In a time where Black models were scarce in the fashion industry, there was one model that broke down barriers and opened the door for models of color worldwide. Renauld White, the first African-American model to grace the cover of GQ magazine in 1979,  an accomplishment that catapulted him into iconic status.  In addition to conquering the modeling industry, Renauld White is an accomplished actor in both television and theater, starring as Julius Caesar in Julius and several years on the TV soap The Guiding Light. Today at 65, still refined and handsome as ever, Mr. White can be found educating and inspiring models as an fashion activist.

The next time you see a model of color gracing  fashion covers and editorials of your favorite magazines and runway shows, remember to pay homage to the man whose hard work and dedication changed the fashion industry for future Black models past, present and future.

Image Sources: GQ Magazine/Thurgood Marshall

Where are you from?
Bergen County Teaneck, NJ

What inspires you everyday to wake up in the morning?
My children, the woman of my life and life in general wakes me up in the morning.

Why did you decide to do a ‘Fur’ collection for men and women?
I felt like the industry needed change and I had the perfect product for it. I figured that I would design something for myself and see the outcome. It worked!

What would you say is your ‘Signature’ design?
My signature designs features quality fur mixed with leather, wool, and plaids.

Who are your favorite designers? Why?
Ralph Lauren, Versace, Giorgio Armani and Hugo Boss. All of them represent class.

Who are your clients?
The public, the streets. I’m a designer to the streets.

Your mentors(s)?
My father and my brother.

How important is having a great team?
It’s very important to have a great a team. Without one, you can’t achieve your dreams or vision. Loyalty is very important to me.

What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is having a sound mind and knowing what your next move is. A successful person can make a way out of nothing because of their passion about what they believe in.

Random: If you opened your refrigerator, what is the first thing I would see?
Ginger Ale…LOL!

Follow The Fur King
www.twitter.com/thefurking

Words by Jerris Madison

Hands down Lady Gaga is FASHION. She has taking the fashion and music industry by storm with her catchy lyrics, uptempo beats and very over-the-top (sometimes unexplainable) fashion sense.

Lady Gaga is the girl we all went the school with who we thought was cool yet half to the school didn’t understand her but secretly wanted to be her friend. She has single-handedly inspired a vast of celebrities and everyday (fashion) women to step up their game and just have fun with fashion.

Not since Madonna 80′s days have we’ve seen an artist make such a impact in pop culture through fashion and music combined. Gaga is here to stay.

Check out her latest video ‘Paparazzi‘ which won her an award at the VMA’s for ‘Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects’ and her latest ‘Bad Romance’.

Lady Gaga – Paparazzi (Official Music Video)

Lady Gaga | MySpace Video

Visit: www.ladygaga.com

Tom Ford is private, creative and very talented. His ability to leave super fashion house Gucci to embark on what is now a multi-million dollar fashion brand that bears his name is genius.

Tom has recently directed and debut his first film at the 66th annual Venice Film Festival. The film titled, “A Single Man.” is set in 1962 Los Angeles and tells the story of a college professor who is coping with the death of his partner of 16 years. Starring Colin Firth as the college professor along with Matthew Goode and Julian Moore.

Check out the trailer for his directorial debut:

According to Tom, it’s a movie about love and isolation. Something he feels we all can relate to. The movie is heart warming and shows that coping with a loss is never easy but definitely possible. I give the film two thumbs up and definitely recommend you check it out if you can appreciate good artistic vision.

Visit: www.tomford.com

There’s one thing in life that is guaranteed without a doubt and that’s death. Some of us can cope with the death of a loved one more than others and to some it is hard to bear.

The Crossing Over of Mattie Pearl is a great book written by Andrea Garrison about her mother’s vivid vision of her life after death. The book was very easy to read and well written. Garrison’s ability to take you to the final days before her mother’s transition was very calming. It gave me the sense of peace and tranquility.

The quotes she included on the left side pages of the book preps you for what you are about to read next; inspiring. “Few books move the spirit as this one has for me. It is powerfully stirring, emotionally peaceful and above all it tells a story of crossing over. Having lost my own mother, I often wondered what she must have gone through those last moments. Now I know.” says Fred Brito; a good friend of Garrison’s who lost his mother and recently lost his father.

The Crossing Over of Mattie Pearl comes in paper back and DVD formats. This is a must read if you are dealing with the lost of a loved one or know someone who is.

You can purchase the book here.

BEREOLAESQUE: The Contemporary Gentleman; Etiquette Book for the Urban Sophisticate is a prime example of why you should judge a book by its cover.

This book has an impressive amount of research and time spent on etiquette and personal style. Enitan Bereola II exuldes personal style and personal responsibility; it’s very apparent in this book.

This is a must read for men and women especially if you are raising young men. It sets the tone and teaches them to respect themselves and the people they will come in contact with during their adult life.

When you first read the title, Bereolasque, it may take you for a loop because the title is tricky to read at first. Bereola used his last name and added -esque to the end to come up with Bereolasque. That was a smart and cleaver decision. Kinda like a personal touch.

The meaning of BEREOLAESQUE: highly appealing and pleasing to the human senses and/or mind; captivating; providing or delight, especially in appearance or manner; charming, alluring, attractive.

As you read through the book, you will realize your lack of etiquette and/or style on some of the things you may take for granted. BEREOLAESQUE allows you to refresh on some of your styling and etiquette issues.

Here are a few key points in the book that caught my eye:

• The Diagnosis: Member Orientation. Cleaver! You must follow keys rules to be considered a gentleman.
• You should bring me flowers. Learning what flowers to give for the right occasion. Very important.
• Sound. When to say…Thank You, May I, etc.
• The Cool: The Style Guide. Learning Power Colors.
• Smile. Do I need to explain…lol?
• Debt. Paying it off and living within your means.
• Women 101. Rule #14: When she is not, tell her she is beautiful. When she is beautiful, tell her she is stunning. A gentleman recognizes beauty is internal.

With any book recommendation, you must make the first step. If you are a man who is aware of lack of etiquette and personal style, this is your book. If you are a man who’s know-it-all, this book is for you and if you’re a man who just doesn’t care about his look, this book is for you too.

Enjoy. I did.

Purchase book here

We salute Bea Arthur for making us laugh and just being Bea. She was a star from the start with her uncanny ability of bringing her characters to life. Bea Arthur was classy, consistent and a very good actress.

You will be missed.

Short Bio:

Beatrice “Bea” Arthur (May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009) was an American actress, comedian and singer whose career spanned seven decades. Arthur achieved fame as the title character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcom Maude, and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, winning Emmy Awards for both roles. A stage actress both before and after her television success, she won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Vera Charles in the original cast of Mame (1966).

Obvious Magazine CHOSE to speak good of Michael Jackson. Doing so at this time, promotes positive energy and allows us not to partake in negative media. Our prayers go out to his children and family during their troubling time. We ask that you pray for his children and their well being.

The poem below was sent exclusively to us by Spoken Word Artist Taylor Mickal out of New Orleans entitled:“Musicians Die. Kings Live Forever.” (a tribute to Michael Jackson). This poem is very heartfelt and we wanted to share with our audience and follows of Obvious Magazine…R.I.P. Michael Jackson.

-Jerris Madison
Creative Director | Publisher

“Musicians Die. Kings Live Forever.” (a tribute to Michael Jackson) by Taylor Mickal

Such a beautiful soul,
Should never feel so much pain…

As a young boy,
His father was more than cruel,
His first name was Joseph, but his last was “ridicule”.

He would sit in a chair,
With his belt, and shout.
Threaten his mistakes,
Constantly calling Michael out:
“If you don’t do it the right way,
I’ll tear you apart!”
You see, his father saw money,
Michael simply saw art.

And as the Jackson’s rose to fame,
Michael rose even higher.
Held down by a family’s abuse,
But lifted by his desire.
And at only 11 years old,
His voice took the world,
Took every man, every woman,
Every boy, and every girl.
His dance took the stage,
And the people threw, not roses, but love.
And it was almost as if it made up
For his father’s lack of.

The world worshiped him;

Bent to their knees like he was a king;
And that’s just what he became.
A king of music; who was twice
Inducted to the rock and roll hall of fame.

And it wasn’t just black or white,
His music was everywhere,
Michael never cared about color,
Only about those who cared.
Never forgot where he came from,
Never knew where he was going,
Simply sang from his heart,
And the fans continued growing.
Reaching beyond generations,
To the children of today,
Reaching beyond skin tone,
His music always found a way.

James Brown, Ray Charles,
Michael’s inspirations.
Became the foundation for a music,
That stretched beyond imagination.

But shortly after his 90 minute breakdown,
In 1993.
Accusations from a greedy young boy,
Tore into Michael, for the world to see.

The music faded a little,
The dance wasn’t quite the same.
The people’s eyes turned to the courts,
The media stole his name.

But music made the man,
And the man was still alive,
So he reminded the world who he was,
With HIStory; a CD that thrived.
15 tracks of his best,
15 more brand new
A testament to who he was,
And what he could still do.
The fans came pouring back,
The music couldn’t be more loud.
The heart as his instrument,
He sang to the world as his crowd.

Charging through the charts,
Walking across the moon.
They tried to knock him down,
Knowing Michael would fall soon.

And slowly, but surely,
Michael fell down to earth,
Where stress took his health,
And people took his worth.
The world was a cruel place for him,
It wasn’t his sheet music anymore.
Michael was not “Invincible”
As he was once had been before.
And just as his life had begun,
In ridicule, hate, and fame,
The last decade of the legend
Was more or less, just the same.
Although his appearance had changed.
His heart hadn’t changed a bit.
But the flame in Michael’s eyes,
Was barely even lit.

June 25th, will always be remembered.
As a King of music, he will forever reign.
But I will never understand why such a beautiful soul,
Should ever feel so much pain…

-Taylor Mickal

Everyone knows what a Porsche looks like, right? Curvaceous little two-doors with their rear-mounted engines have been on American roads since the 1950′s, and their shape hasn’t changed much during that time.

But a new car on the way from the famous Porsche design studios in Stuttgart changes all of that. The iconic little 911 isn’t going anywhere, but it is getting a front-engine, four-door big brother for 2011. The Porsche Panamera has had a lot of Porsche enthusiasts up in arms since it was first rumored a few years back. But the first pictures of the car have emerged — along with crucial mechanical details – and reaction has been decidedly split. Some are horrified. Others are starting to wonder if Porsche might just pull off this sport sedan thing after all.

Autoblog reports that the images are “already polarizing enthusiasts the world over.” A prominent hatchback rear is the source of most of the controversy. Other styling elements seem generally well-accepted. “The most striking detail on the profile shot is the indentations leading from the front fenders, aft of the wheels, into the doors,” Autoblog notes. “But the jury is still out on the Panamera’s bulbous back end.”

Motor Trend tries to explain the feature. “You need to understand two important things about the Panamera’s development,” they write. “First, Porsche boss Wendelin Wiedeking, who’s 6ft 2 in., insisted he had to be able to sit comfortably in the back seat. Second, it had to look like a Porsche. Those two facts drove the entire program — and are the reason why the Panamera looks slightly awkward in profile.”

Jalopnik simply says that it isn’t going to sell as well as Porsche wants it to because of its appearance. “Porsche is planning to sell 20,000 Panameras globally each year,” they write. “Given the sedan’s unique look, the production numbers seem quite optimistic.”

“As for the performance,” Car and Driver reports, “We know Porsche’s going to bring it in a big way, with engines ranging from a 300-hp V-6 to a 500-hp turbocharged V-8-and later, a hybrid power-train. Those engines are likely the same basic units found in the Cayenne, and judging from the models shown in the official photos-a Panamera 4S and a Panamera Turbo-the nomenclature should carry over as well. A six-speed traditional manual or Porsche’s superb seven-speed PDK automated manual will be available on the non-hybrid models. And like the Cayenne, the Panamera will be available with all-wheel drive.”

It may need every one of those horsepower. Its dimensions are larger than those of the BMW 7-Series, though it may not weigh as much. Motor Trend reports, “Insiders insist extensive use of materials such as aluminum and magnesium mean the car will be among the lightest large four doors in the business.”

It enters a crowded market. Last year there were few four-door cars produced by Europe’s legendary performance shops, apart from the Maserati Quattroporte. But the Panamera hits the market in the same year as the Aston Martin Rapide, and, perhaps, the Lamborghini Estoque. Each of those cars has also been received with reservations by enthusiasts – but neither features anything as controversial as the Panamera’s rump.

Research the best super-luxury cars with U.S. News’ Car Reviews.

The third-generation 2010 Toyota Prius, officially unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January 2009, went on sale in April. The updated Prius is bigger and more powerful. The engine grew from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters—giving a boost in horsepower from 110 to 160, and thereby reducing zero-to-60 time by a full second. In addition, the body is about four inches longer and about an inch wider. Despite the added power and size, the 2010 Toyota Prius becomes the only vehicle available today to offer 50 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.

Toyota achieved this level of fuel efficiency by keeping the vehicle’s weight down, maintaining the best aerodynamics of any production vehicle in the world, and re-engineering the power-train to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving. (Despite rumors over the past year, the new Prius does not offer plug-in capabilities and continues to use nickel metal hydride batteries, rather than switching to lithium ion batteries.)

Prius Exterior

Toyota added a slightly sportier feel and more aggressive stance to the 2010 Prius—perhaps to disarm criticism that the Prius looks like a corrective appliance on wheels. The logo shifts from the hood to the top of the point of the grille. The crease in the doors has shifted lower, but a more pronounced angle is added above the door handles. The overall effect is to make the 2010 Prius stand taller—not as rounded and squat—as its predecessor.

The distinct space-age shape of the Prius is still apparent: a deliberate effort by Toyota to maintain the Prius’s essential and iconic appearance. Its large, diamond-cut headlamps and snub-nose front-end are the starting point for the Prius’s quasi-flying saucer appearance. The angled hood seamlessly flows into the windshield, then to a flowing roof-line that is sleek and low. Short overhangs and a sawed-off rear section finish off the hybrid’s futuristic hatchback character.

Of course, beauty is subjective, so the Prius continues to receive mixed reviews on outward show. There are many who think the Prius looks gimmicky, if not entirely ugly. But for many hybrid owners, the distinctive look of the Prius sends a message, which declares that we must take steps to reduce our voracious thirst for oil—with all its negative consequences in terms of the environment and geo-politics. For this camp, the Prius is like a middle-finger-on-wheels aimed at Hummers, Suburbans, Escalades, and the like.

In 2006, the toy and game-maker Hasbro added a game token in the shape of the Toyota Prius to the “here and now” version of Monopoly. In other words, the Prius is an official icon of our times.

Bells and Whistles

The previous Prius had loads of gizmos—including keyless entry, joystick shifter, high-tech energy monitor, and a rear-view camera system. Toyota throws even more technology at the new model.

For the first time, the Prius offers a moon-roof and heated seats. The sliding glass moon-roof, packaged with a slick-looking solar panel, provides power to a new ventilation system that doesn’t require help from the gas engine. Not only does the AC system keep the interior air temperature from heating up when the vehicle is parked (thus reducing the time/energy needed to cool things down), the system can be operated remotely to heat or cool the cabin before getting into the car. (That’s a neat trick even if the rooftop solar panels don’t produce enough energy to power the wheels.)

Three driving modes are now available: Power, Economy and EV. Power improves throttle response; economy reduces throttle response for better gas mileage; and with a flip of the dashboard EV button, the car can go about one mile at low speeds without using any gasoline.

An optional radar system using advanced millimeter waves enables “Lane Keep Assist” to help the driver stay safely within the lane, and the “Pre-Collision System” retracts seat belts and applies the brakes in certain conditions when a crash is unavoidable. Intelligent parking offers settings to help guide the Prius into parking spaces. A backup monitor, which provides a view of rear obstacles when reverse is engaged, is available with an optional voice-activated navigation system.

The new touch sensor system on the steering wheel helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Images of the switches and their positions are shown on the instrument panel directly in front.

Prius Interior

The past success of the Toyota Prius has been its ability to combine great fuel efficiency and utter practicality. Five adults can fit comfortably, with more than 16 cubic feet of cargo room left over in back. The 60/40 split rear seats also can be folded flat, creating a surprisingly large cargo space for hauling groceries, strollers, large boxes, and gardening supplies—all at the same time.

Short and tall drivers should feel equally comfortable behind the wheel. The back seat is roomy, beating the Toyota Camry by a few inches and providing a little more legroom than the Civic Hybrid—and a lot more than found in the Honda Insight.

Interior storage spaces are abundant and flexible. The sound system is adequate, but not groundbreaking compared to other cars in this class. The stereo’s most-used functions are easy to see, read and use. Many of the Prius’s standard features are either optional or unavailable on comparably priced competitive vehicles.

Some Prius drivers complain that the hatchback design limits the visibility through the rear window. They refer to this drawback as the “Prius blind spot.”

You have to take a test drive to see how it feels to you. The new generation’s rear view has improved a bit, even if the backseat headrests and spoiler continue to partially obstruct the view. Hatchback visibility makes some people crazy and is a non-issue for others. Take a test drive to see what you think.

Source: Hybridcars.com