Victoria’s Secret is in hot water today after their new “Sexy Little Geisha” outfit causes a stir. The outfit is part of VS’s “Go East” collection, an “Eastern-inspired” floral print fabric plus a removable obi belt. The model poses with a matching fan and chopsticks, which Candice Swanepoel models. Victoria’s Secret claims the outfit is “your ticket to an exotic adventure”.

The negative reactions began several weeks ago. On Racialicious, Nina Jacinto took Victoria’s Secret to task for essentializing Asian identity and reducing “Eastern” culture to a stereotype of exotic sexuality. “It’s a narrative that says the culture can be completely stripped of its realness in order to fulfill our fantasies of a safe and non-threatening, mysterious East,” she argues. Done at the corporate level, “it’s a troubling attempt to sidestep authentic representation and humanization of a culture and opt instead for racialized fetishizing against Asian women.”

The Frisky concurred: “Considering the complicated history of geishas, repurposing the [geisha] ‘look’ for a major corporation to sell as role-playing lingerie seems a bit tasteless.”

Victoria’s Secret has responded to the protests, if only tacitly: type in the URL for the Sexy Little Geisha product page and it redirects you to VictoriasSecret.com. In fact all the product pages for the “Go East” collection, including the Printed Chiffon Robe we highlighted last month, now simply redirect to the Victoria’s Secret homepage.

What do you think? Does the outfit seem inappropriate to you?

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The red carpet at the CFDA Awards was brimming with the fashion world’s sexiest stars, including Supermodel Erin Heatherton. To get her show-stopping hair and makeup, follow these easy steps from Celebrity Makeup Artist Quinn Murphy and Stylist Brent Lawler.

FACE

• Get Erin’s Bronzed Bombshell look by applying VS PRO Radiant FX Face Illuminator everywhere the sun naturally hits: forehead, tops of cheekbones, bridge of nose and tip of the chin.
• Lightly dust VS Makeup Baked Mineral Bronzing Powder in Goddess on temples, under cheekbones, and to the tip of the chin for extra sunkissed radiance followed by VS Makeup Luminous Blush Duo in Starlet.

EYES

• Define upper and lower lashlines with VS Makeup Eyeliner in Dark Chocolate. Use a flat, firm liner brush to blend and soften the line.
• Apply VS Makeup Shimmer Eye Shadow in Chestnut from lashline to crease. Next, apply more color to the outer corner of the eye and blend up and out towards the brow.
• Using fingertips, dab Shimmer Eye Shadow in Taupe Love to the center of the lid. Add a dab of the shadow to the inner corner for an eye-opening effect.
• Finish with two coats of VS Makeup Triple Drama Mascara in Blackest Black.

LIPS

• Complete the red carpet look with a swipe of VS Makeup Lip Gloss in Intimate.

HAIR

• Prep hair with So Sexy Style Tame & Smooth Instant Detangler. Comb through wet hair.
• Add lift and body by applying So Sexy Style Body & Hold Volumizing Mousse, then blow dry hair upside down. Curl ends with a 1” barrel curling iron, leaving a few loose pieces to frame the face naturally.
• Add height to the crown by back-combing roots and spraying So Sexy Style Clean & Go Dry Shampoo throughout roots and hair. Gather teased hair at the crown and secure at ear level with an elastic hair tie. To hide the elastic, wrap a small piece of hair around the hair tie and secure with a hair pin
• For extra fullness, back-comb roots of the ponytail and spray with So Sexy Style Hold & Finish Hairspray

In two new videos, Victoria’s Secret Angels Heart The World’s Sexiest Chocolate, and talk about their first kiss.

Miranda Kerr looks incredibly sexy in these just-released images from Victoria’s Secret’s latest campaign.

Wearing nothing but a camisole and french briefs, the mother-of-one and Orlando Bloom’s wife shows off her amazing body. Miranda has been an ‘Angel’ since 2007, and was the first Australian model to do so. She loves working with the company, and recently said, ‘They’re about promoting a healthy body image and a curvaceous image so, you know, it’s good, it’s good for us.

‘But I do think it’s important for anyone to have [an] exercise regime because then they feel better about themselves.

‘It’s just as much a mental thing as it is a physical thing.’

She added: ‘The first step is eating healthy. I predominantly eat organic when I can.

‘I eat extremely healthy because when I do, I have more energy. ‘I love spinach, avocado, lots of greens and broccoli.

‘I’m pretty much 80 percent healthy, 20 percent indulgent, because I don’t believe in depriving yourself.’

This year’s lingerie collection introduces the bust-enhancing Dream Angels and Gorgeous Lace Push-up Bras.

The U.S. lingerie brand, which has around 1,000 stores worldwide, is set to open a flagship shop on New Bond Street in London later this year, with further openings planned across the country.

Also pictured in this campaign are  ’Angels‘ Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Erin Heatherton and Lindsay Ellingsonare.

PS: That leggy blonde below is Erin Heatherton – who’s currently dating Leonardo DiCaprio!

victoria’s secret bras

“I love rolling around in the sand and sea, feeling all of the elements and appreciating my surroundings. I feel sexier modeling swimwear,” model Candice Swanepoel tells PEOPLE. “Let’s just say shooting swim is the best part of being an Victoria’s Secret Angel for me.”

Swanepoel does a sexy beachfront striptease in the commercial above to promote the brand’s first 2012 swim catalog, in mailboxes Friday. The South African stunner, shot in the sun on the exotic islands of Bora Bora, wears (er, doesn’t wear) a suit inspired by Brazil’s beaches and bombshells — a theme seen throughout this year’s VS swimsuits and promotional items.

Here is a great suggestion if you’re looking for Christmas gifts this weekend!

Perfume: Victoria’s Secret Angel Eau de Parfum. A sexy, wearable scent for those who have been naughty and nice.

To spice up the holiday season, Victoria’s Secret Angels Adriana Lima , Doutzen Kroes, Lily Aldridge , Candice Swanepoel , Erin Heatherton , and Lindsay Ellingson sing “Jingle Bells.”

The Jingle Bells video was shot by the behind-the-scenes crew while the Angels were on set filming the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Holiday Commercial.

Much sexier when they’re not trying to sing.