Given the dearth of black representation in the American fashion industry, models of African descent featured in magazine spreads or editorial photo shoots are generally accompanied with a moderate amount of buzz. American
Vogue's January issue is no different, featuring models Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman. Under the theme "magical realism," the models are sporting the most sartorial trends of spring fashion. However, reading the captions, I got a sense that the editorial board thought it would be "cool" or "clever" to play off of the 'blackness' of the models by using phrases like "wrap star" or "a tribe called dress." Might I mention that the spread had nothing to do with "hip-hop" style, a link that was forcibly made with text. If this month's spread featured white models, would the editors utilize the same captions to frame the clothes? Or is reading and addressing the corporeal blackness of the models a necessary act to frame the insertion of color in a magazine for a mostly white base of readers? A few months ago,
Vogue posited the self-critical question, "
Is fashion racist?". Maybe not racist, but certainly
racializing. Comments are most certainly welcome.
