A Man's Story

When a man has a vision and the drive to get him where he wants to go, there's no stopping him. He is a force to be reckoned. British menswear designer Ozwald Boateng is that very man. He's achieved many milestones in his career including being the first tailor to show at Paris Fashion Week. Ozwald is also the youngest and first black tailor to open a store on the famous Saville Row. He has been at the creative helm of Givenchy and dressed many of Hollywood's leading men. But Ozwald's success comes with a hefty price tag of heartache and struggle. A new documentary "A Man's Story" explores Ozwald's triumphs and tragedies for over a decade of his life.

In 1998, filmmaker Varon Bonnicos set out to shoot up-and-coming menswear designer Ozwald Boateng. What originally started as a six-month project turned into 12 years with Bonnicos bearing witness to many of Boateng's dilemmas both personal and professional. The film opens with Ozwald ending his first marriage and beginning his trek to fame.

If you're familiar with Ozwald's history, then you know the facts. You know that his talent is undeniable. Ozwald's approach to design marries traditional tailoring and detail with the spiritual form of the man who wears his artistry. He is a strong, determined man who won't let anything get in the way of his vision. The film allows you to see this powerful force is his most vulnerable moments. Ozwald sees things falling apart around him and realizes that he can do nothing about it but move forward.

While watching the documentary, I started thinking about the people I know who have sacrificed so much for their dreams. The hours spent working hard at their craft, but away from the people who love them. The missed birthdays and holidays. The apologies for just not being there. I wonder if Ozwald Boateng would do anything differently knowing that he would go bankrupt, almost lose his business, and nearly lose his family. It really just comes down to believing in yourself despite all odds. Ozwald's determination is inspiring. Even through the tough times, he knows he's going to come out on top.

"Belief is a cornerstone of being a man. You don't have belief, you don't have anything."
-Ozwald Boateng
Get more details on A Man's Story HERE.

Aging Gracefully

Youth doesn't last forever, but some of us want it to. I finally watched the documentary About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, and it was eye opening. Regardless of our aging society, fashion prefers the "beautiful and the damned". But like these former supermodels have discovered, eveything including your relevance fades.

About Face explores the lives of some of the world's most successful models who have mostly retired from the industry. Greats like Isabella Rossellini, Jerry Hall, Christie Brinkley, Pat Cleveland, and Carmen Dell'Orefice are just a few of the extraordinary women featured in this piece. Filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders creates a series of intimate portraits of these legends as they discuss how things were when they were top models, and also the complex relationship between beauty and aging.


When I watched the film, I began to sympathize with these women. They had come from a golden age of fashion where models were free to express themselves and dazzle us. There were no rules, so they created their own standards. The one rule that actually meant anything was that you couldn't appear to be getting older. Former model China Machado explains it best:

"It isn't that women want to stay young, it's that the whole society makes us want to stay young.

As they aged, some of the models tried to keep up with appearances and use plastic surgery to stay youthful, while others decided to accept what mother nature had in store. These models were pioneers and the fashion industry worshipped them. But mixed in with their confidence and vitality was this insecurity. These models all knew they had a shelf date whether it was for better or worse.

Even now, I am feeling what these models have endured. You get older and the camera stops liking you as much, because it's bias and unforgiving. But the life of a model doesn't have to have an expiration date. There is something quite beautiful about aging gracefully and letting the world see.

Chime in: Who do you think is at fault for our love affair with youth? Is it the fashion industry or ourselves?