Who: Lara Stone
What: Magazine photo shoot
When: November 2009
Where: French Vogue
Why you should care:
This month’s French Vogue features a spread with one of my favorites, Dutch model, Lara Stone. Celebrated in the fashion world for being “so different” Stone is a size 4/6, has a gap in her teeth, and (surprise) has breasts. Basically, she is – wait for it – a woman! Toss in the editor-in-chief of French Vogue, Carine Roitfeld (also one of my favorites), and you have a win/win situation. Except when Roitfeld pushes the envelope a little too far. Known for her penchant to shake things up, the editrix decided to paint Stone’s entire body brown. Now, Roitfeld is French, so she may not have fully understood said implications when she ok’d the spread, but photographer Steven Meisel, born and bred in America, should have. I’m not claiming blatant racism; I’m just saying that maybe people should think things through next time. As Jezebel says, “painting white people black for the entertainment of other white people is offensive.” What do you think? Were Roitfeld and Meisel intentionally racist? Is this even blackface? Let me know in the comments.
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