Oh, Kim. You were doing so well, and now this. These are some photos of Kim Kardashian out and about in Beverly Hills yesterday. She went to her dermatologist (Botox?) then to lunch with Brittny Gastineau at Il Pastaio. For Thursday’s outing, Kim wore this ensemble… sigh. It was a t-shirt and boots and that’s all. No pants, no shorts, God knows if she was even wearing underwear. The t-shirt is The Life of Pablo Paris. The boots are Tom Ford, and I can’t imagine Tom Ford is happy about Kim wearing his boots, but that’s a conversation for another day. Kim’s also carrying a $21,675 Birkin. Basically, Kim’s outfit probably costs one teacher’s yearly salary.
Should we even talk about her plaits/cornrows? Kim and Khloe both do cornrows every so often, and there’s a lot of debate about whether Kim and Khloe are appropriating “black hairstyles” when they do cornrows. I think they are appropriating, but I also think they really want people to get mad about it and start fussing at them, so don’t give them that attention, you know?
Meanwhile, Kim got some attention this week for a surprisingly relatable reason: she was freaking out on Twitter about her last Blackberry Bold dying on her. Kim is a high-profile Blackberry lover/defender/user, and has been for years. She stockpiled Blackberry Bolds, buying them on Ebay whenever she could find them. She says she liked to carry around two phones – an iPhone for photos, and the Blackberry for tweeting and texting, because she likes the feel of a real keyboard. So, she freaked out on Twitter, and then Blackberry executive Alex Thurber announced that they were sending her “their most secure Android smartphone,” but it still doesn’t have the Bold-type keyboard. Still, the company is going to keep up with Kim and they’ll probably send her more phones in the future.
Also – Kim took to her subscription app this week to list all of the Kardashian-Jenner pets over the years. It made me sad, because the Kardashian sisters in particular are not animal-lovers at all. They are just not interested in pets, so why even bother?
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I hate to say this but ….is she going to stand in a corner after lunch to make money to pay for that hideous outfit?
Prostitute jokes about Kim k. How original. 😐
Well, if the tacky ensemble fits . . .
Clothing isn’t consent to any type of sexual activity. Everybody knows this, but for some strange reason it doesn’t occur to people that when they categorize women as ‘prostitutes’ or ‘promiscuous’ or as someone who’s ‘down for anal’ based on clothing choices, tattoos, or piercings, they’re implying the opposite. It’s also interesting how some of the same people who have no problems making prostitute/’whore’/hooker comments about other women based on how they dress would rightfully see it as homophobic, sexist, old-fashioned, or antifeminist if someone made lesbian/’butch’/’d*ke” comments about a woman for cutting her hair short or wearing pants instead of a dress, skirt, or high heels.
It’s like a high fashion walk of shame.
The tragic part of this is that she looked in the mirror and said, “Damn, I look good”.
Yes!
Really. Ugh. Go away.
@DHAVYNIA
I love when people have the guts to say what everyone is thinking. And trust. Everyone is thinking that.
Sadly it’s not even her worst look.
Yeah… not everyone is thinking that.
Yeah, they totally are.
Most everyone. Trash is trash is trash!
@ Tris
I don’t. And if you read below, others don’t as well.
Not everyone sees bad fashion and thinks ‘stripper/prostitute/whore’. However nicely the OP dressed the language up, that’s the gist. So unpacking that – women who trade money for sex are the lowest, Kim looks like what someone thinks a sex worker looks like, and that’s the joke. That sex workers are gross and lesser. I have a problem with that.
It’s OK if you don’t agree, but you are empirically wrong that ‘everyone’ is thinking that.
@DETRITUS You win the internet today.
Also, it’s interesting that the sex-worker garbage was unpacked in response to this woman wearing a traditionally ethnic hairstyle. Isms are so ugly.
@babalon
You noticed too? Those isms, they tend to travel in packs it seems.
Thank you, detritus and Babalon. I grew up in LA, and this is how women dress in the heat in the nouveau riche areas there. It’s an attempt at being original in a hot climate in a racially diverse city combined with having waaay too much money. It’s not the best combination of hip hop culture and Beverly Hills in 85 degree weather I’ve seen, but prostitute? There is a large Black community in LA, and she is married to a prominent rapper. Sometimes I think folks read more into pictures of these women than is there, and they don’t see that she is immersed in African American bourgeoise society in Los Angeles, and it influences her fashion. She is also part of a loooong tradition of folks we follow. Remember the Gabor sisters?
Detritus, I salute you. Heart yr name, too.
Uhm… Christina, this is NOT how women in this area dress. I grew up in Beverly Hills and still live here (now in neighboring Century City, also an “upscale” area), and I have NEVER seen anyone dress quite like that. Ktrashian is most definitely in a league of her own (well, her and her Klan-Koven).
I’ve seen teens wear a large T-shirt (over short-shorts, yes). But full grown women, in just a T-shirt and those boots? Nope… Not in the 50 yrs. I’ve lived here.
Well with that logic JonnyT, you might as well pull a Blake Shelton and support Donald Trump, since he ‘says what he thinks/has the guts to say what everyone else is thinking.”(Bull. He says what the misogynists and white supremacists are thinking. Which doesn’t take guts- just confidence that other sexists and racists will back him up and the desire for more power and attention. )
@Tris and Katie: No, that’s not what everybody was thinking. (Definitely not what I was thinking either). It’s just what prudish people with a virgin-whore complex were thinking. (Katie’s conservative need to categorize both individuals and groups of human beings who don’t conform to her restrictions on human sexuality and modesty as ‘trash’ says it all). Luckily not everybody’s mentality is that narrow-minded, unimaginative, patriarchal, and prudish in 2016.
It would look so cool – on someone else. i have worn braids with cabaret looks and absolutely rocked it because I -am- an artist- not Just some mall rat. This look appears trend overloaded; the style of most wealthy shoppers without a style compass.
Why are people always degrading the sex workers and not the people, who use their services? Don’t you think these women would choose another lifestyle if they could?
Because misogyny. 🙁
That was my first thought too.. awesome hooker look.. next..
Do I see the word “B*tch” emblazoned across her butt in gold?
I can’t tell but remember, she doesn’t have any issues being called that especially by her husband because “that’s what they do.”
Yep. Kimmy is certainly not looking to change anything.
Yep – had to go back and look at it.
These are Kanye lyrics from Waves on TLOP.
Ah, so she is selling out her butt to advertise her misogynist pig of a husband’s misogynistic crap.
She’s wearing a shirt from her husband’s line. Funny how you want to call out mysogyny all while being awfully mysoginistic.
Next ad will be:
Drive the BIG. RIGS!!
Now Hiring!!! 1-800-BIG-ONES
The term is a misogynistic one that equates women with dogs and her husband uses it to demean and insult women and to demonstrate his belief that he is superior to us and has the right to control us. He isn’t. He doesn’t. I’m fed up with being insulted and I will not give a pass to those women who support or make excuses for misogyny and, in KK’s case encourage it and advertise it for profit.
She is using her butt as a billboard
I love the boots!
They are amazing.
I think they are hideous. The shirt is nice, from the front at least.
Special day, Locke–we agree for a second time!
Those boots need to be run over by a tractor trailer then tossed in a dumpster, doused with gasoline, and burned to death.
Yes, the shirt works nicely as a dress and she looks good in it. The boots just make me dizzy. Would prefer flat sandals.
Addison: Yep. Those boots rock my world. I’d definitely wear them. Like the shirt as well, just don’t bend over bimb….I mean Kim..
Her style is a horror show. Those boots would look good on a 7′ waif model walking down a runway but they look awful on a real human. I like Tom Ford usually too.
She usually wears form fitting dresses that accentuate her T&A. You’re right this outfit would look better on a taller person (like me…lol) probably on Kendall. No secret how I feel about this woman, but she’s going to get hate no matter what she wears. After the Taylor situation, it is evident she doesn’t give two f’s what anyone thinks, she going to do it. Blame it on Ryan Seacrest or Ray J. If not for them, we wouldn’t know this family.
@JustJJ @Nancy One of the things I like abut KK is she happily breaks what appears to be your narrow view of body type acceptability. Should only waif models wear certain clothes? Certain colors? Certain styles? No bikini body, well then no bikini for you, go put on a muumuu. Please.
@Nancy way to show your obvious Swifter stan card. At least try to be subtle.
I agree matchday. Kim K is problematic but I like this about her too.
That is a good way too look at it! I don’t love her monochromatic spandex and open toed boots though, not on anyone really. I don’t think only tall, thin, models should wear fun clothes, I just think clothes that are designed that way can look strange on someone who doesn’t fit the mold unless they’re altered for different body types. And they should be. I’m curvy and petite too so maybe I just don’t have the confidence or the determination to pull off the stuff Kim attempts.
Matchday: Call me out on whatever you choose…..but please don’t put me as a Taylor Swift fan. Couldn’t be further from the truth. However, I wouldn’t expose anyone on social media, snapchat or her tv show. Call me old fashioned, but I would have listened to her mother and talked to her in private. Different strokes……..these girls couldn’t exist without the internet.
@matchday lame to call someone a swift fan because they don’t like Kim or kiss her butt. Really? 😒
We can disagree on the idea that Kim doesn’t give a sh*t what people think,and she is happily breaking body boundaries on purpose because the issue is SHE has admitted that she does care, she cares quite a good deal about what people think of her and she has always wished her body was more like a model. So there’s that, which would contradict the whole idea she’s happily doing x,y and z. I would also say its a fair guess that when she looks in the mirror she sees something completely different than what everyone else sees and obsesses with that. So do we congratulate her body dysmorphia or assume it’s her being so brave and trendsetting to be different? *shoulder shrug* But one thing is for sure she gets attention everytime she steps out looking a mess. And attention is part of their brand.
@Tifygodess24
“I would also say its a fair guess that when she looks in the mirror she sees something completely different than what everyone else sees and obsesses with that. So do we congratulate her body dysmorphia….”
So a woman with enough confidence to wear what she feels and thinks she looks good in has a body image/mental problem? Way to go. Yes, let’s equate a woman’s confidence about her body with a serious disorder like body dysmorphia: “The only reason she thinks she can wear that outfit is because she’s screwed in the head.”
That’s not at all harmful to women. Messed up.
@Nancy What do you think about TS’s Grammy speech where she publicly called out KW for trying to take credit for her fame and success? Or about the very public songs she releases about ex-bfs or friends/industry people? TS does very little behind closed doors and out of the public eye.
For months TS lied and said KW hadn’t contacted her about the song and hadn’t discussed the lyrics with her. She issued public statements to that fact. So while the higher ground for KK would have been to discuss this in private – TS herself certainly didn’t take that higher ground. I think it was justified that KK was as public with her evidence as TS had been with her lies.
@matchday oh give me a break and try again. What a likely and predictable answer. Using buzz words and a manipulative answer to try and shut down an opinion by making it seem like I’m discrediting confident women. I’m not putting down a supposedly confident woman (which proof says otherwise, go google please- confident women don’t suck, tuck and cut their bodies to oblivion) and claiming some kind of disorder to bring women down. Haha. Ridiculous. There is enough proof out there where I don’t need to even argue with you. But thank you for the laugh! How cute! Haha.
Nancy- yeah, Kim is a snake. She had no interest in actually helping her husband reconcile with a professional colleague, just in boosting ratings for herself. Still waiting for the full hour recording instead of the few ten second edits by Kim. I suspect the full recording doesn’t fit Kim’s spin. Heck, the edited bits don’t really support her spin. It worked only because enough people don’t like Swift and didn’t look carefully at what Taylor herself had actually said in context. That was definitely open to a completely different interpretation. Kim did wrong by both Kanye and Taylor, neither of whom seemed to be deliberately deceiving each other from what I actually heard. Misunderstanding each other big time, yes.
Matchday- from what I heard and read, Taylor herself did not deny the phone call. She denied being asked for approval or giving it. The edited bits confirm that, they discussed the fact that he could do whatever he wanted because it’s his lyric and not hers. That is not approval, he knew it and she knew it. He was alerting her to the mention. She did not hear the finalized lyric. She sounded like she had mixed feelings but thought she should be cool about it. As far as her little speech was concerned – she did not name Kanye directly. He has been periodically claiming that he made her famous, which obviously is not true as far as her own market is concerned and it bugs her. She might actually have also been reacting to the Calvin situation to some degree. I think she should have ignored it all and at most just said clearly if asked what part of the lyric she didn’t like when she actually heard the whole thing. People are allowed to do that even if they thought they were ok with it when talking in general before the lyric was finished. If Kim cared at all about her husband, she would have approached Taylor earlier with the whole recording (which really they should have sent as confirmation of the call) and asked for a meeting to discuss how the misunderstandings occurred. You know, like grownups instead of junior high rival clique leaders.
Jwoolman: Not worth the effort of trying to explain to some people. My mom used to say you treat people how you feel and sometimes these posters must feel like crap….lol. Xanax to the rescue or maybe a nice bubble bath or both or a martini! Happy Weekend. You’re always sweet and considerate, which sadly is a rarity these days….
Matchday, I don’t subscribe to the waif thing either, because I’m not one, but (as hard as it freaking is in our current society) I look for clothes that FIT. As lovely as those boots might be, they are bunching up in places and that does not look attractive. As for Jeanpierre, the last way I would go around showing support for my husband is with the word “bi*&^” on my ass. You’ll pardon me if I think that’s beneath me.
Those boots need to be burned. I don’t care they are Tom Ford. They are awful.
So let me get this straight…Kim wearing cornrows is offensive? Geez, I mean really? Really? That’s really what you arguing here? Wow.
THANK YOU! She likes wearing her hair like that.. .who careS? Honestly, think this is what people mean about the sensitivity and political correctness of today. You can’t do anything without everyone parsing your words and your agenda. I know you’re all going to come after me, but so be it.
Cultural appropriation is a real thing, however in this case? I just don’t see it. Also, braids go wayyyyyyy back historically across MANY MANY different cultures.
This is an honest question: are black people “appropriating” when they straighten their hair? Is appropriation only a thing if white people do it?
I believe the cultural appropriation topic began because some misinformed media accounts reported that Kim and her sister really “made” these braids. Truly, there are articles that talk about their cornrows as if they created the hairstyle completely. In those situations, it DOES feel offensive and like a cultural hijacking.
Black people and other people of color cannot appropriate as appropriation is about power and reference, not simply wearing a style. Further, there are black people who have straight hair naturally…the more you know, etc.
In addition to what Maleficent and Beau Kitty said, another problem is that for centuries many PoC were mocked or denigrated, called “dirty” or “unsightly” for wearing their hair in braids. Then these twits come around sporting the same hairstyle and people praise them for being “original, unique, avant garde”. It’s just another example of white people being commended for doing the same thing that PoC have been routinely and historically criticized for.
And I get all the counterarguments about how braids have been worn by a myriad of different races and ethnicities for centuries, but come on, let’s not pretend that Kim and her sisters are trying to be Dutch or German. They have a history of co-opting and fetishizing black culture and this is yet another example.
I think Amandla said it perfectly:
“Black features are beautiful. Black women are not. White women are paragons of virtue and desire. Black women are objects of fetishism and brutality. This at least seems to be the mentality surrounding black femininity and beauty in a society built upon eurocentric beauty standards. While white women are praised for altering their bodies, plumping their lips and tanning their skin, black women are shamed although the same features exist on them naturally.”
So glad Beau Kitty that the Appropriation Sub-Committee (Hair Styles Working Group) decided that POC can’t do something. Because, you know, they are POC. But I hate this do.
@Beau Kitty – Cultural appropriation is when you take something from one culture and use it in a manner in which it is not intended in another culture. Skin color has nothing to do with who can and cannot appropriate another’s culture.
Sorry but the Kardashians are the most prolific cultural approprators all for the benefit of money. I have no idea why more people don’t call them out. It’s not just hairstyles, it’s everything they put forward from their fancy houses I their fancy neighbour’s and while they only date black men with money. I wish all the gossip sites would have a month long ban on all things kardashian so maybe they disappear
Oh, please. People of ANY skin color can appropriate.
Right idea Jade. Can we skip the Kartrashians altogether?
The author only mentions it… she’s definitely not arguing her point. You, on the other hand, seem to be looking for a debate.
No debate… I just know how this site works. I’m agreeing with Ashley. Cultural appropriation is real. But with braids? No. That’s spans many cultures. I do mean what I said though, everyone is so sensitive. I have symbols and customs in my life that are meaningful to me and my culture, but if someone uses those things in a way that is trendy or used in any other way than intended, I don’t get bent out of shape. My customs and symbols do not lose their meaning or significance because they are used or misused by another.
“My customs and symbols do not lose their meaning or significance because they are used or misused by another.”
But they do though. Maybe not to you, but the perception of the custom globally definitely takes a hit to the point where the original meaning can get lost. Let’s take bindis from Indian culture. When worn by Indian women, they’re supposed to represent the point at which creation began, and are “the sacred symbol of the cosmos in its unmanifested state” at it’s most simplest explanation.
Yet when music festival season comes around clueless suburban girls start wearing them in droves, not because they are in tune with the universe, but because it’s a cool shiny thing to wear and goes with their flower child outfit. I highly doubt any of them go and research the significance behind it, and others who see and copy their style aren’t going to educate themselves either. Over time, it just becomes seen as a clothing choice, a fad that can be discarded when in reality it comes from so much more.
Native American chief headdresses are another example. They’re a sign of great honor,respect, and leadership and in most tribes that are very revered. You’re telling me that the significance doesn’t get diluted when some frat boy wears one at some Halloween party? Or when Chanel decided to use one as their collection’s statement piece?
People crying cultural appropriation would be cool if respect and credit was given where it’s due, and the person trying on the culture took it seriously. That’s just common decency, and shows you value the original culture/people. Denigrating people for elements of their culture though, and then proceeding to try it on because it goes with a look/phase you’re trying to emulate is just rude and reinforces power imbalances between oppressor/oppressed groups.
@Lynnie – I don’t deny bindis have their origins in religious symbolism, but I’m Indian and the reality here (in India) is that your average sticker bindi IS just a fashion accessory to most Indian women, Hindu and otherwise. It’s no more religious than wearing a sari, and I’ve had Sikh, Buddhist, Parsi, Muslim and Christian friends wear bindis on carious occasions that called for traditional dress. When I was little, my mother kept a row of sticker bindis pasted to her mirror to accessorise with depending on which one took her fancy – and she isn’t Hindu either.
The bindi variant that actually has the religious significance is the red dot/sindoor worn by Hindu married women (and to an extent the patterned dots drawn as bridal makeup on Bengali Hindu women), but that’s not the only kind of bindi there is. A lot of people seem to promote the idea that certain Indian cultural traditions can be associated with only one religion, but in this case it’s not really true even if Indians living outside of India believe this to be the case.
(that said, white girls wearing sticker bindis at festivals still look like idiots and it’s still cultural appropriation. Just not an insult to an entire religion like some of the RSS/VHP fundamentalists would have you believe)
That’s very interesting @teacakes. Thank you for the info!
Um, yeah, this. To suggest that cornrows can be associated with only one ethnic group is pretty farfetched. Braiding is as old as human hair, basically. And if one were to accuse Kim of cultural appropriation for her ‘rows, surely the equivalent must be said of every black woman who straightens her locks?
As for the outfit, her sense of style is completely nonexistent. Imagine having such a tiny waist and hiding it under that hideous tee!
No.. There are black people with straight hair and the appropriation comes from the historical and power angles but just the style. Had people of color had a different social history with current day equality in practice maybe so but that’s not the case.
I came to say that. I’ve heard this before, and I’m kind of bothered by it. I feel like separating hairstyles by race is weird and unnecessarily divisive.
It bothers me too. By all means give credit where it’s due, but to say someone can or cannot wear their hair in a certain way? I think we need to chill out about hair in general, it’s just hair. Do away with all our stupid notions that women over a “certain age” shouldn’t have long hair, or that natural black hair texture is “bad”, and so on.
Maybe if the Kardashians had just shut down the notion that they invented or were the first to promote such braids and clearly pointed out the cultural inspiration for it from long-standing practice among people of African descent – nobody would be bothered. The problem seems to be their general cluelessness about other cultures and practices. You would think Kim would be more aware since she married Kanye and her children are of African descent, but she doesn’t seem to have developed any such awareness or else has decided it’s not important. I don’t think I’ve ever heard them talk about the cultures from which they get their ideas for hairstyles or body modification. It’s as though they live all alone on an island. And yet such discussion would actually be very interesting to their fans.
What is appropriating? I’m Indonesian where we have 17,000 islands with skin colors from the fairest to the darkest, from the most cover-up clothes to those only wearing animal horn or straws to cover their modesty. It’s never an issue here if I wear something from different tribes or culture. Sorry, I’m not trying to start a debate, just want better understanding when appropriating should become an issue.
It should become an issue when it is done disrespectfully by anyone, no matter their skin color.
I think appropriation becomes an issue when it’s someone from a group that holds most of the social power (say white folk in NA), taking something that POC, or really any other minority group, have done/used/said and getting all of the applause for it, where the minority group is othered for not conforming to majority standards.
Example time
Braids are ok for the workplace, but only white girl braids. Cornrows and traditional hairstyles are frequently considered unprofessional, dirty or worse. There was a big todo about Zara recently, and I’ve heard others too.
Iggy using AAVE for commercial gain (her sound) but not really acknowledging that she doesn’t face the same discrimination folk that use AAVE and grew up with it do.
Or models using Native Chieftain headdresses because they are cool and interesting, not because they earned them.
It’s a hard subject, and I think someone who faces that kind of appropriation is the best person to ask, so someone more knowledgeable please feel free to correct me. I don’t know Indonesian politics, there are probably examples that would fit, but they won’t be identical to NA issues because the historical context is so different.
@Erni: one example of cultural apropriation in Indonesia is if a Javanese take the Sumatran ulos and start using it as mini sarong skirt or something. … on the second thought that might not be best example since it most to do with disrespecting the sacredity of the ulos. Ah well I dont think we have an equivalent of cultural apropriation. That is an american /western thing, it’s got something to do with their white guilt, I think.
Thank you, I guess (one of) the keyword(s) is disrespectful.
@YupYepYam,
It seems we don’t have a really strong example. A Javanese can wear koteka with no fuss. We’re awesome culturally, unfortunately Indonesians are religiously overdosed.
@erni: yup. If only we can be as ‘nyantai’ regarding religion as we are towards our culture..
I too disagree that this is a case of cultural appropriation but for all of those saying that cornrows span different cultures, please read up a little more about the history of cornrows. They are a style that has been traditionally used in African cultures.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornrows
Wikipedia, really? Lets say it’s a good source. Just because they are used traditionally there, does not mean that braiding is exclusive to African cultures. French braid anyone?
Nicole,
I did not say braiding. I said cornrows. The page is on cornrows and not braiding. Braiding of course, does span across different cultures.
@nicole, in France, french braid is called african braid.
Here is a credible source. The earliest example of cornrows is from 5,000 years ago. It is an ancient hairstyle stepped in meaning and cultural significance.
http://www.csdt.rpi.edu/african/CORNROW_CURVES/culture/african.origins.htm
@nicole – braids (plaits) have long been a traditional hairstyle for women where I come from too.
But those are not the same as cornrows or twists or box braids, or other hairstyles that until the latter 20th century, were almost exclusively used on black people. And my grandma and great-grandma wearing three-strand regular plaits does not give me license to cheerfully wear some approximation of cornrows on my own head and go about claiming I made them cool.
Braids are also culturally significant in Armenia. http://www.hyeetch.nareg.com.au/culture/textile_p4.html
Yes, and Ukrainian people have traditional braids as well. You would be hard pressed to find a society without braids. But this is not.the.point.
White people can wear braids of any type without consequence.
People of color can wear the same hairstyle and be called a variety of racial slurs.
This is an example of white privilege. The k clan makes it worse by saying they “invented” cornrows and are pouring salt on an already open wound.
No one is trying to “take braids away from you”. It’s a dumb argument. Get over it and check your damn privilege.
@Odesa – my point was not to make blanket assumptions about people. Kim’s braids looks like African braids, but they also look like Aremenian braids. That isn’t my “damn privilege” as you call it. That is a reasonable adult suggesting that everyone gather all the facts before jumping to conclusions. A little maturity, please.
Megan I looked at the site you link to, that seems like a stretch, also, it isn’t like KK is dressing like any of the women on that link. To call out Odessa on maturity is very NOT cool, you are attacking the person and not the argument (and thereby probably proving her point). I am still feeling my way around the whole issue of cultural appropriation but I am starting to understand that the hair issue is a big deal from a historical, cultural and emotional point of view and learning to respect that (and the fact that what I think about it should have zero influence in determining its legitimacy). Maturity is also respecting others’ feelings about their culture and what is truly important to them.
@ Beau Kitty. I see what you’re saying because that is the true definition of cultural appropriation-that it is the majority borrowing from a minority, but with braids, that’s just not applicable. And I’ll go one step further, some things that are appropriated, are not a negative. It’s going to happen in a world like ours in Western society with as much freedom as we have. You can blend cultures and traditions. Not all of it’s bad. I wish people would stop blanketing appropriation as all negative. Some of it is a true appreciation of what a minority culture brings and embracing it. Do I think Kim is that intellectual to be doing those thing, no. I’m speaking on a national level.
@Kitten Who is shaming black women for their beauty? And how is plumping your lips and tanning your skin appropriating? For the love of god. Where does it end? There are ACTUAL racists out there who do and think and say horrible things about other races and cultures. Cornrowing your hair and plumping are not only the least of our worries, but seeing those things as appropriation, only put us further apart. I think its a good thing to good things in another culture and make them apart of your life if you see fit. I give up. Just keep looking for things to be hurt by.
Mmmhhmm.
Just keep sleeping, honey.
that’s the best you can come up with to my response? you really have nothing further to say? that i’m sleeping because my opinion differs from your own?
and to be clear, im not suggesting anyone be color/culturally blind. there are different races, colors and creeds and that is a good thing and should be celebrated. but to blast someone for doing something that another culture TRADITIONALLY does is ridiculous.
the people who hate black women, but then praise white women for tanning their skin and plumping their list are racist! it’s not the women doing those thing. you need to get clear on what the real issue is here.
Oh, Nicole, believe me I can do better, but why waste my time arguing with someone who doesn’t even think cultural appropriation exists?
In order to have a conversation, there has to be a starting point.
You’ve made it clear with your barrage of comments that you think there exists only one kind of racism: the blatant variety and sorry, that’s just not the case. Racism is present in many more subtle forms, cultural appropriation being just one of them.
Instead of arguing so vehemently in defense of the Kardashians, maybe you should research cultural appropriation or better yet, Google “Kardashian and cultural appropriation” and take the time to listen to read what Amandla and many black people have to say about it, you know the people who’s culture is consistently tried on as a costume by white people?
And I didn’t say you were “sleeping” because your opinion differs from mine, I said you were sleeping because your comments make it obvious that you’re not here to listen or learn or even to have a discussion, you’re just here to assert how right you are.
*shrugs*
Instead of lashing out at Kitten why don’t you try researching these things you claim never happen?
Wouldn’t that be both easier and have the added benefit of making you a more informed person?
But you won’t. Black women get fired from their work for wearing their natural hair. Black women get mocked for having natural features that are celebrated when white women wear them. When white women want to appear more ‘street’ like Kim here they suddenly comfortably do things like plump their lips, tan their skin and a host of other beauty treatment intended to give them a figure more naturally associated with black women. Then when they’ve got that audience locked down they ditch all that to appeal to white audiences that favor the opposite look.
You know what I personally find cute? That people such as yourself are so obsessed with others APPRECIATING your interest in the most shallow aspects of our culture. Why how wonderful you love our music, but do you care about our poverty? Why thank you for thinking cornrows are pretty, but do you care about our alcoholism? The truth is no. We’re not going to applaud and be grateful that you take the easiest prettiest parts of our culture and use them to decorate yourselves and then EXPECT us to be grateful and tell us how it makes things better because it HASN’T and it DOESN’T. Throw whatever tantrum you’re going to throw but the tide has turned. Decades have taught generations of POC that all these little acts of ‘appreciation’ didn’t do squat to change the struggles in our communities because the interest from others is skin deep and shallow as a puddle.
@@Nicole “Where does it end? There are ACTUAL racists out there who do and think and say horrible things about other races and cultures. Cornrowing your hair and plumping are not only the least of our worries, but seeing those things as appropriation, only put us further apart.” For you, the end will come when you do research– read the suggestions given to you without judging, (If you don’t like Wikipedia then just use it to get primary sources), and simply try to gain some awareness of other people’s perspective! Start with trying to figure out why this quoted part of your comment does nothing to boost your argument.
@TheEternalSideEye
Will stopping white women from braiding their hair stop black women from being fired for wearing cornrows? While i can understand the outrage due to the unfairness of cultural appropriation, i cannot see how this outrage ultimately helps black women achieve anything. Saying “if i cannot wear this and be accepted and respected, then you should not be allowed to wear it either” while understandable will only push these symbols of black identity further into some sort of ghetto zone.
For these symbols to be accepted, they need to be brought forward by today’s role models in the black community, people like Michele Obama for example. All this outrage because the latest kardashian has worn her hair in a certain way achieves nothing.
@MrsBump
That theory has been tossed around since the 70’s and nothing has changed nor has using role models advanced anything. Michelle Obama got hell for showing her arms from the same people who now just shrug and smile that Melania posed nude. A young biracial up and coming Disney actress was mocked and told she probably smelled like weed and patchouli while a do-nothing pose provocatively white reality star was called fashion-forward and cool.
This is exactly what I mean. No one believes ‘sharing’ is going to help elevate these aspects of culture because socioeconomic racism doesn’t have a thing to do with equally rewarding white or black talent regardless of who’s wearing what. THAT is why appropriation gets so much attention. Because multiple generations of POC were told it’d be a ‘good’ thing to share and that with the ‘melting pot’ they’d see more openness and acceptance. You now see the end result of multiple generations living through that lie and their children now openly rebuking it.
The truth is that melting into the ‘whiteness’ of American culture is good. Having the prettier aspects of your culture appropriated by whites is good. Accepting and wearing aspects of your own culture is bad and you will be punished for it. We have an intelligent hard working Ivy League graduate president who everyday is told he needs to prove his citizenship and birthright.
Telling that white woman not to wear her hair one way may not save the young black woman being fired for doing the same, but it will make it clear the fact that our hair isn’t for consumption for people who will not acknowledge or help us in the fight to eliminate some of this racism or worse yet think braiding their hair is helping and they deserve our applause and approval.
I can’t get past the braid “piercings” WTH??? Cornrows are fine but hoop piercings in them? Please don’t let this become a thing…
@Maleficent: This.
Kim trying to look “gangsta” is ridiculous, but then she IS ridiculous.
I know. She’s a very rich woman from an incredibly exclusive neighbourhood who grew up moneyed and cosseted. The hairstyle is neither here nor there. The putting on an entire socio-economic tourism costume is the bit that’s staggeringly offensive. It is, as you said, ridiculous.
Agreed. It’s not that it’s about the hair. It’s the context. I see other posters who don’t get it, and it’s great there are those who don’t see people in a box, but it’s in reality exactly as you’ve said.
So don’t put people in a box, because that’s stereotyping, but don’t borrow from their culture the pieces they enjoy because that’s not cool either. Got it.
Thank you for seeing the issue as clear as day.
As for you nicole, that research is calling your name.
@ the eternal side eye… what research do you keep referencing? please send me a link of something I can read! I mean it.
@blaah she mentioned a couple up thread. Or just google “cornrows cultural appropriation”, “white privilege”, or even “all lives matter vs black lives matter”. Any of those will give you a start. Where you go from there will be up to you.
I don’t think Kim is trying to look “gansta” by braiding her hair. I think it is a hair style she genuinely likes and finds flattering.
No, she and her family have been trying to look “street” for a minute now. Khloe is the worst
Maybe I’ve had too much cold medicine, but this gansta look isn’t awful on her–she’s looked so much worse. The boots are amazing. Maybe if the T-shirt was 2″ longer and a tad fitted. I don’t mind her hair like this. I prefer this to her overtight pregnancy “look” and wearing latex.
Can someone explain why those birkin bags are so much money? Is it name alone, or is there some other intrinsic value?
There is a waiting list for them (about five years or so I have been told) and you are not always guaranteed the colour and leather you want, a small amount are made every year to artificially increase demand and create hype. However the quality is going down as the price of the bag is going up and new bags are returned a lot in the past two to three years due to leather quality issues. The bags also hold there price so second hand in a colour and leather of your choice can cost more than a new bag. I don’t see the appeal myself but whatever floats your boat.
I make it a policy not to buy things that are priced so in excess of the materials it took to make them. But then, there’s a sucker born every minute-
That looks to be a 30cm which is “only” about 9k here in the states….not 21k, it doesn’t look to be a exotic leather either. If you buy it in France it’s even cheaper! I believe they are aroind 7k as of 2016. What a steal!
There is no waiting list, but it may take you several tries as the sales associate gets to determine if you are worthy of the bag. Ive heard that your previous purchases play a significant role in your “worthiness”.
Man she was looking so cute the last couple of weeks. Then she wears this.
During the R
I will admit I love her make up application in the headshot pic – even with the cornrows and drowsy cat expression- i actually thought she looked good for once. How bad could it be? and then I saw the full body photos…oh sweet Margaritas!
how can a person have so much money and access to fashion but yet have ZERO knowledge how to dress her body?
And who had the unfortunate job to zip up them thar ho boots!? North?
Drowsy cat lmao
During the Reggie and Kris Humphries years her style was impeccable.
No, her style was just boring. Bandeau dresses after bandeau dresses.
But at least they fit her.
The face she had with Chris was also my favorite! Lol. No snark, I’m serious.
True. I liked her original face, but that point would have been a good point to stop with all the extra work I think.
Yes! Mine too. It looked good but not done.
Me too. I loved her original nose – bump and all.
I like very much this outfit. Don’t mind me, I have a clothing disorder.
I want one of those tees.
She needs to wear thoee boots with some Ri-Ri attitude.
I guess her outfit is supposed to be fashion and edgy and whatever but the opposite is the case. Hooker boots, messy hair and a t shirt for a dress. 100% failure in my book.
Edit: reminds me of these people with no sense of style who would wear all of their most expensive pieces, convinced it must look good because of their price tags.
All that money to look this bad. I will never understand it.
You guys I’ve worn a similar outfit like this before, but I was trying to be an a**hole because I didn’t want to go to my family reunion so I just wore boots and a long t-shirt. My mom was pissed. I was 17 then. 🙁
heart this!
The amount of money is proportional to the tackiness.
I’m betting Tom Ford is spitting chips about this as he is particular about the women who wear his clothing publicly, just as he is strict with the exposure of his collections in the media. Ah well, he couldn’t control this nightmare ensemble.
I know it’s wrong, but I weirdly love this outfit. It’s so random. And why can’t she wear cornrows, again?
Hideous.
Agree. The hair isn’t bad, nor the t-shirt. But those high lace-up boots – hideous.
I like the idea of the boots. I don’t think Kim is doing them justice.
If Kim looked happy and showed some “sass” when she was on her pap strolls, I don’t think people would snark so much on what she wears.
I have seen people wear some of the most hideous outfits, but they walk with confidence, or they are smiling. Kim just looks down right miserable and unhappy. Have some fun! The reality gravy train will not last forever
Completely agree! I read (somewhere) that that Jonathon Cheban person told her to stop smiling because it isn’t cool. Also, smiling (or showing any expression) causes wrinkles and we can’t have that! Kim, you really used to be so beautiful and now you just always. look. the. same. Miserable and plastic.
She does look miserable in these pap strolls. But it could also be that she doesn’t smile for similar reasons that Bella Hadid and Kylie Jenner don’t smile: the extensive facial fillers/surgery doesn’t photograph well in motion or out of neutral. A little surgery doesn’t do this. But repeated/too much/unsettled surgery can look a little Grinch-like. It contorts rather than enhances. You can see this in their reality show or on the off chance that they’re photographed in a non-neutral expression.
Yep. They dont look so bad in pictures butvon their show….shudder
Maybe she can’t smile coming from the dermatologist because the Botox froze her her face-
Huh. I don’t not like the outfit.
Other smarter heads than mine have explained why what the Kardashians do is appropriation so I’ll let them tackle it. Me personally, what irks is when they act like they invented the style. A la Kylie and her stupid boxer braids comment. She basically said no one was doing boxer braids till them. For that and many other reasons the Kardashians have earned an eternal side-eye.
*Speaking of ESE I’mma hit send and wait for her to show up.
Thank you!
Seriously. It’s been carefully and patiently explained eight million times around here.
I don’t really GAF if people don’t think it’s cultural appropriation and I don’t care enough to argue about it but I absolutely do think what Kim and her sisters do is cultural appropriation.
Even without the intellectual explanation, it just FEELS wrong. What these women do with black culture just FEELS WRONG and disrespectful to me.
*shrugs*
Kitten speaks the truth
🙌👏✌️
I agree Kitten!
I agree, Kitten.
Haha, call me and I show up.
I tend to avoid most Kim K threads because really…the woman does the most so much it almost takes the fun out of talking about her. I assumed whatever the Celebitchy staff was hiding from us by focusing strictly on her face was an attempt at protection.
Clearly, my assumption was right and now I just feel the sads over her whole lifestyle choice. You know some poor staff member had to spend half an hour lacing her into that get-up.
She would have looked cute with some regular leggings or jeans.
Hmm. I have ready mixed feelings about this because it is appropriation to a certain extent, buuuuut…she does have a black husband and mixed children, so normalizing this kind of hair doesn’t seem as egregious? Like, hell yeah I want those kids to grow up thinking of cornrows as being fashion forward and beautiful.
You know what? I do too. But I sadly worry that her children will not get the same love or affection from the public at large for wearing their hair in a hairstyle that is actually more natural for them.
A part of me pictures North getting no love in the hair department while say Penelope will be showered with praise. I mean think about it, how often do we EVER hear young black celebs (I’m going to go with God on this one since she’s a child and hopefully by then she’ll be a celeb for MORE than simply doing nothing) hair being praised?
@Eternal Side-Eye – Willow Smith appears to be making something of a mark with her style (and, yes, her hair – hell, I mean she even had a song called ‘Whip My Hair’ and all the hair was in braids!)
That said, she faces insane amounts of vitriol from people for even something as minor as expressing the hope of going to a famous university someday. A kid getting denigrated for aspiring to higher education, basically.
That’s a damn shame teacakes. You are right that Willow does get some style love and I do appreciate that she got the opportunity to work with Dior and display her own unique fashion vision.
Sadly though, sometimes it feels like a drop in the bucket.
No, I agree, that’s why my feelings are mixed. It’s inevitable that they’ll deal with racism outside of the home. That’s why I would hope Kim utilizing this hair style would help them make them feel beautiful and unique earlier in life so that they have the confidence to deal with it later. It’s only because of that circumstance that I find this even remotely appropriate.
God how I miss my blackberry. RIM needs to get on it so I can ditch these keyless keyboards.
Nothing feels better than a tactile button to press. I could type so much faster and more accurately before touch screens.
RIM has been slaaaaacking for a while now, and been dealing with money and leadership issues. I think the dream of a modern blackberry is dying going on dead.
I read somewhere that there was a phone case with the blackberry keyboard built-in. You might want to try that?
Omg, Lynnie, thank you! I just googled that and there are a bunch of cases with keyboards. I had no idea those existed, I’m getting one! 🎉
I like the back of her outfit more then the front. Lol about wearing a tshirt and that’s it? Are you going to bed? Boots are pretty crazy but it’s tom ford so WORK! Her hair to me reminds me more of a native American look then anything else. I like it but I can see how people may get upset about it.
That article in the Daily Fail about the Kardashian pets. They should never be allowed to buy or adopt an animal again. Used as props or gifts for momentary delight and then given away, placed for adoption, or simply forgotten about. It says so much about this family.
Can someone explain why wearing cornrows is appropiation? Aren’t cornrows like little french braids????
They look like Dutch braids to me. Some people think they are the same, but apparently the difference lies in that in order to make cornrows you add hair to the middle section whereas for Dutch braids you don’t.
Good luck with a coherent answer on that one.
I don’t understand how one culture, ethnicity, or country or continent “owns” a hairstyle either. I think Kim K. looks idiotic no matter what she does, and she seems like a vile disgusting person, but she’s free to wear her hair how she likes and just look stupid. She’d look just as dumb wearing lederhosen or a British prep school uniform or a traditional Inuit coat made from seal fur.
It’s about context. You’d be hard pressed to show me a recent picture of a woman of European decent wearing braids. It’s not common in the US. It’s a style that is associated with African American women. No one is saying that no one else can wear it, or own it, but in the states, Kim isn’t referencing a European hairstyle of any kind.
Apparently it’s become common in Australia for those of European descent when vacationing because it’s such a convenient hairstyle when going in and out of the water. Maybe it’s starting to catch on here in the US for people of European descent for similar reasons. After the initial effort, it really is a low-maintenance hairstyle, fast drying and comfortable to sleep on. Usually people keep the hairstyle for a while to benefit from the low maintenance aspect , so I don’t really understand why the Kardashians spend so much time styling their hair that way and then the next day seem to have unbraided it.
It’s a style that is not only practical but also very attractive. The prohibitions against it in schools and workplaces are baffling and really do reflect general racism in our society since until recently it was always associated with people of African descent. That doesn’t mean people implementing such bans are blatantly racist, but the rules being there in the first place do have racist origin and at some point just become an institution. People in the community have to educate schools and employers about the practicality of such hairstyles and how they can fit the reasons for any hairstyle dress codes, which I assume some are already doing since rules are changing. People have been able to wear their hair natural for a long time, for example, and bizarrely enough at one time that was not approved for women even when worn short. Straightening the hair was virtually mandatory except for those of European descent who had tight curls. I’ve seen that change during my own lifetime.
I’m not doing this with Ya’ll OR this Spicy white Culture vulture chippy… Be blessed whether ya’ll wanna be on purpose obtuse or not today 🙂
Hi QQ! I feel like I don’t say hello enough to you.
Hi Bae how are you?! TGIF! I feel we shoulda been Text Buddies already as well Im gonna be tantrummy about this now! *mwah*
*mwah back*
and right?
Between Trump and the high level’s of fuckery screwing with the ecosystem I’m going to be needing a stiff drink, because I’ve been side-eyeing too strong lately.
The boots are ah-ma-zing but I imagine there’s a short window before you want to tear them off your legs.
Her cute lob was a wig. She admitted it.
I actually like her “grunge”-y look but that t-shirt looks like a 90’s cholo kid’s DIY project. It’s just an xl tee and iron on letters from Hobby Lobby.
An outfit that’s a ‘what the fuuuu’ from the front AND the back.
That’s impressive.
The outfit is fine for a teenager, early 20something. She looks ridiculous.
She was looking so good WHY
Idek- if Kim Kardashian is paying for Tom Ford’s boots, surely he can’t whinge at who wears them? As long as she isn’t saying that he dresses her or anything, that should be fine.
But that outfit is a hot mess.
Kim has been looking great recently – she’s beginning to look like she did when she was Paris Hilton’s assistant. But no to the cornrows.
Is she visiting the Epione Clinic AGAIN??? How many freaking times does she go there? Daily Mail just had recent pics of her going there… might have even been this week.
She might also be dealing with her psoriasis.
oh… right, right…
Her BAG costs a teacher’s salary in some places.
Appropriation chic. All the rage this season.
These Kartrashians and their cornrows. Whoever told them they looked good in
them should be shot in the face.
On second thought, maybe it’s just more continued/desperate attempts at an identity/culture.
The amount of effort she puts into getting one pap shot. Insane. This is way past an addiction.
I wore this similar outfit in 1999. A longish t shirt and flat heeled thigh high boots. So it brought back memories of how cool i “thought” i looked.
I was wondering about the pants in the title, what about the pants??? Then I saw the first picture with NO pants, and I wanted to slap myself for assuming KK would consider wearing pants out in public HAHAHAHA. Also, I think the style is too “Kylie” for Kim. I do not care who started the ghetto couture mess, it makes Kim look old and washed up, and only supports the fact that deep inside it’s irking her that Kylie got big really fast.
This is the best outfit I’ve ever saw ok Kim. She looks damn good. Curvy and she rocks the sht outta those beautiful on trend boots. That’s at Tshirt dress and it’s meant to show off the boots. Braids are on trend right now and makes her look extra exotic. Kim usually looks like a stuffed sausage. This is sexy.
Holy plaster cast! For a second I thought she’s been injured!
http://steeperclinic.com/orthotics/knee-braces 😉
I think Kim wears cornrows for North. To show her that you can do a lot of cool things with curly hair. And I think it’s awesome of Kim.
I have the same mix as North (black and white) and a big advocate of natural hair. I would have loved my mom to wear her hair like this. It would have given me more confidence and encouraged me to try different things with my hair.
As for her outfit, it’s daring, it’s good! I like it.
She looks miserable.
As far as cultural appropriation goes, anyone can wear whatever the fuck they want. The person wearing it is not the problem. The problem is the mainstream culture acting like she invented it and is ever so avant-garde is the problem.
Anyone should and can where what they want! If it makes you feel good and most parts are covered then go for it! Taste is hugely individual and it changes so often depending on time, place, situation, fashion trends, etc. Do o think she looks good? No. Do I particularly care, nah just another typical Kim K outing. However, I will say Tim Curry could have rocked that ish when he was in his zone!!!
Methinks that KK is trying more and more to look like Beyonce. Jealous? Much!