Vogue Italy Uses Oil Spill For Fashion Shoot

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by Michael dEstries August 6, 2010
Categories: Print.

Nothing combines fashion and art like the Gulf Oil Spill — at least, according to Vogue Italy’s latest photo shoot.

The distasteful imagery, shot by American photographer Steven Meisel, features numerous images of model Kristen McMenamy playing dead while seeped in oil and decked out in black designer wear. Reaction has been predictably brutal, with Fast Company’s Tyler Gray asking, “Who does this make you loathe more, BP or the fashion industry?”

Check out some additional images from the spread here.


Categories: Print.

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →
  • http://www.babyganics.com Linda Sullivan

    This environmental disaster is sickening. Thousands of endangered animals found in the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands more will die without us knowing. This should be a wake up call not only to BP but to all of us who are reliant on petroleum products. We want better legislation for the development of sustainable energy now.

  • Michael Raymer

    I dunno. Anything at all that keeps this disaster at the forefront of our consciousness may not be a bad thing. I certainlty don’t see a need to get all pissy and outraged over it. Western civilization responds to commercialization more than preaching and whining.

    As I sit here thinking about this…yeah, I’d rather see these ads than one more public-relations damage-control spot by BP talking about how much they’re “helping” the people in the Gulf region. (Gunk region? Hey! Everybody freeze! I thought it up first.)

  • Jessica

    Maybe they’re trying to make a statement regarding the atrocity of the spill?…since the model is appearing to be dead?

  • http://www.twitter.com/linnaf Linna

    This is awful. Did they actually spill oil on top of those rocks? How about instead of re-enacting environmental horrors and paying models, clothing designers, photographers to do so, Vogue, donate that money to an organization that is involved in the cleanup or helping the area devastated by the BP oil spill?! This is disgusting.

  • http://www.babyganics.com Linda Sullivan

    A lot of people thought Vogue was being insensitive showing these images of death. But I think it’s a very good way of criticizing the disaster. Vogue is a very powerful name and if this fame can be used for good, even though there is a backdrop of commercialization behind it (with all the models and expensive clothes and stuff), it still works for me.

  • VeggieTart

    While I hate “dead chick” imagery as much as the next feminist, I admit these images are very powerful as well as disturbing. And if it brings people’s attention to the ongoing crisis in the Gulf of Mexico, it does mute my distaste somewhat.

    Linna, Vogue is a fashion magazine. While a donation to organizations who are helping counter the effects would be nice, sometimes the power is in bringing people’s attention to the issue so they get involved, which may get more done.

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