Fashion in Black Face?
Last week during Cibeles Fashion Week, Designer Carlos Diez presented his Spring/Summer 2010 Collection. As fashion fanatics we were happy to see the designer showcase his collection, but we couldn’t help but notice that the models in his show appeared to have brown makeup on to help them appear darker.
We are still puzzled why he chose to make his models strut his collection in tan makeup. Maybe it was to match his collection? We honestly don’t know, but people everywhere, even fashion designers need to think about how things can be viewed to others before they do them. This could have completely offended someone and he could have potentially lost supporters (if he hasn’t already).
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Perhaps I’m just a unfashionable midwestern girl but I don’t see anything artistic or aesthetically pleasing about models in tan makeup and granny panties. Ugh!
Rosey this NYC girl is not digging this either…how can you tell me that racism don’t exist and I need to get over slaver? Epic FAIL!
ARE YOU KIDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!
This is really nice. The models are awesome. The white color is matching for them.
Why do we have to be sensitive about everything? It could be just an artistic touch or trying to catch attention. The recession calls for creativity :-)
I don’t feel ofended nor identified with this at all. It is a bit exhausting to always jump at every slight posibility of racism when there is no reason for it. We should focus on the positive.
CiCi Please!
Not saying that it is, but it would be interesting if this was his way to call attention to the lack for black and brown models in the industry. I don’t know if that was the designer’s intention, but it could be taken that way. Regardless, the message is about race. The question though is what is the message.
He could also be making fun of white women who over tan??
This has more to do with Historical “Black” Face than pointing fun at “whites” who tan. There faces are darken not their bodies and the exaggerated lips add more racist symbolism. The issue is not about being sensitive as if “people of color” are conditioned to turn the other cheek. http://www.radiorevisited.com/images/sets/AMOS%20&%20ANDY-7CD8.jpg
Thanks for the info. I’ll stay far away from this brand, and yes this is “racist”, were just expected to laugh it off and pretend it didn’t mean what it did. Sorry, but my mind can’t be played with like that.
Is the designer Latino?
the face paint is too obvious. it is not a full body tan, the lips seem to be emphasized as well. have to wonder what he was thinking, of even if he was thinking, when he chose to make this statement.
I don’t know what problem that Spain has been having lately with immigrants and the like, but they’ve been suffering from an acute case of XENPHOBIA lately. There have been several racist incidents in the past three years: the incident at the Olympics against the basketball teams, the Lewis Hamilton incident, racism at soccer events, etc. You name it they’ve done it. This incident at the fashion show is beyond ignorance and basically he’s saying that they don’t want Black models but they will wear black face. Spain racist and Slavery riddled past is rearing it’s ugly head. You think this is bad, try living as an individual of African descent in any of their former colonies. If you don’t look Castilian, you have no rights even if Slavery was abolished decades ago.
if it were just brown faces i could see this as an attempt at being artistic but the lips are making me question the motives behind this look. i am not amused or moved.
If he wanted “tanned” models, why didn’t he just choose models who were tan or women of color?? Or, spray tan, their whole bodies? But I guess that might damage the clothes? The “tan” faces and pasty body parts are not artistic to me…sorry :(
I think he should have thought about this before he did it since people are taking it very personally. But I think it was more making fun of the way people over tan, not trying him trying to be racist.
I’m with CiCi on this one. I think people are nitpicking and being too sensitive about it. Like I said, he should have thought about it more before he did this, but that doesn’t mean he’s racist. Just means he’s stupid . . . and not that great of a designer by looking at the the clothes
If he’s going to do all this, why not just hire Black models? And secondly, does he not find this to be taking us back to slave days/racism, etc.? I do not find this artistic at all.
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OH! come on if Miss Tyra Banks can change the ethnic appearance of her models on americas next top model then why cant a designer? NO one seemed to have a problem when she done it let me ask you this .Is it ok since Tyra is black?
@ speriorsixx Tyra is just looking for something to increase her ratings. She knows she won’t get as much backlash b/c she is black.
As for the fashion show – the makeup was not a cool gesture. Carlos Diez knew his clothing line wasn’t great so he decided to create buzz with the suggestive faces. Sad.
@ Cici we are sensitive b/c this subject is touchy ALL around the world. The world has a love/hate relationship with being black. Here are some hateful examples: Netherlands – Zwarte Piet , Iran – Hajji Firuz, South Africa – Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, UK – Papa Lazarou, U.S. – need I say?
It’s such an old “joke” and will forever be tiring.