Lie Sang Bong Paints Models' Faces Brown For Fall 2012 Show (PHOTOS, POLL)

On the last day of Paris Fashion Week, as most editors packed up their bags and took that one last swig of champagne, Korean designer Lie Sang Bong presented his Fall 2012 collection.

For the new season, Lie Sang Bong sent out an eclectic set of dresses and jackets, covered with everything from polka dots and feathers to fur and leather. But one thing united the models on the runway: all had carefully painted brown splotches covering the middle of their faces.

Lie, who counts Lady Gaga and Rihanna as fans, told AFP that the collection was about time travel and a moody kind of darkness. He didn't specifically mention his choice of face makeup, however, which figured prominently in the runway show.

The maquillage recalls similar fashion shoots featuring brown face paint, several of which have landed editors and stylists in hot water. Tyra Banks came under fire for painting her "America's Next Top Model' contestants in what many viewers identified as blackface. Vogue Paris also got heat for the blackface treatment it gave Lara Stone in 2009. And just last year, French magazine L'Officiel was questioned for darkening Beyonce's face, stating that the inspiration was "a return to [Beyonce's] African roots."

Check out Lie Sang Bong's models below. Does the face paint strike you as troublesome?

Quick Poll

Lie Sang Bong's painted faces are...

OFFENSIVE. Blackface is never accceptable.

NO BIG DEAL. Just a designer getting creative with makeup.

VOTE

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Comments

[SuperHeretic]

10:26 AM on 08/16/2012

Look. I'm a person of color. I think the writer of this article is over-reacting.

It's not like the "black-face" of the old Amus and Andy serials.

[Milagros RamosElkins]

06:05 PM on 08/11/2012

Guys, I dont think he was going for racial overtones AT ALL. Even if he was trying to make these models seem to be having darker skin, black people aren't the only people in the world who are dark, what about Indians? Anyways, the whole black face became a symbol of racism, not just because of how it looked, but the character being portrayed in black face. It was the whole package, and yet a blackened face is what most people attach with it. What about pale lipstick, white gloves and exaggerated singing and dancing? Those must be racist too because they were also part of the character's act. There's a difference between mockery and emulation, even imitation as flattery. Learn the difference.

[Nolasusan]

04:41 PM on 08/04/2012

At first (being a white woman from New Orleans) I wanted to say WTF! But, now, after all these years (65+); and, yes, I lived through the ending of segregation and so forth, I also have accumulated a little bit of art history/appreciation. Now, when an artist/designer does these type of things, we just have to try to see what he did from his perspective. We don't have to like it, but at least we must look at what he was trying to say. And, in this case, it certainly did not appear racist, just trying to make a statement. Personally, I don't even think the designer is aware of "black face".

Just my 2 cents worth.

[MostlyAnon]

08:25 AM on 06/26/2012

I really don't think this is offensive, to me it looks more like the designer was trying to make the models part of the design, some of the clothes have large spots or patches of colour and to me this is simply an extension of that especially as the brown splotches are not perfectly circular or oval. Some people see things and shout racism before even checking to see if the people they believe should be offended, actually are offended.

[Dixiedoo]

08:50 PM on 06/06/2012

It's really beautiful, I think. The sort of elliptical geometric design raises the whole "make-up" thing to to fine art. Provocative because it makes you interpret the whole body of design. I like it.

[adaiahtodd]

07:05 PM on 05/30/2012

its not cool its pointless and yes it is offensive! Why not use all black models!!!

[jorlin123]

01:36 AM on 08/10/2012

I dont think that was the point. The designer was not trying to make the models another race.

[Rodney Patterson]

07:20 AM on 05/19/2012

Not really blackface, more like pie face

[anen87]

11:15 PM on 04/26/2012

I think it looks cool

[1Medsurgnurse]

02:46 PM on 04/26/2012

how about I create a fashion show with old women hunched over carrying kids eating rice with eyeliner pointing out to their ears to symbolize the slanted eyes that most Asians have....would you consider that fashion.....please

[jenniferbaugh]

08:34 PM on 06/17/2012

wouldn't that create a negative stereotype? That's not what their doing here, wasn't black-face offensive in the past because it created the insulting stereotype associating black people with a clown like character? I don't usually think of beautiful people held up on a pedestal wearing the height of fashion in front of a bunch of celebrities to be negative stereotype, which is what is being associated with black people in this case, if that(I'm getting more of a Renaissance art feel from it what with the shading). If you associate ANYBODY with negative, insulting characteristics of course they'ed be offended.

[Itzamirakul]

05:19 PM on 03/29/2012

It is offensive. OK, "Chink" designer - let's give all the models yellow skin and slanty eyes. Why didn't you choose to do THAT? BOY, A little freedom and it doesn't take these new immgrants any time to show their racism.

[Jill in NYC]

02:58 PM on 03/10/2012

What was his point? Putting white models in blackface is just as silly as putting black models in whiteface. I don't get it.

[smart and hot]

09:32 AM on 03/10/2012

What I find interesting about this and other recent articles from HP is that most of these "atrocious, racist actions" are coming from other countries who do not necessarily have the same history that we have in the US. As a black woman from the South, I did not find any of the pictures I viewed as racist and like many others who have commented the only question I have is why not hire black or ethnic models or just get custom made masks.

[takethetime]

08:40 AM on 03/30/2012

I have to totally agree with you...why ??

[aaronarakawa]

05:41 PM on 04/09/2012

exaaactly. like the whole french vogue issue back from 2009. Lara stone had a tan, but it wasnt even the classic black face that the acting business use to do decades ago. and, american vogue gave caroline trentini a dark tan in the september 2008 issue, but no one said anything about it. i honestly find the contouring of this makeup to be quite well done. it wasnt done with the intention to make it "black face". like, if someone goes to the beach and gets a tan, does that make them racist??

[adaiahtodd]

07:09 PM on 05/30/2012

What does getting a tan have to do with it?!!! BLAckface was meant to degrade BLack people point !!!!!......THerefore it is offensive!!!

[Abby Haley]

03:49 AM on 03/10/2012

I understand how one could be offended. It seems like the choice for a dark-mask look was used intentionally to be just taboo enough to spark interest and safe enough to not be considered overtly racist. And I must say, it works because it caught my attention. But I also think the concept is intriguing and beautiful.
Would have loved to have seen darker skinned models with white faces in addition to the models shown. In my opinion that would balance it visually while create an interesting contrast. But then again I'm not doing make-up for runway shows...

[parisnoire]

05:19 PM on 03/10/2012

Allow me to be your first fan! Well articulated comment!

[Abby Haley]

12:03 PM on 03/11/2012

Thank you! You just made my day

[Dixiedoo]

08:55 PM on 06/06/2012

I'm usually very political and sensitive about racism, and yet I find this nowhere near blackface and not offensive at all. It's like modern art on the face. Would we be arguing racism if he used others colors? Seriously, I think this could be a great new trend if you don't try so hard to politicize it.

[Veneita]

08:09 AM on 03/09/2012

Weird. I don't know if it's offensive but it is odd

[Midwest Thinker]

08:37 PM on 03/08/2012

The brown face keeps us distracted from looking at the fashions--which are pretty so-so.