Victoria's Secret 'Sexy Little Geisha' Outfit Sparks Backlash (PHOTOS, POLL)

Victoria's Secret's troubles are usually limited to Photoshop fails, of which they've committed many. But the lingerie retailer has hit a snag of a different kind, offending customers with a misguided new product: the "Sexy Little Geisha" outfit.

Part of Victoria's Secret "Go East" collection, the "Sexy Little Geisha" outfit consists of a mesh teddy with "Eastern-inspired" floral print fabric on the bra cups and crotch, plus a coordinating (and removable!) obi belt. The matching fan and chopsticks, which South African model Candice Swanepoel sports in the product shot, are included. The entire get-up, the website writes, is "your ticket to an exotic adventure."

The negative reactions began several weeks ago. On Racialicious, Nina Jacinto took Victoria's Secret to task for essentializing Asian identity and reducing "Eastern" culture to a stereotype of exotic sexuality. "It’s a narrative that says the culture can be completely stripped of its realness in order to fulfill our fantasies of a safe and non-threatening, mysterious East," she argues. Done at the corporate level, "it’s a troubling attempt to sidestep authentic representation and humanization of a culture and opt instead for racialized fetishizing against Asian women."

The Frisky concurred: "Considering the complicated history of geishas, repurposing the [geisha] 'look' for a major corporation to sell as role-playing lingerie seems a bit tasteless."

Victoria's Secret has responded to the protests, if only tacitly: type in the URL for the Sexy Little Geisha product page and it redirects you to VictoriasSecret.com. In fact all the product pages for the "Go East" collection, including the Printed Chiffon Robe we highlighted last month, now simply redirect to the Victoria's Secret homepage.

Removing the products will probably appease critics... as long as Victoria's Secret avoids similar missteps. Otherwise they could be the next Urban Outfitters with a reputation for offending various religious, racial and ethnic groups at every turn.

Do you find the "Sexy Little Geisha" offensive or totally innocuous?

Quick Poll

Victoria's Secret "Sexy Little Geisha" outfit:

TASTELESS! The use of such stereotypes is offensive.

NO BIG DEAL. They probably meant no harm.

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See more fashion products that caused drama...

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• Victoria's Secret

  As part of the brand's "Far East" collection, the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/24/victorias-secret-geisha-outfit-photos_n_1909366.html" target="_blank">"Sexy Little Geisha"</a> outfit came complete with a removable obi belt.

• Urban Outfitters

  Retailer gets in trouble for its "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/urban-outfitters-jewish-star-tshirt_n_1441731.html" target="_hplink">Jewish Star</a>" t-shirt.

• Abrecrombie & Fitch

  Asian caricature t-shirts <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/ABERCROMBIE-GLITCH-Asian-Americans-rip-2850702.php" target="_hplink">caused outrage in California.</a>

• Nike

  St. Patrick's Day-themed SB Dunk Low <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/nike-black-and-tan_n_1344197.html" target="_hplink">"Black and Tan"</a> sneakers by Nike incite outrage from Irish community.

• Urban Outfitters

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/03/eat-less-urban-outfitters_n_598904.html" target="_hplink">"Eat Less"</a> t-shirts aren't well received by, well, most people.

• Abrecrombie & Fitch

  "Wink Wink" and "Eye Candy" thongs for 10-year olds isn't a hit with all parents.

• Urban Outfitters

  "New Mexico, Cleaner than Regular Mexico" t-shirts didn't go over well. (AP photo)

• Urban Outfitters

  Some Irish groups aren't pleased with this "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Irish Yoga</a>" trucker hat.

• Urban Outfitters

  "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Truly Madly Deeply Kiss Me</a>" t-shirt offends Irish groups.

• Urban Outfitters

  Ditto this "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/01/urban-outfitters-st-patricks-day-clothes-_n_1313242.html" target="_hplink">Truly Madly Deeply Irish Drunk" </a>scoop tank.

• Pubic Hair Dye

  "Color for the hair down there" is not received well.

• Taco Cid, South Carolina

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/09/how-to-catch-an-illegal-immigrant-taco-cid_n_2439294.html">"How to catch an illegal immigrant" shirt</a>

• Fahad

  "Cuntier" hats <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/cartier-cuntier-hats_n_2861513.html?utm_hp_ref=style&ir=Style">spoof Cartier logo</a>.

• Clean and Dry Intimate Wash

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/vagina-bleaching-ad_n_1420825.html" target="_hplink">Skin-lightening wash</a> targets consumers with dark colored privates.

• Urban Outfitters

  Urban Outfitters thought it was a good idea to sell this shirt to its young demographic (with a lot of them being younger than 21).

• Clean and Dry Intimate Wash

  <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/12/vagina-bleaching-ad_n_1420825.html" target="_hplink">Skin-lightening wash</a> targets consumers with dark colored privates.

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Comments

[ravenslvr]

11:00 PM on 03/25/2013

That's not even cute. It's awkard looking and looks very uncomfortable

[Sethjj1975]

09:24 PM on 12/29/2012

It's lingerie, not church attire. Move on to an actual issue.

[bambi eyes]

02:28 PM on 10/05/2012

Its probably offensive because a Geisha is usually a graceful and beautiful woman who is highly-trained in traditional Japanese arts such as music, dance, tea ceremonies and so on. She usually wears a kimono, which means most of her body is covered up. Now a geisha girl (which keep in mind is very different from a traditional geisha) is a prostitute. Those unfamiliar with Japanese culture might not know the difference between a traditional/legitimate Geisha and Geisha girl (prostitute)

[vrock]

09:43 PM on 09/30/2012

it's not offensive. it's just stupid looking.

[wolfs mistress]

04:20 PM on 09/30/2012

Perhaps this was considered "offensive" because a traditional geisha outfit covers the entire body with several layers of clothing. There is no skin showing other than the face, neck and hands. This is more of a teddy with accessories ... an obi-like belt/sash, decorated chopsticks in her hair and a fan...Check out a real geisha outfit and see the difference between then then decide whether this would be considered "offensive" in Japan...

[Leilani lei]

04:32 AM on 09/29/2012

Where can I buy this? I want one. Maybe, my next Halloween Costume. I just need a japanese textile sarong to go with it.

[Maria2]

04:49 PM on 09/27/2012

well... after seeing Hurley promoting women's equality by hawking sexy swimsuits for six-year-old girls, this seems tame.

[Maria2]

04:45 PM on 09/27/2012

yeah it's a stupid thing to do. but I think most people understand that it's just another VS campaign. also, Candice Swanepoel is hot.

[hillbillet]

02:45 PM on 09/27/2012

I didn't see that it was either racist or offensive. What about all the other countries that are featured in the costume industry? Some people are too sensitive to be allowed to look at catalogs or to surf the net. Victoria's Secret should keep the outfit and suggest a good therapist for the few who were "offended." It's not the world's job to keep individuals from never being offended; offense is internal, a choice, and sometimes it just sounds like silliness to the rest of the world.

[Michelle Saelim]

02:27 PM on 09/27/2012

I'm Asian, I think it's hot. Not racist. Sad it got pulled off :(

[tobeyjames7]

01:35 PM on 09/27/2012

Hold it, hold it, hold it! This Geisha outfit if offensive, to whom? Geishas? The Japanese people? This is a GEISHA outfit! Geishas have been entertaining men for centuries. Some say that they're paid escorts. Some say prostitutes. Some call them Call Girls. But no matter how you look at it...They're paid to entertain men. And for this Victoria's Secret has to take them off the market? Why don't you Japanese take you Geishas off the market? Wow, Politically Correct towards Japanese ho's! You liberals are pathetic.

[mybigblingbling]

10:22 AM on 10/16/2012

I'm Japanese. And I don't see anything about racist. It just image of geisha in overseas. And I don't care. But I'm not happy to hear people call they are prostitute. Go wiki or google and find out what is geisha.

[tobeyjames7]

05:30 PM on 10/17/2012

Geishas are paid to escort and entertain men, right?  You can't tell me that Geishas are only escorts and entertainers, that some will do anything for a man, if the price is right.

[MarcEdward]

07:51 PM on 09/26/2012

I don't get the point of wearing the outfit that will just have to be removed anyway.

[drevulphd]

07:23 PM on 09/26/2012

Some people need to get a life, fantasy is what makes life exciting and that's what lingerie is about feeling good and fantasy. Nothing wrong with the geisha outfit its cute and sexy and my beautiful blond haired blue eyed gf loves it and does not look Asian but would look way sexy in it.
If you travel to Asia you will find a giant fantasy culture which I don't think they would be offended by this!

[Victoria Cipullo]

06:37 PM on 09/26/2012

The outfit looks cute! Adorable

[vv2health]

06:29 PM on 09/26/2012

I'd do her