Is Black Face the New Black?

By Jorge Rivas Nov 02, 2009

New York photographer Mario Sorrenti shoots for the biggest fashion magazines like W, Vogue, and V Magazine regularly. He’s had his work exhibited at the MoMa in New York and has shot huge international campaigns like the Calvin Klein Obsession ads with Kate Moss. He recently photographed models Sasha Pivovarova and Heidi Mount for the latest issue of V, which hits newsstands tomorrow. One of the models is wearing one of the latest new trends: black face. In the past few months we’ve seen ads, editorials in fashion magazines and even Tyra Banks! putting models in black face. It’s happening so often now that I don’t know what to think. Are people just ignorant to the history of black face? Is it the lack of models of color in the industry? Will more André Leon Talley’s help? Fashion Week Daily, a fashion news blog, asked their readers what they thought and you’ll be happy to hear that 51% of readers think it’s inappropriate to put models in black face… but, that means 49% of the people who voted think it can potentially work if it’s done "tastefully."

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