Patricia Grisafi
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Vogue put out some shockingly tone-deaf fashion content.
“With this summer marking the 50th anniversary of the Manson family murders and the tragic death of Sharon Tate, the catalyst for the ’60s revival is a secret to no one,” read the caption. “Tap the link in our bio to see how five It girls have modernized throwback looks.”
Actress Sharon Tate, who was two weeks away from giving birth, was stabbed sixteen times during one of the most notorious crimes in American history. And Vogue is using her brutal murder as a marketing ploy.
jaw-dropping caption alert pic.twitter.com/NwQhjNcvWw
— heavy sweater (@someofmybest) July 21, 2019
Twitter dragged Vogue for its tasteless content, with hypothetical suggestions for similarly grotesque fashion looks.
Jim Jones sunglasses, anyone?
Jim Jones glasses set for hot return this summer xx pic.twitter.com/09FN9njoWp
— Clint Dixon (@ClintDixon01) July 21, 2019
Son of Sam only killed women with brown hair, which propelled numerous New Yorkers to either wear blonde wigs or dye their hair blonde.
Blonde wigs will make a huge comeback for Summer of Sam 50th Anniversary Jubilee
— As $oon As Possible Rocky (@podslurp) July 21, 2019
Truly inspired by a violent murder to get my summer look, RIP Sharon, check out my minidress
— Kristen Hanley Cardozo (@KHandozo) July 21, 2019
Manson family murders inspired look xoxo gorgeous
— Sarah (@_SarahKAnderson) July 21, 2019
Truly inspired by a violent murder to get my summer look, RIP Sharon, check out my minidress
— Kristen Hanley Cardozo (@KHandozo) July 21, 2019
In a long thread thread, Andi Zeisler of Bitch Media pointed out how, unfortunately, this isn’t even the “first time, or even the 20th time, that fashion/beauty media has suggested that dead women are paragons of style and sex appeal.”
Was not expecting a “This summer’s hottest look is inspired by CULT MURDER” take from Vogue but here we are pic.twitter.com/sCCmrCHrax
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) July 21, 2019
That said—and this is not a defense of a profoundly dumb caption—it’s not like this is the first time, or even the 20th time, that fashion/beauty media has suggested that dead women are paragons of style and sex appeal. pic.twitter.com/KPZLzcxtEX
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) July 21, 2019
The story of the Manson Family has occupied a part of our cultural imagination since that day in August 1969. Over the past ten years in particular, there has been renewed interest in the story of Charles Manson and his cult of drug-addled hippies. The latest offering is Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which stars Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate and Damon Herriman as Charles Manson.
Tate’s friends and family gave Robbie their blessing to play Tate in the movie.
“It was immensely important for me to honor Sharon’s generous spirit,” Robbie said. “I felt an enormous sense of responsibility. She really was such a beautiful character to play.”
60s style fashions are popular right now, but Vogue doesn’t have to use a woman’s violent death to sell clothing and makeup.
This is just gross on so many levels and Sharon Tate deserved and continues to deserve so much better holy shit
— Entitled Millennial (@SassyFactory) July 21, 2019