Vogue Italia is catching a lot of slack with their 2012 March cover and editorial entitled "Haute Mess" photographed by Steven Meisel. Beautiful model Joan Smalls is the first woman of color to grace the cover since July 2008. Many feel this was not the best way for Vogue Italia to showcase a woman of color on the cover after all this time (source).
I do see the stereotypes, but I take fashion really light. If you want to get technical, I see a representation of almost ALL nationalities in this spread. Although I would've wanted a better "theme" for Joan, you can't help but find this editorial interesting.
Fashion Faux Pas
Them: I got highlights! You: No, you got stripes!
I've had Twix and Skittles on the brain before,
but thankfully not this (above). LOL
A Burger King crown, McDonalds drink, Popeye's chicken box (below).
(I wonder if these companies know about this editorial) HaHaHa
but thankfully not this (above). LOL
A Burger King crown, McDonalds drink, Popeye's chicken box (below).
(I wonder if these companies know about this editorial) HaHaHa
Louis Vuitton Logo Eyeshadow (above)! YES indeed! LOL
Makes me want to ditch my LV Speedy bag! HAHAHA
I love cupcakes (below), but this just...
Well, I don't want cupcakes now. Or cheese doodles/puffs! LOL
What about your friends? LOL
One has a toxic/poison symbol on her forehead! HAHAHA
Easter IS coming but...
Oh Steven! What have you done? HaHaHa
...and here is Joan. Compared to the others she looks tame!
To see this editorial in it's entirety click HERE.
Over the top? Racist? Poor taste? Just fashion! What's your take?
Have you ever witnessed a Haute Mess? HaHaHa
I almost forgot! There's a video! If you want to see an IHop hairdo! LMFAO
...and the WINNER of the Vitabath In Bloom Giveaway is...
Sharon of The Tiny Heart
Congratulations Sharon! Enjoy the Beach Blossom!
Remember to incorporate your win in a blog post.
Look for an email from me :)
Remember to incorporate your win in a blog post.
Look for an email from me :)
Oh dear... Can you imagine doing your grocery shop looking like that? Neither can I. Though I am of course aware that that's not what this was intended for... Have a great week xo
ReplyDeleteWell............. this is certainly an interesting spread. It's a bit weird for my taste. I think if I saw this in Vogue I'd probably get wide-eyed and then just move on.
ReplyDeleteSarah
www.comingunstitched.com
Strange but interesting! Have a good week kim:)
ReplyDelete~Anne
I think it could have been better to be honest. I don't think they did a great job on it, considering all the other past covers and ideas. But, I have heard from many people of the racist ways in Italy. But, I like you, see many different nationalities in here. If the model thought something was wrong, maybe she would have said something, but I don't know considering she would have been paid. That oreo one at the bottom is a funky mess, hahah! Don't like that one at all. love the colours and what not, but I think it's poor compared to other work I've seen featured!! They would most def have to pay me to get dressed up like this,hahaha!! Would have been nice to see the first feature cover for her be a better theme, but I still think it's funny! Have a sweet day doll!! x
ReplyDeletei LOVE anything overthetop! this is a great spread lol
ReplyDeletehave a great start to ur week!
congrats sharon!
xo
MosaMuse
MosaMuse.blogspot.com
You always fine the most delicious fashion pictures!! hahaha I hear you about having twix on the brain ;) Yum!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a wonderful weekend!!
Haha what an interesting editorial! I feel like in fashion, there's really no rules any more and anything goes. So even if you're wearing something really crazy, you just might be able to pull it off and make it chic!
ReplyDeleteEmailed you back Kim, thanks so much for the giveaway win :)
-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Oh wow... I won't be able to look at cupcakes or cheesy puffs the same!
ReplyDeleteWow is all I can say. . . it's weird, interesting, a bit outrageous and yummy at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great weekend Kim!
Red Soles and Red Wine
My goodness, these are over the top. I definitely can't pull the looks off. I imagine I'll look like a drag queen at a buskers fair of some kind or carnival!
ReplyDeleteinteresting dear
ReplyDeletewww.mrs-ca.blogspot.com
They really let their creative minds run wild on this one. Still on the fence weather to like or dislike the editorial.
ReplyDeletesoooo this is supposed to deter people from wanting to eat junk food, right? RIGHT?
ReplyDelete♥ laura
the blog of worldly delights
This is hilarious! I appreciate light hearted well done art! Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteWow. Crazy. I kinda like it, though :D I never take fashion too seriously, I mean, it's a form of art, right? :)
ReplyDeleteLaura, I just loved that comment :D
xoxo ♥
"Have you ever looked at someone and said, dayuum...she/he is a Haute Hot Mess?" everyday i look into mirror!! lol mommys dont get to look cute!
ReplyDeletei love these post alot of these are super cute!!
What a fun photo shoot I love everything mixed together the candy and the pink brows especially.
ReplyDeletelol!i don't see racism in this..i have seen hot messes but these are interesting?haha..i think people need to start seeing beyond colour in general and not make a fuss about it like this..
ReplyDeleteArt is always art in the eye of the beholder, I guess! Doesn't make the fashion very appealing for sure! But if the point was to create a sensation ... score!!!! hahaha Hi Kim! Hope you had a great weekend, sweets! xoxoxo Thanks for the Monday wake-up! ;)
ReplyDeleteSandy at Ooh La Frou Frou
http://oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com
OMG! Why?? I am spechless Lol! <3<3
ReplyDeletei saw this series a few weeks ago and thought it was so strange. i love steven meisel, but i just didn't get this.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim,
ReplyDeleteWOW these images are the epitomy of a HOT or Haute Mess. LOL
I would say over the top tacky. A bit much for my taste. Hope you have a great start to your week. :)
Maria
http://onestyleatatime.blogspot.com/
Call me old fashion but this is really not my style. I think it is really silly and not worth. But on the other hand there might be people who loves this type of thing.
ReplyDeletewww.thoughtsofpaps.com
This is a very interesting concept. I'm not sure if I like it yet..
ReplyDeleteRhe
rhestyle.com
LOLZ...Stephen Meisel has done it again! His work has never been contemporary:P I actually kinda like this editorial, and I'm a "minority".
ReplyDeleteMy friend and I were just talking about this. While I think fashion is fun and push limits, I think this has gone over the edge. You know I love my discussions! I agree that it shows unfortunate sides to many races, but I think it was more of a slap to American culture in general. Who knows? Vogue Italia has been known to make some racist comments before such as the "slave hoops" issue.
ReplyDeleteSo crazy, fun and absolutely fabulous! Put a huge smile on my face! xxx
ReplyDeleteTHis controversy is crazy! But not as crazy as these images, love the inspiration!
ReplyDeletexx Missy
www.myconcretecatwalk.com
your blog is really very sweet :)
ReplyDeletexx the cookies
samecookiesdifferent.blogspot.com
share the feeling
visit <33
I found it a great idea, and an amazing photoshoting, out of common of course but a funny one.
ReplyDeleteWhoa, dude. I can't decide if I am craving sugar or choosing to swear sugar off forever because I have been scarred for life.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
it's a bit much for me, but i can make out some of the pretty faces under all that mess, lol!
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
i think they were going for just creative fashion though. and when you look at only ONE piece of clothing or ONE piece of jewelry at a time, its actually amazing! all they did was overexaggerate and overpile everything i think.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess, not sure there's anything haute about it. I have to agree with some others that if the models were uncomfortable with the concept perhaps they would have spoken up? I would hope so. The eye make up and nails are just too much for me...wow.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...this is an interesting spread, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteNice blog, love! Wanna follow mine?
Simply follow me, and then comment on any of my posts to let me know that you’re following. After that, I’ll follow you back 100%.
Thanks!
nialangleyspeaks.blogspot.com
do not like :/
ReplyDeletehonestly, i'm pretty much on your side with this being OK. and i totally love the actual cover. but i am turned off by the photo with the popeyes and the pregnant belly. i could have done without that image.
ReplyDeletebtw, i got the necklace and it will be featured in an upcoming blog post!
thanks again, luv.
Oh heavens. I don't know about this spread...normally I can excuse anything in the name of coutoure or art or whatever. But to me this is must plain ugly.
ReplyDelete<3 cambria
jupefashion.blogspot.com
omg that is too funny!!! those girls look like straight outta a crayola box!! lol... and those nails!! dont even get me started!! :) nice post kim!! ♥
ReplyDeleteOh My Goodness! The horrific make-up, I know this is Vogue but it does looks really trashy. There are lesser known fashion magazines out there that do a much better job than this.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't expecting the pictures to move- I must admit it freaked me out a bit! ;) Love the styling in this shot-very avante garde (although I like stripey hair- it's pretty funky in my books!)
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is WOW! Way over the top! But very fun to look at!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Shels
http://followyourbliss4ever.blogspot.com/
omg LOL oh how i've missed seeing the painted eyebrows. haven't seen those since the 90s! the twix headdress is making me a bit hungry tho hahahahaa
ReplyDeletethose pictures are so cool, so avant garde! good to see your blog again Kim! :-)
ReplyDeleteBabi
www.whenbabispeaks.com
lol.. well they say fashion is art... and they really made art out of this. What a great post, kim. =)
ReplyDeleteOh wow!! This was very different but I guess that's what makes it interesting. It got me looking and interested in the spread.
ReplyDeleteVogue Italia is slowly but surely going in the way of 'obsolete' to me. Alot of their editorials for the past year dont seem to have much substance and are done purely for shock value. Didnt like this but I think I'm quite a bit biased lol.
ReplyDeleteEeli
Wow. I have to say, I find that almost all Vogue publications are fading into obsolescence - Anna Wintour hasn't been ahead of the curve for years, and this bizarre editorial from Vogue Italia just screams of an editorial team trying far too hard to get attention. What a shame that this had to be the spread that featured Joan Smalls. But still, no matter what hideous get-up she is dressed in, she is a truly stunning woman, and nothing can detract from that.
ReplyDeletexox,
Cee
omg. too. much! I have no idea these gorg girls could look so wt!
ReplyDeletexoxo navy & orange
Wow - it is definitely a haute mess! It is certainly different, but hmm not what I would do with my Twix bar!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Chic 'n Cheap Living
I am going to have to check out this editorial--looks too funny!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
I don't find this offensive, I think it was meant just to entertain. I also wish Joan Smalls could have been on a cover that showcased more of her natural beauty. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteLynn
CARMEN VOGUE
I don't find this offensive, I think it was meant just to entertain. I also wish Joan Smalls could have been on a cover that showcased more of her natural beauty. Interesting post!
ReplyDeleteLynn
CARMEN VOGUE
Joan looks fabulous as always but oh boy all I have to say about the editorial is that it's a haute mess indeed!
ReplyDeletefun photos, kim! i don't take fashion seriously eitiher. i have fun with it... love the twix headpiece!! lol!
ReplyDeletehugs,
jasmine