In the fashion world, there is one asset you require above the rest, taste. It is what one needs in order to truly become a master like Yves Saint Laurent, Miuccia Prada or Nicolas Ghesquière. In fact, it might be even more important than talent, but luckily these three have both of these assets helping to make them the true tastemakers. But the devision of the industry that struggles most of all with this seems to be magazines.
Which leads me to the anniversary issue of Vogue Japan that celebrates 15 years of the publication this November. Shot by Vogue favourite Mario Testino, the cover features Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr dressed in a tradition geisha outfit staring into the camera with a sly look as if she herself is asking, “is this tasteful?”.
While to some it might not be tasteful and to others it might not be tasteless, I just find it tacky. And who wants that taste left in their mouth?
“Fashion can be bought but style one must possess” right? I agree with you on this cover. It’s extremely culturally insensitive, just one step away from racist even… Vogue should know better. Or dress a model in kimono but don’t make a white woman up as though she were Asian. There’s a way to showcase these textiles and fashions without mocking the origin culture.