Brooks Brothaz

more like "generations of bland white elitism"

I know I like to dig deep for evidence of racism sometimes, but I clicked the link that that image was once attached to, hoping that the Brooks Brothers's people would have some models who weren't white. Why? It might help illustrate that while they may possess the "style" of generations long since passed, they don't possess the same mindset. And as the "oldest surviving men's clothier in the United States [founded in 1818]*" you'd expect or at least hope for some change.

And they've delivered ... sort of. In that post-Obama binary kind of way that says "We may be old and uptight, but we're chummy with a sprinkling of black folk here and there!"

And when I say a sprinkling I really mean three black folks exactly:




So is this a step up or step down from brooks brothers in 2003 (courtesy of the WayBack Machine), when they were just using all the same canvas dummies instead of people? I'm really not sure. Still I am perplexed by how the inclusion of real models changes the entire message or branding of the product and at how there are many, many various caucasian models throughout the site. There is but one non-caucasian model per section (men, women, boys) and all three of those models are black. This goes for the print ads as well, and you have to wonder what they were after (I even checked Brooks Brothers Japan and its the same). I get the general idea of a target audience but when it comes to fashion and clothes I don't believe that there is such a thing. You want your clothes to sell. So don't limit your audience! And for God's sake don't think that you can mask your bias or "target" by chucking in some black people! I don't think that in the history of advertising, a skirt didn't sell because an Asian lady wore it in the catalog.

The same binary-type inclusion of black models as the only spare twinkle of minority presence is all over catalog and ad campaigns. Cases-in-point: abercrombie, target, american eagle.

I could go on but I'm lazy. Clearly, I'm not mad when I see black models get work but we could have more of this (Nordstroms) or this. I just dont think that effing GreatGlam of all places should outshine these people when it comes to projected diversity. But then again sluttiness and objectification is somewhat universal.

*thanks wikipedia!

In response to my last post

My Top 10

Chanel Iman and Jourdan Dunn

Tao Okamoto

Liya Kebede

Liu Wen

Lakshmi Menon

Kim Daul

Jarah Mariano

Omahyra Mota

Devon Aoki

Top Earning Models of "the world"???

VS.

According to Forbes (and graciously gisted by Newser), these are the The World's Top-Earning Models of The World:

1. Gisele Bundchen ($25 million, down $10 million from the previous year)
2. Heidi Klum ($16 million)
3. Kate Moss ($8.5 million)

4. Adriana Lima ($8 million)
5. Doutzen Kroes ($6 million)
6. Allesandra Ambrosio ($6 million)
7. Natalie Vodionova ($5.5 million)
8. Daria Webowy ($4.5 million)
9. Miranda Kerr ($3 million)
10. Carolyn Murphy ($3 million)

No matter how unsuprised I am by this list, I just hate the fact that these are the top earning models of "the world". Do I see the world here? No. And what percentage of the world do white or caucasian people actually make up? Are any of these models women of color? No.

Well, at least not if you count a spray tan. I'm not encouraged. And don't give me anything about Gisele and Adriana Lima being Brazilian. "Brazil is one of the most ethnically diverse places on the planet"... so why did Sao Paolo fashion week have to enforce (a very measly 10%) quota for black, African descendent, or indigenous models?

If these are the most recognizable sought after faces world-wide, then what message does that send to me or my future kids, or my family and my friends? What racial standards (beyond the twiggy, long legged etc.) has mass culture left unbroken for beauty? I'm sure these women are hard-working but it hurts to think of all the models of color who time and again are rejected from the high profile catwalks and spreads. And even when they are included, Non-caucasian models are often marginalized as exotic accents or shucked in to fill quotas.

And seriously, If the world of fashion prides itself on intelligently selected control of what's in and whats out then it should stop ignorantly rejecting the entire market of non-white consumers. Just sayin'.

A Big Reason Why I Fucking Love the Holidays

This time of year is the fucking best. All of that good holiday cheer just puts everyone in the right mood. Even Banana Republic...

Yes, that WASP-y corporate business-casual conglomerate has rung in the season with some real love on their part. And by love I mean interracial love, and by interracial love I mean excellent winter ad campaign:

(my sincerest apologies for the shitacular PhotoBooth quality of these "scans")

Finally, an interracial ad campaign that is so understated that the interraciality should pass unnoticed (except by the hyper-conscious, aka moi). It's beautiful, elegant, candid even. And the best part is that we're presented with a black woman who is not packaged with token exoticism or any visual stereotypes. She simply is. There in all her prettiness just as she should be. All other designers/campaigns take heed. Yes, we can.

Now, if only we could make the inverted relationship (white woman, black man) come across a little better than the "LeBron Kong" of April's Vogue cover.