About a year ago, I was in the mall with my 14 15 little sister, who I like to pretend still does not know what the male species is packin’, despite having a nephew. I also like to pretend she doesn’t know where my nephew came from. But I know I’m living a pipe dream. Because on that day in the mall, after surviving the curtain of scent that hangs from the entrance, we encountered the bottle of perfume above. Except it wasn’t just the size of the bottle. There was a poster of that image taking up the whole damn wall. Dude is buck-nakey.
Sometimes I am so inappropriate I could make Howard Stern blush. BUT (no pun intended, seriously), I was so uncomfortable and I’m pretty sure I forbade her to look in the direction of that particular wall. I was appalled. I know some adults still shop there (stop it, btw), but mostly, I think it’s high school kids. What this image is suggesting is NOT selling perfume and is so unnecessary. In my opinion.
Maybe A&F has always been controversial in their advertisements, whatever, they get talked about in the news (or used to) but I don’t know if anyone really protests it. But the latest in controversial advertising, from Urban Outfitters:
There are organizations protesting this one. Both are obviously sexualized and suggestive. But when I flipped through the catalog, I almost instantaneously knew it was going to be a problem, even though there’s waaay more clothing on. I have to admit, the protective-sister thing kicked in here too. I’m not trying to offend anyone, and I do think it’s bullshit that the organization behind it is the same one that tried to boot Ellen Degeneres from being the face of JCPenney. My stance is that the clothes – and the skinny ass models - should sell the clothes.
Hopeful
Apr 24, 2012 at 7:00 am
You are so right….I’m going to march right over to Abercrombie and Fitch and make sure that poster is as offensive as you deem it to be!
All kidding aside…advertising is so distorted. Do you think marketing students went to college so they could pose naked bodies? (I am so in the wrong field!). I think next time you’re with your sister, you could explain to her that perfume doesn’t make you look like the models, etc. It’s refreshing to hear this point of view from someone outside my own generation. (um…older…we’ll leave it at that.)
Stephanie Snyder
Apr 27, 2012 at 12:49 pm
I have this bottle of perfume, and I actually put it “away”, removing it from my dresser and my other bottles of smelly goods, when my mom came to visit during Thanksgiving this past year. Seriously. I’m 28. I just couldn’t risk her seeing it, for whatever damn reason!