Monday December 04, 2006

Party Like it’s 1859

If you’re looking for evidence that rich people should not be allowed to congregate without appropriate supervision, look no further than the New York debut of Haute Living, the luxury rag that disappeared Eric Trump from its cover. Inside, you’ll find an account of interior designer Geoffrey Bradfield’s 60th birthday party, which included 30 waiters in livery and three models “painted as blackamoors, decorated with Swarovski crystals and ostrich plumes.” Blackamoors? Is that as offensive as it sounds? Actually, yes—by definition. There were people in blackface (and body) at this party.

At least design doyen Iris Apfel looks appropriately shocked by these human props, judging from this shot from New York Social Diary. (Although, truthfully, she looks like this in all the pictures.) Bradfield, a foreigner, might be forgiven for not fully appreciating this country’s checkered racial history—except that, well, he’s from South Africa.

[Thanks to A. for bringing home this issue of HL.]

Posted by jim at 11:17 AM ||