For the Love of Color
Great gowns: Traveling exhibit honors Ebony Fashion Fair founder Eunice Johnson
Among Eunice Johnson's many couture looks is a classic gold lame gown byGivenchy.Photo by Dee Brown
Former Ebony Fashion Fair model Rebecca BriscoePhoto by Dee Brown
Ralph Hughes, from left, Jeanine Collins and Ethan G. FosterPhoto by Dee Brown
Katelyn Oliver, left, and Nicole EllisPhoto by Dee Brown
Eunice Johnson portrait in her younger years. She died last year at 93.
Black History Month is usually celebrated with readings of stirring speeches, grand parades or a documentary on the History Channel. But when I heard that Macy’s and Johnson Publishing Co. were honoring the late Ebony Fashion Fair founder Eunice Johnson with a traveling presentation of her favorite designer styles as part of the monthly salute, I was absolutely thrilled and wanted to be there.
It may seem like a different way of celebrating a legend during such a historical month but I love the idea! I grew up watching my mother apply Fashion Fair makeup regularly and I always looked forward to the freebies she would receive with her purchases. Let’s not forget about the countless times I waited for the postman to deliver the latest Jet or Ebony magazines, which Johnson had created with her husband, John H. Johnson.
The "For the Love of Color " tour made a Houston stop Thursday night, and, undeterred by the threat of icy weather, an enthusiastic crowd showed up for the opening night celebration at the Macy's Galleria store (on Hildalgo). They got a close-up look of 14 fabulous creations from Johnson's private collection that were once featured in the famed Ebony Fashion Fair shows.
Such legendary designers as Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent, Givenchy, Louis Feraud, Marc Bouwer are featured in the collection.
“We’re excited because it is hitting 10 cities,” said Johnson Publishing spokeswoman Jeanine Collins. “That’s key for us, particularly because it’s one year after Mrs. Johnson passed away (in January, 2010, at age 93). But also it’s during Black History Month. It also gives us the opportunity to recognize Mrs. Johnson and her contributions to the philanthropic community.”
Eunice Johnson collected thousands of garments from prominent designers for the Ebony Fashion Fair, which toured 200 cities for more than 50 years. It was left up to Johnson Publishing Co. to make a decision on what pieces to feature for the exhibit.
“It wasn’t an easy process,” Collins said. “There were a lot of hands involved in selecting them. We’re actually in the process of archiving the entire inventory, which is housed at Johnson Publishing Company. These are representative of the caliber of the show and the different pieces that have been shown in the show.”
The tour is one of the first major projects for new Johnson Publishing CEO Desiree Rogers, the former White House social secretary. she was planning to come for the Houston event but had to cancel at the last minute.
Houstonians Judson Robinson, Olivia Smith-Daugherty, Francis and Kristyn Page, Liz Ambriz, Sylvia Brooks, La Tarsha Mallard, Larry Green, Michael Pearson and former Ebony Fashion Fair model Rebecca Briscoe joined Macy's Chicago vice president of communications Ralph Hughes, Ethan Foster, vice president of sales for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, and Johnson Publishing's Collins.
Attendees were also introduced to The Kiss Kit collection — a diverse lip kit by Fashion Fair that features four enhancers, each of which can transform a lip color into a new look.
