Written by Brianna Washington
One of the legendary names cemented in the fashion world for the foreseeable future is undoubtedly Marc Jacobs. Chances are, most of us have either owned one of his signature perfumes (like the popular fragrance Daisy by Marc Jacobs) or saved up for our very own Marc Jacobs bag at the beginning of the season. After his split with Louis Vuitton that shook the fashion world in 2013, Jacobs has made sure to keep his name afloat in the industry.
For his newest collection, Jacobs made headlines for adding something different to the runway: “mile-long lashes” as Vogue.com puts it. Cue the Miranda Priestly “Groundbreaking” GIF (die-hard The Devil Wears Prada fans know what I’m talking about). Keep in mind, many spectators in the BIPOC community found this distasteful.
That is because this choice of thick wispy lashes are deemed “fashionable” however many people of color can attest to the staring and negative stereotypes that are associated with this look in corporate spaces or even on the street. This is nothing new for BIPOC with non-POC capitalizing on the features and popularized trends within the community.
We’ve seen cultural appropriation with fashion mega-houses such as Gucci, Prada, and the list could go on. The thing is, we all know lashes have been part of the culture for decades. Some would ask, “Well, what if it’s appreciation and actually not appropriation?” or say, “Eyelash extensions are just the new trend”. Let’s get into it.
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Where It All Started
First off, for those that don’t know the actual definition of “appropriation”, according to this Greenheat.org article: Appreciation is when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to broaden their perspective and connect with others cross-culturally. Appropriation, on the other hand, is simply taking one aspect of a culture that is not your own and using it for your own personal interest.”
Don’t get me wrong, lashes and eyelash extensions have been around since the beginning of the 20th century. However, I’m talking about the lashes that weren’t deemed natural and subtle, but ghetto and obnoxious by others. The bold, unapologetic lashes command attention and often lead to a stereotype of a loud and ghetto Black girl.
Let’s take it to the beginning of when lashes and eyelash extensions were first introduced to the culture. It was back in the ‘60s when false lashes exploded in popularity. Celebrities such as the iconic Diana Ross and Eartha Kitt led the new trend of big and bold false lashes and eyelash extensions. As the decade phased, so did the popularity of eyelash extensions due to the rise of a more natural makeup look.
The trend of false lashes was used as a beauty outlet for those that desired to still feel confident and stylish since makeup in the correct shade wasn’t available to them due to the lack of diversity and prevalent racism. In the Black community, it remained and morphed into the beauty staple in the culture that we have to this day. Mostly due to the fact that the Black women took ownership of the beauty trend which was turned into a way of self-expression.
Marc Jacobs has no personal history with this struggle. Hence why this is not just about the trend of false lashes. Although the trend of eyelash extensions and false lashes have been gaining popularity over the last decade, bold lashes have been a way of expressing ourselves at a time when we didn’t fit the beauty standard and could only use what was available to us.
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Where We Are Now
As we know with New York Fashion Week, exaggerated trends worn in luxury fashion shows will be toned down and presented in street style brands, making it easier for the average person to have access to this style.
Marc Jacobs is not the first to declare this trend new and innovative. In the same Vogue.com article, makeup artist Diane Kendal explained her reasoning for choosing bold lashes in the show by saying, “Well if I’m going to do lashes, it has to be something kind of extreme for it to work”, followed by “You couldn’t just do a normal lash. It had to have a point of view.”
Several prominent publications have been in awe of his new revelation. Fashionista.com called the look “exaggerated, over-the-top, Miss Piggy-like lashes.” Vogue.com explained that the “full and fluttery lashes were a major moment that helped mark the occasion; not just the show itself, but the collective comeback to full, unadulterated glamour.”
This story also ended with a call to action to “go big or go home with your lashes”.
Outside the fashion world, the story of Sha’Carri Richardson is “inspiring” the look of the moment as well. With her originality, Sha’Carri demanded attention after winning the 100-meter dash and qualifying for the 2021 Olympics. Her orange hair, full and dramatic lashes, long nails, and tattoos seemed to get attention even before her accomplishment.
She is a perfect representation of what it means to be the unapologetic Black girl facing criticism for what others view as unconventional beauty. She was even accused of steroid use due to her look, specifically her long acrylic nails (that’s all over Instagram by the way). This situation influenced this article that emphasizes the importance of loving the stereotypical style choices of Black women.
The credit of this “inspired” idea of dramatic lashes is also trending on TikTok. At the time of writing this article, the hashtag #Doelashes has gone viral with 20.5 million views. Doe Lashes is a company gaining popularity among Generation Z for its dramatic lashes. Actions like these are the exact reason why the hashtag #blacktiktokstrike has been in practice since Juneteenth.
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Black creators are going on strike on TikTok and not making a viral dance to Megan Thee Stallion’s new song “Thot Sh*t”. A month after the release of the hit on June 11th, there has yet to be a viral dance along with the song without the assistance of Black creators. This blatantly shows the impact of Black culture and how it has been appropriated.
BIPOC have always been on the pulse of what’s going to be the latest trends in pop culture, beauty, entertainment, sports, etc. As Diddy said in his 2020 Grammy speech, “We have the power, we decide what’s hot,” he said. “If we don’t go, nobody goes. If we don’t support, nobody supports us. We control what’s cool, we control what’s hot.”
Full wispy false eyelashes have always held a special place in Black women’s hearts. Even though negative judgment and stereotypes have been associated with this style choice, it has been a way for BIPOC women (and men) to express themselves. The ask from the community is simple, just give credit where credit is due.
What do you think? Do you believe Marc Jacobs was appropriating this trend? Or giving others ideas to express themselves in the world of the new Covid-19 reality? Let’s discuss in the comments!
Awesome article.