Wow, that was fast. If it feels like 2015 just flew by, don’t worry, you’re not alone. As the year comes to a close we wanted to take a look back at the best moments in fashion, but there were just too many to choose from, and to be perfectly honest some of it was a bit—boring. How many times can we get excited about Kendall and Gigi starring in their first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show? We’re kind of over it. But those controversial moments? Those WTF-were-they-thinking photos that made our jaw drop and skin crawl? Terry Richardson shooting Miley Cyrus nude? The Marc Jacobs orgy scandal? Rick Owens punching his model? That’s just good fun. Plus these dishy topics make for great conversation fodder when it’s only 9 p.m. and you’re still three-quarters of a Champagne bottle away from midnight. Oh, and it should go without saying that this is very NSFW. You’ve been warned.
Miley Cyrus Poses Nude for Terry Richardson
Aww remember the days when sweet little Hannah Montana was your favorite show on the Disney channel? Well those days are long over. Miley Cyrus has Instagrammed everything from bong hits to nip slips and nothing seems to really shock us anymore. That was until fashion’s resident bad boy Terry Richardson photographed the 23-year old for Candy magazine. The images were nothing short of pornographic—she posed nude with a cat, in a police uniform sucking on a baton and getting mouthy with a strap-on. We’ll be on the lookout for her sex tape in 2016.
Rick Owens Puts Peen on the Runway
Working in fashion has desensitized us to seeing nudity on the runway. Oftentimes a sheer shirt or open blazer will momentarily reveal a model’s breasts mid-strut, and no one thinks much of it. But there’s a huge difference between a see-through top and a strategically placed peep hole. On the Fall/Winter 2015 runway, Rick Owens sent male models out wearing pants that put their genitals on full display. Not a quick glimpse, not an accidental slip—a full-Monty view of their junk. Some thought it was funny, others were offended, but Owens thought it was time for the industry to face their fear of male nudity head on. Literally.
Giuliana Rancic Calls Out Zendaya’s Dreadlocks
E!’s Fashion Police is known for ripping apart the red carpet looks of celebrities, but host Giuliana Rancic ended up in some hot water this year when she noted that Zendaya’s dreadlocks made her look like she “smelled like patchouli or weed.” The internet flipped out over the comments, and the actress quickly responded on Instagram. “To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or 'weed' is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive,” she said. “I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect.” Rancic later apologized and explained that she was referring to the Bohemian chic look, but the damage was done.
Multiple Cases of Cultural Appropriation
There’s no denying that there can be a gray area when it comes to cultural appropriation in fashion. Finding that balance between inspiration and execution is what makes the difference between a controversial or lauded designer, but we’re not talking about the gray area. Some brands just cannot figure out the difference between what’s okay and what’s not. Blackface on the Claudio Cutugno runway at Milan Fashion Week? Not okay. Valentino’s S/S 2016 Wild Africa show? Nope. Dsquared2’s Dsquaw collection? Even the name is offensive. Maybe a quick history class could save these designers from further embarrassment.
Marc Jacobs Defends His Right to Party
Marc Jacobs is not one to flaunt his sex life, but he’s not really one to hide it either. He’s talked openly about his relationships, accidentally posted a nude selfie on Instagram, and has no problem letting the world know about his affinity for Grindr, but he’s not going to tolerate any of your gossipy bullshit. In October, a writer at the New York Post got wind of some of his sexual exploits, including rumors of a recent orgy at his house, and decided to write a gossip piece on his “bizarre behavior.” Jacobs let her have it, calling the publication “the world’s worst, trashiest, and most irresponsible of ‘newspapers’” and referring to the writer a “sick woman” and a “parasite.” Yikes, don’t mess with Marc.
Kylie Jenner’s Interview Magazine Cover
Yes, she’s 18 and yes, she’s riding a man. While the internet freaked out over the scandalous, sexy shots taken of Kylie Jenner for Interview, the problem was two-fold. Sure, she’s barely legal and posed like a sex doll, but people were also in an uproar about her posing in a wheelchair on the cover. The move prompted social media backlash almost immediately and #ableism began trending. What’s worse is Interview defended the cover, saying they never intended to hurt anyone and they “are proud of our tradition of working with great artists and empowering them to realize their distinct and often bold visions.” Maybe she should have stayed on the man instead of the wheelchair.
Rick Owens Punches His Muse
Way to make the list twice, Rick. After showing off a little too much skin earlier this year, Jera Diarc, one of Owens’ longtime models, decided it would be a great idea to pull a political stunt halfway through a runway show. Nearing the end of the catwalk, Diarc brought out a banner that read “Please Kill Angela Merkel Not.” Merkel, the German chancellor, has been garnering a lot of attention this year for her stance on the Syrian refugee crisis (she was even named Time Person of the Year 2015). Of course, Owens had no prior knowledge of the stunt and actually punched the model in the face once he walked offstage. “He's been my male muse for the past 12 years or something and I think he just felt comfortable enough to do something in a show and I'm furious,” the designer told Dazed after the incident.
