dello russo under fire
The drama never ends.
Vogue can't seem to catch a break in the minefield of political correctness. Not long enough after the Vogue Italia "slave earrings" fiasco, Vogue Japan editor Anna Dello Russo faces criticism for creating more racial ripples in the world of fashion magazines. The latest installment in a string of fashionable slip-ups sees stunning plus sized model Crystal Renn styled by Dello Russo to feign a more Asian appearance for a behind-the-scenes video of a Dolce and Gabbana story found in the latest issue. With a helping hand from ever-reliable beauty tape, the skin around Renn's eyes was tightened and taped to create a more almond-like shape before posing for her life in front of photographer Giampaolo Sgura.
Whatever emotion the Asian Crystal Renn ignites (we're putting our money on confusion and insult as the top two) it can't be denied that she looks flawless in the delightfully eighties-inspired D&G garb, and would have looked no less so had her eyes been left to their natural form. So, why the tape? More to the point, why not just use an Asian model the first place? Dello Russo's use of tape to replicate a facial characteristic has been met with quite a few raised eyebrows, but perhaps it's best to label it it all as an avant-garde experiment (albeit a misguided one) with form rather than a blatant insult. The fashion industry is, of course, no stranger to body modification, (just ask Lady Gaga) and while the line can potentially be drawn at 'black-facing', the frontiers of design campaigns are in constant flux; without some level of push, there would be no industry!
When it comes to fashion, are we becoming altogether too sensitive, too hung up on finicky details? Perhaps, in this day and age, it's best to work on toughening our hide rather than further developing our political correctness radar, especially when it comes to sublime clothing.
Lucy Rennick
