Victoria’s Secret apologises over American Indian outfit in catwalk show

Lingerie giant Victoria's Secret will not broadcast the American Indian headdress look as modelled by Karlie Kloss after numerous complaints.

BY Olivia Lidbury | 12 November 2012

Photo: AFP

Top American model Karlie Kloss's newly bobbed hair was the subject of much discussion backstage at last week's Victoria's Secret show, but once she made it out onto the catwalk, talk turned to what she wore atop her new 'do.

Fashionista report how the brand's Facebook fan page was inundated with complaints over the American Indian-style headdress Kloss sported in the show.

IN PICTURES: Victoria's Secret show 2012

"Being a American Indian woman and mother, I am disgusted at the recent picture of your non-Native model dressed inappropriately with a war bonnet on her head, not to mention all the other culturally wrong messages this image sends to the world" wrote Charlene Hunt.

Thousands of comments of a similar vein led the retailer to publish the following statement: "We are sorry that the American Indian headdress replica used in our recent fashion show has upset individuals. We sincerely apologize as we absolutely had no intention to offend anyone. Out of respect, we will not be including the outfit in any broadcast, marketing materials nor in any other way."



Model Karlie Kloss, aporting the get-up, also took to Twitter to apologise. Photo: Getty

The annual catwalk extravaganza, which cost upwards of £10 million dollars to stage and featured 65 outfits, is due to be broadcast on the CBS channel in the US on December 4, and is one of the most watched programmed on American TV.

Chicago-born Kloss, 20, also took to her Twitter page to apologise, writing: "I am deeply sorry if what I wore during the VS Show offended anyone. I support VS's decision to remove the outfit from the broadcast."

Earlier this month the newly reformed pop band No Doubt pulled the video for their new single Looking Hot after lead singer Gwen Stefani was depicted playing an Indian princess who is captured by cowboys and subsequently rescued by an Indian chief.

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