Posts filed under 'Calvin Klein'
The new face of fashion
Known for larger breasts, bleached eyebrows, a sizeable gap between her two front teeth, and hips that round out between a U.S. size 4 and size 6, Lara Stone is different from what we’ve become accustomed to seeing on the runway and in fashion magazines.
(While a size 4 is still extremely thin, size 4 models are almost unheard of in the modeling business. Today, most models average between a size 0 and a size 2.)
Stone’s commanding presence and comparatively curvy physique are a throwback to the times of “supermodels” like Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell, women known for their beautiful curves and Amazonian stature.
Most interesting is the fact that designers are falling head over heels in love with Stone’s body. Just this year, Stone walked in all of the major fashion shows, renewed her contracts with Givenchy and Hugo Boss, and became the new face of Jean Paul Gaultier. In February, Vogue Paris dedicated an entire issue to Stone.
Of course, it is frustrating that it took almost 20 years for the enthusiasm for rail-thin bodies to wane. During the early 1990s, Kate Moss burst onto the scene in a highly publicized campaign for Calvin Klein. In the fashion world, one girl can change everything. No one is a better example than Moss. With her protruding bones and childlike frailty, Moss became synonymous with the terms “waif” and “heroin chic,” and the fashion industry embraced her physique as the new sought-after look for models on the runways and in advertisements.
Stone’s growing success, and the fact that designers have not pressured her to slim down, are promising signs that designers are embracing a healthier, more inclusive shape for women’s bodies. With the foundation set for fashion’s return to curvaceous, tall figures, now is the perfect time for a new “it” girl, a symbolic body that signifies the changing times. Lara Stone’s increasing success suggests it may be time for Kate Moss, and her waif-like predecessors, to pass the torch.
– Nikki
July 24th, 2009
As Nikki reported yesterday, Calvin Klein had posted a “sex orgy” ad in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. Was I irked? Yes, of course, but I wasn’t as concerned by the sexual content as I was by the sexualization (the using of sexual objects) of ALL of the models, not just the woman. So when they decided to put this one
up in its place, I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief, like some of the people interviewed for other news outlets.
Calvin Klein, this isn’t better. It’s a sexualized image of a woman, drawn large on a billboard and meant for us to lust over or envy. The idea is that this will pacify the angry masses while still keeping it slightly provocative, which is Calvin Klein’s brand history. But why aren’t we all up in arms about this one? Because we are so used to this type of image — hypnotized into thinking it’s normal — of a woman in a bikini. “Sex sells” after all, and “sex” always refers to women’s sexuality, cheapened up and used for a male-dominated culture’s titillation. But post a huge image of half-nude, sexualized women with men, and everyone loses it.
By “everyone,” I mean the news media reporting on it like crack fiends and the Christian right (who may have been responsible for getting this ad taken down) getting their panties in a twist because their children are being corrupted.
So now, I’m going to call LOUDLY for the removal of this ad too. And all the ads like it. Because women deserve better.
- Jennifer
June 26th, 2009
Calvin Klein has built a fortune on controversy. From the suggestive 1980s commercial where a then-14-year-old Brooke Shields seductively looked into the camera and admitted to going commando, to the Secret Obsession fragrance ad depicting a naked, nipple-baring Eva Mendes (the ad was later banned from TV), Calvin Klein has always branded his product with the suggestion of sex presented in a way to shock the viewer.
Now, the world-famous jeans corporation is stirring up debate with its latest ad campaign involving a billboard in New York’s trendy, stroller-friendly SoHo neighborhood.
Calvin Klein's provocative billboard at Houston Street and Lafayette Strees in New York
The ad in question depicts a very young-looking teenage girl wearing a tiny pair of jean cut-off shorts, laying on top of one half-naked young man and kissing a second young man. A third half-naked teenager lies on the floor next to the three with his pants undone.
What is Calvin Klein selling? Oh, that's right: jeans.
Asked about the message in the ad, a Calvin Klein spokesman said, “[the] intention was to create a very sexy campaign that speaks to our targeted demographic.” This statement is questionable considering the ad is plastered on a billboard for everyone to see, including children and teens.
Calvin Klein menswear designer Italo Zucchelli spoke out in favor of the ad more fervently. “I think it is a fantastic campaign. That is what Calvin Klein Jeans is supposed to be. Everyone needs to be scandalized and screaming. That is what we want.” Zucchelli went even further to hope the controversial nature of the ads would shock some viewers into spending. “I hope they’re going to be, ‘Ooooh, what is that?’ And then they buy our jeans. In the best tradition of Calvin Klein.”
Whether you find yourself shocked by this particular billboard or not, it raises questions about the messages Calvin Klein’s advertising deems valuable to promote. Calvin Klein deviates from the norm in the respect that highly sexualized images of young men are prominently featured, as opposed to women alone. This billboard of three men and one woman is a perfect example. What kind of statement does this ad make about young women and men as sexual objects? And what kind of impact will it have on the thousands of children and teens who will see it? Shoppers need to answer these questions for themselves.
The hope is that Calvin Klein, as well as other businesses that choose to sell based on shocking imagery, will realize smart consumers are not so easy to manipulate. Calvin Klein is free to target his “demographic,” but this does not include people who disagree with the sexual objectification of women and men, no matter how provocative the ad campaign. A truly smart consumer can see through the sex and shock, and choose to spend their hard-earned money elsewhere.
Contact Calvin Klein, Inc. and let them know how you feel about their advertising habits by either calling or writing a letter to:
Calvin Klein, Inc.
205 West 39th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10018-3102
212-719-2600
-Nikki
*Quotes sourced from here.
June 25th, 2009
