Here we go again! Another magazine has decided that engaging in the racially insensitive act of Blackface is a glamorous idea. This time around the culprit is Vogue Italia. The glossy's March 2014 issue includes a feature entitled "Abracadabra" that was shot by Steven Meisel and shows model Saskia de Brauw in a series of images with her skin darkened while posing in ethnic wears -- headdresses, colorful wrappings, etc.
Not all the images portray Saskia in dark makeup; the ones that don't, however, show the Dutch model painted in traditional African tribal markings. And the addition of the African animals doesn't help matters. Although the feature doesn't depict historical minstral-inspired Blackface, it's still in bad taste.
We're thoroughly confused as to why the magazine didn't think this type of editorial would be offensive and why they didn't just use a black model in the first place. Clearly the "Blackface is NEVER Ok" memo addressed to the fashion industry keeps getting lost in the mail.
This feature follows a slew of other Blackface debacles, including Vogue Netherlands' "Heritage Heroes" atrocity, Numéro's "African Queen" fail and Metal magazine's "Transmission" faux pas.
There have also been the head-shaking instances where fashion notables have taken on the skin darkening themselves -- like in the case of Elle France's beauty editor Jeanne Deroo and fashion designer Allesandro Dell’Acqua.
Here's a look at Vogue Italia's "Abracadabra" feature. Are you offended?
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