Melania Trump's Jacket, H&M's Monkey Shirt, and 8 Fashion Controversies That Made Headlines in 2018
Now that 2018 is wrapping up, it’s the perfect time to take a look back at the year that was. In the world of fashion, there was a lot that got people talking and, in many cases, shaking their heads. As we prepare for 2019, we’re taking a moment to recap some of fashion’s most head-scratching moments — and hoping these mishaps don't repeat themselves in the year ahead. There was no shortage of major fast-fashion gaffes and serious celebrity missteps, from a certain tone-deaf jacket worn by a prominent public figure (ahem, Melania Trump) to a thoughtless Dolce & Gabbana ad that outraged a nation (and beyond). It was a year filled with all sorts of scandal. Ahead, 10 of the year's most controversial fashion moments.
Composite. Getty Images. Instagram/@katiesteller1/11Melania Trump's Zara Jacket
Kicking off our list is the Zara jacket heard — or, more accurately, read — around the world. When First Lady Melania Trump wore that khaki green jacket with the words “I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?” printed on the back, the timing spoke volumes. She was, after all, about to board a plane to visit detained immigrant children in Texas. The jacket launched a thousand think pieces and dozens of knockoffs with phrases that were much more appropriate, including "I Really Do Care."
H&M2/11H&M Monkey Hoodie
Way back in January, H&M was called out for having a black child model a “coolest monkey in the jungle” hoodie. Many people took issue with the term “monkey,” a racist trope referring to black people that goes back centuries. A white child model wore a similar sweatshirt that said he was a “jungle survivor.” One Twitter user remarked, “This is inappropriate, offensive, and racist. Why is the white kid ‘a jungle survivor’ and the black kid the ‘coolest monkey in the jungle’? How do you think this is OK?” After the outrage, H&M reportedly hired a diversity manager.
Dolce & Gabbana3/11Dolce & Gabbana China Scandal
Last month, Dolce & Gabbana nearly stoked an international incident with a string of racist videos for its #DGLovesChina social media campaign. Originally intended to promote the brand’s Shanghai show (which was ultimately canceled), the videos featured an Asian woman “learning” how to eat Italian dishes with chopsticks amid a slew of stereotypical tropes. Following the initial backlash, comments surfaced allegedly showing cofounder Stefano Gabbana slamming Chinese culture and insulting Chinese people. He later claimed he had been hacked and issued an apology.
Dior4/11Jennifer Lawrence's Dior Ad
Dior came under fire for a recent campaign that was reportedly intended to celebrate Mexican culture, even though it stars Jennifer Lawrence, a white actress who does not have any Mexican heritage. The Dior Cruise 2019 collection was supposedly influenced by escaramuzas — traditional, highly skilled Mexican horsewomen — and the female characters from Isabel Allende’s novel The House of the Spirits. But many were quick to point out that the campaign didn’t feature actual Mexicans. Dior ultimately took down some of the images in question.
Getty Images5/11Stefano Gabbana vs. Selena Gomez
Surprise, surprise: Dolce & Gabbana is making another appearance in this list of controversies. Earlier this year, Stefano Gabbana directed cyberbullying comments at Selena Gomez on the Instagram page of @catwalkitalia. The publication posted five images of Selena wearing different red dresses, and asked followers to pick their favorite; he wrote, “è proprio brutta!!!”, which translates from Italian to mean “She’s so ugly!” But Selena had the last laugh. In September, she bedazzled the word “ugly” in her hair during New York fashion week, which many viewed as the ultimate clap back aimed at Stefano himself.
Getty Images6/11Guess Cofounder Resigns
In June, Guess executive chairman and cofounder Paul Marciano resigned from his position with the brand after being accused of sexual harassment. This announcement came on the heels of news that the company had brought in investigators to review claims of sexual harassment and reached settlements totaling $500,000 with five separate accusers. Model Kate Upton had previously come forward with her #MeToo story involving Paul.
Getty Images7/11Kendall Jenner's Comments on Modeling
In an interview for Love Magazine, Kendall Jenner offended other models when she implied that she was more selective than they about runway-show appearances. "I was never one of those girls who would do, like, 30 shows a season or whatever the f*ck those girls do," she was quoted as saying. After backlash, Kendall claimed she was misrepresented.
Getty Images8/11Burberry Burns Its Products
Burberry made waves when it revealed the scope of its practice of burning unwanted products. In one year alone, Burberry destroyed more than £28 million worth of goods (around 36 million USD). The luxury British label reportedly chooses to destroy its products in an effort to protect its exclusivity, especially since the brand has been a counterfeit favorite on the black market. Burberry has burned more than £90 million worth of its products in the past five years.
Getty Images9/11Topshop Chairman Outed In #MeToo Scandal
A British parliamentary member publicly named billionaire Sir Philip Green as the subject of media investigations into alleged sexual misconduct. Green is the chairman of Arcadia Group, the retail company that houses Topshop and Topman. He’s at the center of a growing #MeToo controversy involving “allegations of bullying, intimidation, and sexual harassment.”
Revolve10/11Revolve Sells Fatphobic Sweatshirt
Shopping website Revolve made a questionable marketing move when it decided to sell sweatshirts featuring the quote “Being fat isn’t beautiful, it’s an excuse” on the front. Reportedly, it was a comment that plus-size model Paloma Elsesser had heard before, and the words “as said to @palomija” were printed at the bottom of the sweatshirt in a much smaller font. While the whole thing seemed like an attempt to reclaim fatphobic messages, Revolve missed the mark by putting the design on a skinny model and making the quote attribution barely readable.
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