Vogue slammed for 'racist' photo shoot of Karlie Kloss dressed as a Geisha

Shot in Japan, the images of Kloss have been heavily criticised on social media. Photo / Getty

Supermodel Karlie Kloss and US Vogue have been heavily criticised on social media after they published a Geisha-style photo shoot in the magazine's recent "diversity issue".

In the latest edition of Vogue - which features plus-size model Ashley Graham on the cover alongside Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid - Kloss features wearing what appears to be a kimono-style dress, along with Geisha-inspired makeup, hairstyle and shoes.

The shoot, titled "Spirited Away" and shot on location in Japan for Vogue's March issue, has been heavily criticised on social media.

Karlie Kloss appears as a geisha in Vogue's diversity issue https://t.co/paNaBw2RvC pic.twitter.com/eXCbBKYhIc

— The Cut (@TheCut) February 15, 2017

The Cut branded the shoot "tone-deaf", and noted that the spread referenced a Vogue shoot from 1966, which starred model Veruschka von Lehndorff.

The magazine was criticised this month for its cover, which feaured Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and other models along side plus-size model, Ashley Graham - who some readers thought had been photoshopped to appear thinner.

Hey, Vogue: Embracing diversity does not mean styling Karlie Kloss as a geisha https://t.co/GnW04ejz4v pic.twitter.com/LZSQzIF3eb

— The Cut (@TheCut) February 14, 2017

This is not the first time a Vogue title has been slammed for cultural insensitivity.

IDAF this was an homage to a 1966 Vogue shoot. Sure, take the visual inspiration—Don't copy the dusty cultural insensitivty from 50 yrs ago https://t.co/gBOKbRugEq

— Chin Lu 呂錦華 (@ChinHuaLu) February 14, 2017

Lara Stone (Vogue France) and Gigi Hadid (Vogue Italy) have previously appeared in editorials sporting blackface.

Neither Kloss nor Vogue has commented on the criticism.