Filed under: Fashion News

Painting models' face brown or black, or contemporary blackface, has become quite commonplace in recent fashion TV shows and editorials.

Paris Vogue painted model Lara Stone a deep bronze for their October issue:

Tyra Banks then followed suit, shooting her newbie contestants as various races for an 'America's Next Top Model' Shoot :
And finally, V Magazine topped them all with Sasha Pivovarova in blackface in their November Issue:

It seems that the fashion elites are collectively resorting to face paint for their avant garde editorials.

While Paris Vogue came under fire for their photos, Tyra Banks and V Magazine haven't been criticized. It also begs the question: If African-American mogul Tyra Banks is painting people other races for purposes of artistic expression, is the practice truly racially insensitive?

What do you think of this new fashion trend? Are people simply being too sensitive...and missing the inherent beauty in skin painting? Or are the people doing the skin painting remiss in ignoring the historical implications of blackface?

 

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Filed under: Red Carpet

You bought the wig, searched the accessories and even sprung for the expensive make up you knew you'd only use just this once. But, just when you thought you served up the best Halloween costume, Hollywood did you one better. From the Simmons sisters to Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey, some celebs went all out this Halloween.Nick and Mariah kind of confuse me. Is it just me or aren't they wearing what they always do? As of late, Cannon always seems to be wearing a suit and Carey (since '96) always seems to be wearing ...nothing.
Ditto Selita Ebanks who is giving us the same look - and cornrowed hairstyle - that we've seen in the past.


Rihanna and her bff Coco T(did you know they knew each other?) used the season as the reason to do what they always do: wear very little clothing. I get the whole sex appeal thing, but is it just me or did the concept of them being Tigger (from Winnie the Pooh) and catwoman (?) get totally lost in translation?

On the other Angela Simmons' costume (pictured on the right) offered something different from her usual look. I can't actually figure out if she is a mouse or a French maid, and, while it was silly, it was totally sexy too.


Teyana Taylor, one of my favorite music artists at the moment, echoes the whole silly thing, but it's just not as sweet. What exactly is she? Are they? Is this? We're thinking Sheneneh from 'Martin,' but one can never be sure...

But Terrence J, co-host of BET's 106 & Park, totally took the cake as Lil Wayne. For a second there, I actually thought that was Young Weezy I was staring at.
I wish singer Tyrese could have been more impressive. I get his costume, but I don't get why he chose it.

Who was your fave?



Read more from Zandile at The Blay Report.

 

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