Forever 21: Let our knees be (knees)!
Discount fashion retailer Forever 21 is adding another item on the drop-down menu of “body parts to feel self-conscious about”: knee caps.
Are these the front or the back of her knees?
The web site featuring their skirt-purchasing options has more than 100 items in which the models’ kneecaps are completely airbrushed out, or are cleverly obscured so only a hint of curvature is detectable. The preposterousness of these photos is compounded by the fact that they list the model’s measurements, as a very ineffective and pernicious piece of sizing guidance.
As if our consumer culture doesn’t do a good enough job of providing us with an endless stream of warnings about how our organic bodies are inherently flawed, we now need to turn a curious eye to our knees to see how presentable they may appear.
Female celebrities during award season: Keeping it (too?) real
I’m all for celebs getting real about what it takes to look as good as they do. Hell, I’ve even been known to enjoy me a little of US Mag’s “They’re Just Like Us!” section because it pokes holes in the perceived perfection of A-listers.
What I don’t like, however, is Oscar nominees Octavia Spencer and Melissa McCarthy sabotaging their own moments of recognition and glory by dishing about their shapewear snafus.
It isn't terribly awful to wear Spanx, but it sure is to feel like you have to out yourself about it before somebody else does.
According to People.com (in an article that ran under the headline “Octavia Spencer Dons Triple Spanx For Red Carpet”), Spencer has “taken to reinforcing her red-carpet attire with Spanx and doesn’t always stop at one pair.” In fact, she announced to the world on the Ellen DeGeneres Show that she often “triple spanx.”
LG Kompressor Plus: Is it funny to vacuum someone’s fat away?
The marketing masterminds employed by LG to sell their Kompressor Plus vacuum are coming up short with this commercial attempting to showcase the superior suction properties of their product:
This clip rates high in the shock-value department, but the benefits highlighted in it are not those one would typically associate with a household vacuum cleaner. Herein lies the ad’s motive. No one truly believes that if they pick up this LG at the store that its usage will encourage a svelte shape. The real danger of it lies in its irrelevance. Continue reading
H&M heralds the dawn of the “virtual mannequin”
One of these things is not like the other! Oh, wait...
Between print media, TV ads, and virtual promotions, we media watchdogs have seen it all — rib cages, spines, cleavage, you name it. Though the women portrayed in most catalogs are typically white, unhealthily underweight, and sexualized, we could at least find solace in the fact that their bodies were their bodies — a.k.a, not computer-generated stock photos.
Yep, that’s right folks. H&M used a single, completely computer-generated model in order to promote its swimsuit and lingerie lines. Unsurprisingly, the model body is white, with sizable breasts and protruding hipbones. All H&M had to do was switch the heads atop the body and voila! — a “new” model to promote a different item of clothing. Continue reading
Every time a bell rings, a (Victoria’s Secret) angel gets its wings
This bra costs 2.5 million dollars
Rather than being “fashionable,” the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is a throwback to an era where women were valuable merely as decorations.
If every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings, then a lot of bells must have been ringing on Tuesday evening.
The Victoria’s Secret “fashion” show aired on CBS Tuesday night. It was a glittery, glamorous hour filled with beautiful “angels” walking the runway in lingerie, heels, and feathery, glittery fantasy wings. You can’t deny that the women and the outfits were beautiful confections, perhaps even works of art in some cases. One model even wore a $2.5-million dollar bra for a turn on the runway while Maroon Five played “Moves like Jagger.”
The show featured themes like “superhero”, “ballet”, and “Club Pink.” I was waiting for “hungry”, but perhaps that’s just me.
One of the models has been very public about not eating any solid food for the nine days leading up to the show. Maybe every time a bell rings a Victoria’s Secret model should get a cheeseburger? Continue reading
American Apparel’s “plus-sized” model search is a total farce
So many awful puns, so little time.
I have never loved anything like I love ripping on American Apparel, and they make it so easy. Their latest? A “plus-sized” line that consists of a size 12/14—a straight size in most retailers—and which is available in a whopping 20 styles. How gracious of them!
Given American Apparel’s previously stated stance on plus-sized clothing (it’s “not their demographic”) and their current financial state (dire, to say the least), this is certainly just a money grab. Of course, American Apparel can never leave bad enough alone, so they’ve gone the way of their “Best Butt” contest and concocted yet another ridiculous Internet beauty pageant to promote their new “line.”
The contest is called The Next BIG Thing—get it? Big? Like a size 12/14 is so big?—and encourages “bootyful” women to submit their photos in hopes of becoming American Apparel’s newest model. Not only does this contest’s copy seems to be written by a 12 year old, the whole concept is tired and outdated. Women in direct competition while their bodies are judged by the masses? For a company that wants so badly to be cutting-edge, American Apparel sure doesn’t trouble itself with innovative marketing.
I’ll tell you what, though: the woman in first place as of this writing is amazing. Nancy Upton’s photos show her in varying states of undress in sensual positions with food, a send-up of the absurdity of the contest. She writes on her blog: “My good friend Shannon Skloss came over to take some ‘booty-full’ photos of me…but I just couldn’t stop eating.”
Nancy’s photos make obvious the way contests like this one turn women’s bodies into objects of consumption. I hope she stays in first place and wins this contest; maybe then American Apparel will be forced to step back and re-evaluate the way they approach their customers. Or maybe not—but at least we’ll all have a(nother) good laugh at their expense.
–Melissa
Skechers wants girls to “Shape-up”
Skechers' new Shape-ups are aimed at girls ages 7-12.
Were you thinking that advertisements for girls’ shoes are a little lacking these days?
Were you looking for some added weight-loss pressure in the way that they’re marketed?
Yeah, me neither.
Nevertheless, Skechers now carries Shape-ups for girls (ages 7 to 12). Unlike other childrens’ shoes, these Shape-ups feature a rounded sole intended to shape and tone.
That’s right, shape and tone young girls’ bodies.
When a girl sees the commercial advertising these shoes she is announced “Breaking News!” about the Shapes-ups following a song by a thin, all-girl band, singing the praises of their shoes.
Lead singer Heidi, like all the girls in the band, is wearing Shape-ups. According to the lyrics, she “has everything a girl wants,” and is “looking good and having fun.”
Strangely enough, along with Heidi looking good and having fun, she is also able to outrun guys dressed up as hot dogs, cupcakes, and ice cream cones.Â
This commercial sends the message to girls that they need to buy products to enjoy themselves and to look the way they would like to look; while also not so subtly telling them to stay away from certain foods – or at least certain boys in food costumes.
Leonard Armato, President of Skechers Fitness Group, defended the shoe, saying, “American children are more sedentary now than at any time in our history. Shape-ups’ intended purpose is to promote exercise and fitness, which should be viewed as a positive message for kids to get up and get moving.”
Promoting an active and healthy lifestyle for children is a positive message. However, this product is not intended for all children - namely boys.
Surprisingly enough, when I searched for Skechers Shape-ups for boys, nothing came up. Because they don’t exist. Continue reading
Fashion for girls “too pretty to do math”
This David & Goliath "I'm too pretty to do math" t-shirt can only be found in womens' juniors sizes.
Statement t-shirts have taken a turn for the tragic now that David & Goliath has put one on the market that simply states, “I’m too pretty to do math.”
And thanks to Epbot for pointing out that the pastel pink message only comes scrawled on shirts in womens’ juniors sizes.
Oddly enough, this truly depressing slogan is apparently a “thing” now, because it was also featured on magnets being sold at Forever 21.
“Was” being the operative word, because the retailer apparently had enough sense to pull the product from its website (but, as The Frisky notes, it is likely still widely available in stores). Continue reading
Naomi Campbell considers Cadbury chocolate ad racist
Naomi Campbell is threatening to sue Cadbury over their recent ad campaign.
But is the supermodel right to consider chocolate company Cadbury‘s newest ad campaign racist?
UK ads for Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Bliss bars feature a Bliss bar perched atop a mound of diamonds, accompanied by the slogan, “Move over Naomi, there’s a new diva in town.”
No, it’s not exactly the compelling copy of a Mad Men campaign, but that’s beside the point.
Naomi is threatening to sue the company over the ads, saying, “I’m shocked. It’s upsetting to be described as chocolate, not just for me, but for all black women. It is insulting and hurtful.” Continue reading
American Apparel CEO’s endless douchebaggery gets him sued (again)
Dov Charney and American Apparel continue the downward spiral as more lawsuits pile up.
Your stretch floral lace unitards can’t save you now, Charney (yes, these are actual items for sale on the American Apparel web site. Are you surprised?).
Irene Morales, Alyssa Ferguson, and Tessa Lubans-Dehaven are suing the American Apparel CEO, his company, and the brand’s photographer, Kyung Chung, for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and impersonation online.
Really going for the gold in all-around grossness, aren’t ya Dov? Continue reading