Elle France's Black Fashion Power Article Sparks Controversy

Filed Under: Icky Icky Poo Fashion Smashion Francophilia Michelle Obama Elle

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Oh dear.

Elle France has found themselves in the midst of a controversy thanks to Nathalie Dolivo's racist article titled Black Fashion Power.

To make a long story short, Dolivo praises Michelle Obama's chic style and credits FLOTUS for giving the black community a reason to dress up in non-streetwear clothes.

Really.

Nathalie digs her hole even deeper by writing:

"But if in 2012 the “black-geoisie” has integrated all the white codes, it does not [do so] literally. [There] is always a classic twist, with a bourgeois ethnic reference (a batik-printed turban/robe, a shell necklace, a ‘créole de rappeur’) that recalls the roots."

After a slew of angry comments, Elle finally took the article down on Wednesday, but not before their managing editor offered an explanation on their Facebook page. Here's the loose translation:

"The idea of the article "Fashion Black Power," attacked by some users, was born the following observation: today, muses that excite the fashion, the girls the most advanced of the moment, those who give " the "who are in the forefront of fashion, who squat red carpets are black women. The phenomenon is first and foremost American, as the likes of Nicki Minaj, Solange Knowles and Zoe Saldana are American. It seemed obvious that he had to deal with this phenomenon, as we deal with regularly in our pages, like other cultural phenomena, societal or fashion such that the new beurgeoisie, or the emergence of Asian designers who are the rising stars of fashion US (Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Thakoon, Prabal Gurung).

This "movement" also coincides with the mandate Obama. Michelle, his wife, has a major influence in terms of stylistic women, and women of the black community in
particular. It seems to us interesting to note is also the case for example for Kate Middleton, in Britain, which has literally boosted the British textile industry and in his time Jackie Kennedy, another icon of the white house that inspired so many women.

Of course black women did not wait for the advent of Obama for the style. This is not what is said in the article, since it is referred to as at other times in high style. And the aim was not to generalize all black women were not followers of the US street wear up to what they adopt a style more fashion! We felt that it went without saying …

Of course, the article may give the impression of a distorting mirror because it is not in fact provide a comprehensive picture of the black community and its relationship to fashion, always and eternity. This is a photograph, a snapshot, a focus on a rather sharp at one point, for black women but also the fashion in general. We are sorry that this will, however, to place these beautiful women who inspire us, has been misinterpreted, because our intention was not to stereotypes or erroneous racist, but rather to highlight an exciting movement, rich and meaningful. As is often the mode."

So far no comments from Nathalie.

Thoughts???

Tags: black fashion power, black-geoisie, blog, controversial, elle, elle france, nathalie dolivo