The most controversial editorials

[ladyflash]

^ Agreed.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

The Interview editorial is a fantasy-- like any high fashion editorial ought to be. But I suppose most Americans are so used to their fashion editorials being bland and boring, with happy models-- one of each race represented like some awful High School Musical on white seemless, that anything daring and provocative is immediately condemned as racist.

I hope Interview doesn't back down from such strong editorials in the future, and will continues to inspire us not only creatively, but provoke their readers with concepts that may upset and offend some people.

Love love love the "Let's Get Lost" editorial!

I am all for all the other international magazines...I actually did a speech at college on how European magazines are better and more experimental, but I did not like that editorial...being a black male and seeing how we are depicted in an everyday life i'd find it different then to someone who isnt black...I thought it showed the black models as sex hungry and always after the white woman...she is the only non-black model in the editorial and is surrounded by a bunch of hot and sweaty black models touching all over her while the others are touching eachother...it wouldnt have been so bad if it was a mixed group of models...but thats just my opinion

 

[zacatecas570]

I was reading that "Dogging" by Steven Meisel, was turned down by Italian Vogue because was to explicit, even for a european Magazine, but V Magazine decided to use it.

 

[vogue28]

Claudia Schiffer's woman in black provokes fashion race row

Claudia Schiffer has been accused of racial insensitivity after appearing on a magazine cover made up as a black woman.
The 39-year-old supermodel wore dark foundation and an afro wig in the shots taken by celebrated fashion designer and photographer Karl Lagerfeld.
His images, taken two years ago for a Dom Perignon advertising campaign, were among six shots of Miss Schiffer used by German fashion bible Stern Fotografie to celebrate its 60th anniversary.

Claudia Schiffer in the pose for a 2007 Dom Perignon campaign shot by Karl Lagerfeld, which has caused a fashion race row
But Shevelle Rhule, fashion editor at black lifestyle magazine Pride, said the images of Miss Schiffer were tasteless.
She said: 'It shows poor taste and it's offensive.
'There are not enough women of colour featured in mainstream magazines. This just suggests you can counteract the problem by using white models.
'I don't believe they deliberately set out to offend, they obviously see it as being arty and feel that they are pushing boundaries.
'But clearly no thought has been given to the history behind what they have done and the comparisons it draws with minstrel shows.'
The magazine has used a collection of pictures from the Dom Perignon shoot to adorn different covers of the popular magazine including another that features Schiffer as an Asian character.

Others depict her as a secretary, while a further image shows her impersonating Marie Antoinette.
Representatives of the model claim the pictures are intended to show the model as a variety of fantasy figures.
A spokesman said: 'The pictures have been taken out of context. The images were designed to reflect different men's fantasies.
'The pictures were not intended to offend, they were done very creatively and they are some of Karl Lagerfeld's favourite images of Claudia. People should not jump to conclusions.'

*dailymail.co.uk

 

[tigerrouge]

I love the spokesperson's attempt to make it sound better - it's not about racism, it's merely a visual harem for men.

 

[Spike413]

I'm a little surprised that the article doesn't bring up the Shanghai Lil cover from the series. Out of the two of them that one seemed more offensive than this one does.

As an aside, I never would have thought that Claudia Schiffer could ever pass for Grace Jones...but I've been wrong before.

 

[retailqueen]

The fashion world repeatedly refuses to hire black models but love to pull out of their arses the *artistic* excuse to justify a further example of the racism in the industry.

whatever.

 

[KateIsGr8]

In my opinion, racism will always be a "factor" in fashion. Why? Who knows?! But, in the Let's Get Lost editorial and in the Claudia pics, I don't see why in the world anyone would be offended by that. It's fashion, they have to have some way to catch your eye. I get sick of the constant bitching from fashion insiders and admirers always saying how fashion is racist- it's not! I feel like the controversial photographers and stylists (Steven Klein, Terry Richardson, Carine Roitfeld...) don't intend to offend anyone and people read too much into it. Nothing will ever be perfect for anyone. If there were all black models, everyone would complain about there not being white models, same for other ethnicities. I honestly don't see a lack of, and I don't mean that by opinion because I love, black models. I think people try to make it seem like black models can't break into the modeling as easy as white models, which is so untrue. It's a hard industry to get into and fit into.

 

[MannyR718]

"La Mauvaise Education"
Numero #114 June/July 2010
Model: Miranda Kerr
Photographer: Greg Kadel



​

 

[tarsha]

^ I think the thread is about editorials from 2000 to 2009, isn't it?
Or is it acceptable to post eds from 2010 issues of the magazines?

 

[KateIsGr8]

^I thought so too, but a large percentage of the editorials are from 2010...

 

[eelimob]

US Vogue April 2008 : Gisele Bundchen & Lebron James by Annie Leibovitz
this cover was so criticized! i guess people forgot about it, uh?

 

[MannyR718]

sorry about that, but that editorial came to my mind when I saw this thread.

 

[tigerrouge]

That cover was a lesson in how something that sounds so right can go so wrong - a famous sportsman teamed with an athletic supermodel? Instead of being about two superb-looking human beings, it ended up being an embarrassment.

 

[t-rex]

In my opinion, racism will always be a "factor" in fashion. Why? Who knows?! But, in the Let's Get Lost editorial and in the Claudia pics, I don't see why in the world anyone would be offended by that. It's fashion, they have to have some way to catch your eye. I get sick of the constant bitching from fashion insiders and admirers always saying how fashion is racist- it's not! I feel like the controversial photographers and stylists (Steven Klein, Terry Richardson, Carine Roitfeld...) don't intend to offend anyone and people read too much into it. Nothing will ever be perfect for anyone. If there were all black models, everyone would complain about there not being white models, same for other ethnicities. I honestly don't see a lack of, and I don't mean that by opinion because I love, black models. I think people try to make it seem like black models can't break into the modeling as easy as white models, which is so untrue. It's a hard industry to get into and fit into.

Racism will be a factor in fashion as long as it's still strong in the world. I'm sure you'll disagree with me, given your very insightful post, but it's still very strong (if not more so now because of America's President.) Maybe you should look through this thread and the Interview thread and actually read the comments. There are black people who are offended by the editorials and the stereotypes given.

It doesn't matter if they intended to offend anyone. It still contributes to a harmful stereotype that could be avoided with a little more awareness. Using "it's fashion" doesn't excuse ignorance.

I doubt you love black models as much as you say you do, if you really believe it's just as hard for black models to make it as white models. Do you have a black friend too?

 

[Deleted member 106803]

Love this thread!

 

[YoninahAliza]

I can't stand the Let's Get Lost editorial... It places all the models in a demeaning situation. It is not only tasteless, but racist and sexists. On one hand I think that fashion is ment to explore the boundaries their are some which ought not to be oversteped. However on the other hand, when fashion is used as a mechinism for racism or sexism then it must be stopped.

 

[Chanelcouture09]

None of these magazines NEVER intentionally cause trouble and none of the editors or stylists intend to offend peoples race
i personally don't see the fuss in Daria's 'Lets get Lost' Editorial, its a great editorial if I'm honest, but no one is ever satisfied, and alot of people read into it too much
obviously were all not stupid or senseless, but its fashion at the end of the day, don't take it too seriously! well not in the case of racism or whatever else

 

[KateIsGr8]

Racism will be a factor in fashion as long as it's still strong in the world. I'm sure you'll disagree with me, given your very insightful post, but it's still very strong (if not more so now because of America's President.) Maybe you should look through this thread and the Interview thread and actually read the comments. There are black people who are offended by the editorials and the stereotypes given.

It doesn't matter if they intended to offend anyone. It still contributes to a harmful stereotype that could be avoided with a little more awareness. Using "it's fashion" doesn't excuse ignorance.

I doubt you love black models as much as you say you do, if you really believe it's just as hard for black models to make it as white models. Do you have a black friend too?

I find your post to be very disrespectful and very immature. Do you have a black friend too? Well, of course I do, I'm not at all racist against any gender or ethnicity. And to say you doubt I love black models is really quite ridiculous, being that you know nothing about me... So, next time you decide to directly call someone out, please get your facts straight Fashion is NOT racist.

 

[MulletProof]

^^ you know, I really dislike that 'it's fashion! it's supposed to be fun, don't take it seriously!', just so you know, there are many people in the world for whom fashion isn't just about being a suburbs diva who has to battle between pink or glittery shoes or learn all the models' names, there are plenty of people for whom fashion is serious business and there are others (a few but still) for whom it is an expression, a individual statement.. even a microphone, it can be lots of things, maybe the word 'fashion' shouldn't even be used anymore considering the airhead reputation it connotes, but for many of these people, it is actually their only creative outlet for self-expression, they only blank canvas they feel comfortable painting upon and they pretty much put their souls in it. That's why fashion is one of the most actively creative fields, because of these people, people that are educated and creative and invest their knowledge and ideas into the field, not silly buyers wanting to look like prom queen, which is the image the 'don't take it seriously!' argument gives me every time someone tries to make sense out of a badly executed story, like just because it's 'fashion!' people are not supposed to think and should just laugh at it because it's silly, and fun of course.. if you can't see how stereotypical and cliché that is then it's understandable how a fashionably racist story may pass you by as a 'model having fun' scenario only.

Having cleared that up, it is very naïve to think none of these magazines intend to cause any trouble, these are magazines edited by people well over 40, not teenagers who can't see past their nose, don't tell me someone that's lived a great deal of their adult years in racially-diverse cities like London, Paris or New York has some strange inability to digest what a stereotype looks like. They're doing it because it sells, simple as that, it's aimed at impressionable people, people that don't demand much out of a magazine (or anything they lay their eyes on) and just want to drop jaws and have some giggles and don't really push their own brain to question themselves a single thing of what's being shoved down their throat.. an attitude that isn't very different from certain religious followers, which ironically, these same magazine readers think it's really controversial to make fun of.. if they'd stop and think for a moment, they'd realise they're basically laughing at their own reflection.

Moving on, the 'Let's get lost' story was explained countless time a couple of pages back and in its thread, you could read these comments if you're interested in getting the 'fuss', you can disagree with them if you want but at least bother to read them in order to understand the position of the offended.