This is still happening. It really shouldn't be.
That's May 2013, not, say May 1913 — and even then, it would have likely been viewed as inappropriate. (The magazine's stylists also left the model with wild, unkempt black hair.)
The debacle marks the latest in an unfortunately long line of fashion folks appropriating blackface for "edgy" shoots, flagrant publicity stunts and, perhaps worst of all, simply because actual black models remain scarce enough that finding one is a hassle. Here, a roundup including many of the worst recent (and some repeat) offenders.
May 2013, Vogue Netherlands
Model Querelle Jansen (here without blackface, for reference) wearing Louis Vuitton — and styled to represent Vuitton designer Marc Jacobs' inspiration for each outfit, Josephine Baker and Grace Jones respectively.
Via: fashionbombdaily.com
February 2013, Numéro
American model Ondria Hardin for a Numéro editorial titled, yes, "African Queen." (Again, here's Ondria without the blackface.) After an understandable backlash, the French magazine offered a fauxpology to the Huffington Post: "Numéro has always supported the artistic freedom of the talented photographers who work with the magazine to illustrate its pages, and has not took part in the creation process of this editorial. For its part, Numéro magazine, which has the utmost respect for this photographer’s creative work, firmly excludes that the latest may have had, at any moment, the intention to hurt readers’ sensitivity, whatever their origin."
(The photographer in question, Sebastian Kim, later offered an apology of his own, blaming the editorial's "unfortunate" title for "people's [sic] misconceptions.")
November 2012, Illamasqua Australia
This bizarre Christmas promotion from the ad team at Illamasqua Australia features not only just blackface but, as Jezebel notes sharp suiting and accessories very similar to those of minstrel show performers. (Related/unrelated — take your pick — this spring's Australian Fashion Week runways featured only one model of color.)
Via: jezebel.com
