Victoria"s Secret Accused of Cultural Appropriation Again

Hands To Myself/Me & My Girls - Medley (Live from the Victoria’s Secret 2015 Fashion Show)

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria"s Secret

Victoria"s Secret is in trouble again.

The lingerie giant has been accused of cultural appropriation during its annual fashion show. A writer from Cosmopolitan claims some of the outfits showcased during the extravaganza were racist. In an essay that since has been deleted, writer Helin Jung criticized the Asian and Mexican influences that inspired some of the Angels" luxurious looks and claimed the company held a condescending attitude toward its Asian customers.

"Stripping of cultures aside, the emblems that stood out most were the ones that came from Asiaspecifically China," she wrote.

Dominique Charriau/Getty Images for Victoria"s Secret

"The dragon that Elsa Hosk wore wrapped around her body, the embroidered stiletto boots seen on Adriana Lima, the tail made of flames worn by Kendall Jenner. There"s a lot of talk of China as a dominant world power of the 21st century, and the U.S. government, Hollywood, and now Victoria"s Secret, it seems, are pivoting to face a new reality. But the Orientalism on display here doesn"t show an understanding or an attempt at dialogue. It doesn"t close any gaps."

Jung continued, "The brand and its creative leads shamelessly cherry-picked imagery, breaking apart aesthetic references from wherever they wanted and stitching them back together again. They"re telling us its worldliness. It"s not, it"s a hack job."

E! News has reached out to Victoria"s Secret for comment.

Victoria"s Secret came under fire for cultural appropriation in 2012 when Karlie Kloss donned Native American-style headdresses. The company ended up pulling the footage from broadcast and apologized on Twitter. "We are sorry that the Native American headdress in our fashion show has upset individuals," the company tweeted at the time. "The outfit will be removed from the broadcast."

Kloss also apologized. "I am deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone," she tweeted. "I support VS"s decision to remove the outfit from the broadcast."

Source: http://www.eonline.com/news/813233/victoria-s-secret-accused-of-cultural-appropriation-again

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Battle of the Fashion Parties, Paris: Victoria"s Secret vs. Pirelli Calendar

The Weeknd - Can’t Feel My Face (Live From The Victoria’s Secret 2015 Fashion Show)

Photo: Photos by Getty Images, collage by Biel Parklee.

While the art world was in Miami Beach at Art Basel, most of the fashion industry was in Paris this week at dueling mega-events. On Tuesday night, the Pirelli Calendar hosted a black tie gala in honor of photographer Peter Lindbergh"s calendar for 2017, which features un-retouched images of mostly makeup-less actresses like Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Lupita N"yongo. The following night, Victoria"s Secret held their annual fashion show in the same city, along with a party to follow. This is how they each did Paris.

Location, location, locationPirelli: The Cit du Cinma, a hangarlike film studio located in Saint-Denis in the north of Paris. After a 40-minute drive from the city"s center, guests were dropped off in a parking lot to check in at a tent. Then, they were bussed to the film studio, which was decorated with enormous blow-ups of Peter Lindbergh"s calendar pictures.Victoria"s Secret: The Grand Palais in Paris. The epic venue is a mainstay for large-scale, over-the-top events, like the Chanel Fashion Show. For this occasion, there was Victoria"s Secret branding was everywhere. Three large signs hung from the facade, and a neon Victoria"s Secret sign sat in the center of the space. You did not show up to the wrong party.

SecurityPirelli: Three check points and cursory scan of your bag.Victoria"s Secret: More than 8. I lost count. Bags were opened and inspected at least three times. Despite the cold weather, guests also opened their jackets and walked through a metal detector. Government-issued photo ID was required. Again, you did not show up to the wrong party.

TribesPirelli: Hollywood actresses hobnobbed with Pirelli executives. Victoria"s Secret: Supermodels, former models, and an impressive turnout from the French fashion set.

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At the 2016 Victoria"s Secret After Party, It Was All About the n***d Dress

The A-ListPirelli: Photographer Peter Lindbergh was joined by four actresses who appeared in the calendar: Nicole Kidman, Helen Mirren, Uma Thurman, and Charlotte Rampling. Victoria"s Secret: Gigi and Bella Hadid"s parents Yolanda and Mohamed Hadid sat front row next to Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing and models Veronica Webb, Lottie Moss, and Gabriel Kane-Day Lewis. Also in the front row: designer Azzedine Alaia, Givenchy"s Riccardo Tisci, editor Carine Roitfeld, Vogue Paris editor Emmanuelle Alt, former Victoria"s Secret angel Doutzen Kroes and TV personality Nick Cannon.

Pre-game of choicePirelli: A press conference with Peter Lindbergh at the Ritz, with a beautiful tea service.Victoria"s Secret: Three full days of festivities, kicking off with a private flight from New York, and followed by a series of photo ops.

Best sparkly dressPirelli: Nicole Kidman takes it in silver Armani Priv. Victoria"s Secret: It"s a toss up between Bella Hadid and Alessandra Ambrosio.

MusicPirelli: A lone DJ playing Euro-y EDM. He turned down all requests, even for Rihanna.Victoria"s Secret: While the fashion show included performances by the Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars, the afterparty consisted of a DJ playing hits that were danceable but a bit past their prime (Kanye"s "Flashing Lights").

Drink of choicePirelli: Champagne, followed by lots of wine. Victoria"s Secret: A mysterious blue cocktail served to guests upon arrival.

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Images From the 2017 Pirelli Calendar

SouvenirsPirelli: Every single guest left the Pirelli calendar gala with a calendar of dimensions nearly impossible to carry onto a plane. Victoria"s Secret: Photos and videos taken discretely on phones, to be released after the show ended. Is there any better takeaway than going viral?

After partyPirelli: Guests carrying the aforementioned calendars made their way to the bar at the Ritz perhaps a few left theirs behind.Victoria"s Secret: Ferdi Paris, home to the best burger in the city of lights. Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid pre-ordered their cheeseburgers in advance.

Watch Victoria"s Secret Angel Jasmine Tookes try on the $3 million fantasy bra:

Source: http://www.wmagazine.com/story/battle-of-the-fashion-parties-paris-edition-victorias-secret-vs-pirelli-calendar

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