She looked, as usual, lovely and stunning. Her dress was impeccable. And when Ivanka Trump traveled to India to attend the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, even the everyday people appreciated her visit. Even if it was just because they knew the local government would finally fix their roads.
But never mind the little people. The high-and-mighty fashion elites in India had their claws out for Ivanka. “The Botoxed American Barbie,” sneered the Indian Daily O. Not only that, but Ivanka dared to. . . wait for it. . . commit cultural appropriation!
Oh, the horror! Pass the smelling salts!
Here’s what the harpies wrote about the exquisite First Daughter:
“. . .there has so far been only a superficial thumb’s up to the Indian designers/style. Her first look was a pearl-buttoned black and white Tory Burch jacket. It referenced India with the embroidery, but in reality looked like a cheap brand ripping off designer Rahul Mishra.
For day one of the summit, she walked out in a $3,500 Erdem dress that vaguely referenced the orient with its floral print. She compounded this superficial assimilation of culture with yet another Tory Burch outfit. This time a floral gown that looked like a “me-too” of a Kashmiri pheran for the prime minister’s banquet at the Taj Falaknuma Palace.”
Vogue India just had to dump on Ivanka as well.
“We would rather see her wear a hand-woven sari made in our country or a handmade gown made in her own country. But to hybridize the two, in an era of unfiltered diversity, is a superfluous nod to half-acceptance.”
Me-ooow! Even my cats don’t have claws that sharp.
But hold on. The shrews at the Daily O found one American they loved. And if you said “Michelle Obama” — Ding! ding! ding! You’re a winner!
Check out their gushing praise:
The image of Michelle Obama stepping off Air Force One in a beautiful blue and yellow floral dress with a matching coat is still fresh in everyone’s mind.
Gag. Me.
But guess what other celebrity committed cultural appropriation? Why, the equally lovely Duchess of Cambridge, better known as “Kate” of “Prince William and Kate” fame.
When William and Kate traveled to India in 2016, she donned clothing that paid tribute to traditional Indian colors and patterns. Yet not a word about “cultural appropriation.” Or “cheap.” Or “Botox.”
Which is quite interesting when you recall that India was part of the British Empire until 1947. If you’ve seen the movie Gandhi, you know what I’m talking about here.
So let me get this straight. A member of the royal family of the nation that held India under its thumb for nearly 100 years can “culturally appropriate” all she wants. If the daughter of the American president comes to promote entrepreneurship in a poor nation like India, then the claws come out when she dresses ‘Indian-style.’
But you want to see “cultural appropriation?” I’ve got your cultural appropriation right here:
https://twitter.com/DLoesch/status/937074246861377536
I’m waiting for the fashionistas at Vogue India and the Daily O to set aside their computers and smart phones and tablets — made available to them by Americans like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. And maybe they can stop taking trips in cars and jetliners since they’re also products of American ingenuity.
Surely they don’t want to commit the ultimate sin of cultural appropriation now, do they?
Still waiting.
Well, since all the computers/smartphones are made in China and “supported” in India and Pakistan now, I’m not sure we should make that particular argument. 😉
Oh, and “horseless carriage” was invented in Germany. We simply made them affordable through the ‘magic’ of Ford.
Now, I think the argument about wearing something made locally has some merit.
But, honestly, why do we care what the progs in other countries have to say about the gal’s fashion choices?
They just hate her because the woman could wear a flour sack and brogans and look fabulous. It also smarts that she’s blonde.
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