Vogue under fire for another ‘blackface’ editorial

When will fashion brands and magazines come to realize that not alienating a large segment of their possible market is far more advantageous to their bottom line than, say, the potential to be avant-guard or cutting edge? Because in actual fact, what is so cutting edge about "blackface?"

Blackface has been around since the 19th century and has its roots in racist performance theatre. Makeup would be used by white actors in minstrel shows, who would dress up and perform black racial stereotypes, often unflattering. Needless to say, the history behind blackface runs long and deep.

Yet here we are. The year 2013 -- and a recent Vogue Netherlands editorial for their May 2013 issue is raising eyebrows.

The spread, entitled "Heritage Heroes," features a white model with her face painted black. If that's not bad enough, she's also sporting an afro wig. Because really, why should Vogue bother hiring a black model who has an actual afro?

The intention behind the Vogue spread was to honour the "tribal" influences in Marc Jacobs's work for Louis Vuitton in his fall 2008 and spring 2009 seasons. Jacobs took inspiration from black celebrities like Grace Jones and Josephine Baker, reports Jezebel.

Sadly, blackface in fashion is far from new. It originated in 2009 with a spread from Vogue Paris and something very similar to blackface appeared in Numero's "African Queen" editorial spread this February.

"The blackface trend is so old, in fashion terms, that it's even been copied by America's Next Top Model," writes Laura Beck for Jezebel.

Do you think spreads like this one are fashionable or just plain racist? Let us know in the comments below.