I’m posting this in trepidation really – Stefano Gabbana’s recent cultural insensitivity and subsequent use of the (now deleted) poo emoji (oh, grow up, SG!) to illustrate his thoughts on the Chinese have certainly made me think twice. But I’m opening up the conversation. Given that Chinese retailers (such a large proportion of the luxury market) have turned their backs on the brand, D&G is getting punishment to their pockets big-time.
Cultural insensitivity often comes from a place of ignorance, and of course a sense of superiority (ugly wherever you find it) that somehow removes the person from educating themselves – or from taking advice, that surely must have been given. I can’t ignore it. I’m reviewing the new products as I would normally, but inviting you to have your say in comments. At what point do you, as a consumer, turn your back on a brand? They’re not the first to behave improperly and I am sure they won’t be the last.
It’s a double blow that these are the prettiest things the brand has ever produced. The Dolcissimo Matte Liquid Lip Colour are liquid matte lipsticks (I’d be happier if they were gloss!) in 9 bold shades and an intense pigment level.
I cannot help but love the packaging that makes every other liquid lipstick or gloss look dull as ditch water. The liquid matte is a comfort wear with oils to prevent moisture loss but as with any very matte product, if you have dry lips these will not be your friends. I wish that ‘wear’ classification could be standardized – this claims 8 hours but no brand ever specifies if that time is for the very last vestiges to be gone or whether the expectation is that you’ll keep the lip you put on for the entire day. Perhaps if you lie still in a dark room, but otherwise, I don’t see it (or any other) sticking around.
In the swatch, from bottom to top: Rosebud, Ruby, Red and Fuchsia. They’re £36 each HERE.
Non aff HERE.
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10 comments
I’m sure they’ll not feel the pinch for long. John Galliano was out of favour for all of, what, 18 months.
Hello Jane, these are gorgeous products but Stefano ‘s behavior is shocking, and it’s not just him either -their French PR office apparently let a lovely blogger I follow, Kléo beauté, that she was no longer on their list for not being a skinny, Instagram -worthy fashionista! Shocking and childish…
If you knew how often that happens! I’m 53 – plenty of brands have made it clear that I’m ‘not their demographic’. It’s hard to take, especially when I have readers of all ages, but there are enough beauty brands that I doubt I’d ever run out of products to review and write about. And of course, if there is something I feel you really must see, I can buy it and show it that way. In fact, sometimes it’s just easier to do that and there is a bit of pleasure in the fact that I can and will and sod the demographic!
Jane I thinks that’s disgusting. Please can you let us know who this ignorant brands are? I for one will not be supporting them. There is enough brands out there so we don’t have to.
Reading your blog is part of my daily routine so I’m aghast that any brand would treat you so shamefully.
Thank you Caroline! The thing is, the reasons are multi-layered. Partly, it’s because all brands are Instagram and Selfie obsessed and that’s not my strongest area, plus they’re also all obsessed with millenials and capturing a younger audience. Those are the directives from the top – the people implementing it often don’t have any choice. I had a situation with Huda Beauty where I was told that I was not their target demographic but by-passed the PR that told me that (who had apparently) been told by the brand’s social team) and went to the brand directly. There was then no problem at all, and the new PRs include me on everything. I really stand my ground on things if I feel strongly enough but PRs and marketing teams are so used to ‘yes’ people that it doesn’t exactly make me popular. I am very prepared to be difficult! Beauty world is tricky to navigate but on the whole I rub along nicely with most brands and the majority of people I deal with are absolutely lovely.
As an Italian I have been sometimes subjected to cultural stereotypes (pizza,mafia, mandolino, ecc) and I still remember when Lush came out some years ago with a body spray called Italian Shower (I looked up that term and I was horrified), so it makes me mad that someone like Stefano Gabbana would write something like that on social media (and think something like that!).
I really wanted to try the dolcissimo lipsticks, but I thing I’ll wait and see if anything changes.
I also think about all the people that work for them (and may find themselves jobless if the sales go down).
This isn’t an easy situation to resolve/rectify, but I really hope they do, because I think Domenico Dolce is a creative genius.
Love, Giada
Thanks so much for your thoughts. It’s difficult because we all know there was a creative and production team behind these beautiful products who are very far removed from the actual brand owners. It’s such a shame for them.
Those two have been making abhorrent comments for a long time – including lots of homophobic comments (yes I know) – here if you’re interested https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/03/dolce-gabbana-anti-gay-statements-money-cant-protect-them-from-homophobia.html
Then there’s their refusal to pay taxes – they got away with that too. Yes of course their creative genius is something wonderful, but they keep getting away with appalling behaviour- well apparently until they annoy the Chinese market. Doubtless they’ll be forgiven for this too.
Ooo what gorgeous shades! 😀
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They do make a bit of a habit of it unfortunately. It wasn’t that long ago that they said they were anti-IVF. Caused a bit of controversy at the time…certainly put me off. Not a huge fan of D&G for the sheer pomposity and ignorant rants they have every now and then.