Once again all eyes are on the French as yet another fashion related faux pas has caused offence and protest from various sources. French Elle magazine has released more than one apology for the blog behind this latest uproar – one published on its website last week entitled ‘Black Fashion Power’.

Modelling agency Models Direct were not the only people to have been shocked by writer Nathalie Dolivo’s piece, which was quickly removed amid outrage from readers. It’s easy to see why. ‘Black Fashion Power’ was an article that, amongst other things, suggested the Obamas had become a catalyst for what Dolivo described as a ‘black fashion renaissance’, and that ‘white fashion’ was finally being embraced by the black community.

Dolivo wrote: “For the first time, the chic has become a plausible option for a community so far pegged [only] to its streetwear codes.” She also referred to a ‘black-geosie’ and picked out Rhianna and Erykah Badu, amongst others, as black Americans who understood “the importance of style”.

Valerie Toranian – Editor of Elle France – published an online apology shortly after the piece was removed from the website and invited debate around the article, which she said was “full of good intentions” whilst admitting that they may have been badly expressed. Dolivo herself mirrored this explanation for the blog in her own apology where she insisted that it was intended to have been a positive look at US style: “It was about putting the spotlight on these new figures who are unsettling and fascinating the worlds of fashion and entertainment,” she said.

Despite these attempts to damage control the incident fellow French journalist Audrey Pulvar stated that the article was simply “racist and imbecilic” and the Huffington Post published this article where they say: “What initially seemed like Dolivo’s attempt to praise the black community for their style prowess, unraveled into a string of controversial, stereotypical and insulting statements. Such sweeping generalizations and misguided comments are what perpetuate the stereotypes we constantly fight to keep at bay.”

Meanwhile, a freshly blonde Rihanna is due to appear as cover model on US Elle next month.