The Most Controversial Ads in Fashion History
American Apparel 2003 to present
Dov Charney is as much provocateur as he is fashionista. Having drawn the condemnation of millions from the religious right to the liberal NY blogger - Charney has relied on amateur models and pornstars to sell socks and other cottony goods. But for as much ire as American Apparels ads have drawn, many a competitor has drawn inspiration from Charneys voyeuristic-snapshot style, proving that imitation is the sincerest result of controversy.
Tom Ford For Men August 2007 to present
Tom Ford has made a living turning heads in the fashion world. Since his days of infusing sex into an anemic Gucci line, his name has been synonymous with controversy. The creative behind his latest cologne offering may not come as a surprise to the fashion faithful, but might make the conservative GQ reader sweat.
Sisley Sometime in 2001
Sisley has delivered consistently provocative ads for the better part of a decade. Whether its white residue in their models nose or mouth (see above), you can count on this Benetton Group company to push the envelope.
Jordache Late 70s, Early 80s
A topless woman in an advertisementscandalous! Or at least it was in 1979. An aggressive print and television campaign featuring half-clothed models propelled Jordache into the public eye. Their current campaign features a topless Heidi Klum - paying homage to a banned commercial from 1980.
Regarded by many as a viral stunt gone awry, numerous media outlets have since determined these Lewinskious-ads to be disingenuous. Regardless, the damage (or success) of these faux-ads is done in the blog universe, theyve blown up.
Akademics 2004
With so many more overt ads to condemn, this cleverly worded campaign flew under the typical prude-radar. That is, until some loose-lipped highschooler spilled the beans that Getting Brain has a sexual connotation (see faux-Puma ads above). Akademics subsequently acknowledged their intent and pulled the ad from distribution.
Dolce & Gabbana January 2007
Banned in Italy, this Dolce & Gabbana advertisement has been criticized as a glorification of gang-rape. While one can never be sure of D&Gs true intent, the company's penchant is for controversy. See this tribute to the faux-Puma ads above.
American Apparel 2003 to present
Dov Charney is as much provocateur as he is fashionista. Having drawn the condemnation of millions from the religious right to the liberal NY blogger - Charney has relied on amateur models and pornstars to sell socks and other cottony goods. But for as much ire as American Apparels ads have drawn, many a competitor has drawn inspiration from Charneys voyeuristic-snapshot style, proving that imitation is the sincerest result of controversy.
Tom Ford For Men August 2007 to present
Tom Ford has made a living turning heads in the fashion world. Since his days of infusing sex into an anemic Gucci line, his name has been synonymous with controversy. The creative behind his latest cologne offering may not come as a surprise to the fashion faithful, but might make the conservative GQ reader sweat.
Sisley Sometime in 2001
Sisley has delivered consistently provocative ads for the better part of a decade. Whether its white residue in their models nose or mouth (see above), you can count on this Benetton Group company to push the envelope.
Jordache Late 70s, Early 80s
A topless woman in an advertisementscandalous! Or at least it was in 1979. An aggressive print and television campaign featuring half-clothed models propelled Jordache into the public eye. Their current campaign features a topless Heidi Klum - paying homage to a banned commercial from 1980.
Regarded by many as a viral stunt gone awry, numerous media outlets have since determined these Lewinskious-ads to be disingenuous. Regardless, the damage (or success) of these faux-ads is done in the blog universe, theyve blown up.
Akademics 2004
With so many more overt ads to condemn, this cleverly worded campaign flew under the typical prude-radar. That is, until some loose-lipped highschooler spilled the beans that Getting Brain has a sexual connotation (see faux-Puma ads above). Akademics subsequently acknowledged their intent and pulled the ad from distribution.
Dolce & Gabbana January 2007
Banned in Italy, this Dolce & Gabbana advertisement has been criticized as a glorification of gang-rape. While one can never be sure of D&Gs true intent, the company's penchant is for controversy. See this tribute to the faux-Puma ads above.
oh see the fashion junkie one is just a bit too much for me... no wonder that was banned. imagine little girls reading there mum or sisters glossys and coming across that! lol.
Clever idea but not appealing :S i.e doesn't make me want to run out and buy it.
I think we are seeing a direction more in Shocking,Garish,and Reality TV/Internet voyeurism, then quality, or taste. I recently picked up PURPLE FASHION and found that (even tho I love and respect Terry Richardson) things are getting too sexually charged (See the recent MUSE with Lindy Lohan). Sorry. I would rather not see a woman's labia in a shoe layout or singular image. What is the point? Oh yeah, Shock! Got it. However, I recently picked up Man About Town #5 and found the images Hedi Slimane did of Magdalena Frackowiak were, tasteful, exciting, pure, and had an aesthetic quality to them. Even French Vogue's 2010 calendar looks inviting, creative (albeit not original), yet tasteful. I find myself thinking when will true Mapplethorpian ads start to enter the industry and just how far the envelope will get pushed before we truly break into "classless" imagery and leave behind all we know about art and creativity. I think the later is just harder and no-one wants to think allot about it.
Leave A Comment
Create a Fashionising.com account to leave a comment or login.
SHARE URLS