it was worth noting that little bit of background on the column...which is linked to below.  

Okay. I admit that summer rolled around and I was remiss in posting. At first, I was just overcome by the heat of the sweltering Washington summer. But then I took some time off. I bought a new bicycle. I was enamored with the idea of commuting to the gym on it. I travelled to Detroit to see family. I went to a presentation of the Moth story telling hour which was hosted by WDET in Detroit. With not much encouragement from friends, something insane overtook me and I signed up to tell a story. That is NOT like me. But lo and behold, there I was on stage, telling a story about the first time I went to the White House for a first lady meeting and how it was 5,000 degrees outside and my single goal was to arrive for the meeting NOT looking like a sweat-drenched rat. I wasn't all that successful.

But now it's September and it's back to school time. Or for me, it's back to the fashion shows. Back to first lady coverage. (She was on vacation for much of August. Must be nice!)

I'm a little stressed about the start of fashion weeks around the world. New York kicks off with Fashion's Night Out, which has transformed into a giant city extravaganza. DC is doing its part with a night out in Georgetown. So much to see and do.

Then it's off to Europe where the Post would like me to discover some mind-bogglingly compelling story that makes the argument that the trip is worth the money. Why oh why does the euro/dollar exchange rate suck? I suspect the only thing that will truly make the trip financially sound is if both the Redskins and the mid-term elections suddenly start to figure prominently on the Paris runway. Maybe, if I'm lucky, designers will have some Washington-centric inspiration. In the meantime, nose to the grindstone.

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be at the White House for the launch of the first lady's dance series. The kick-off features a tribute to Judith Jamison of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. I'm not a dance expert, but that woman has more grace in a single arm gesture than anyone I've ever met.

By the way, I have a story in the September issue of British Elle. It's all about the current fashion season and whether designers have changed their ways when it comes to diversity. I am, as always, an optimist!