This Bothers Me

Let me just say that I'm not against fashion advertising, even the practically pornographic kind (Calvin Klein, seriously?). Sex sells. What bothers me is when designers, magazines, etc. start to think that sexual assault sells. This isn't the first time I've seen this kind of advertising, and it's really starting to bother me. Why on earth would seeing a women get molested make me want to buy clothing? It kind of has the opposite effect.

Take these Allure spreads, for instance. Now, I love Allure, seriously, I do. I do not love this spread, however. The makeup is fantastic, yes, blue eyes are in for spring, sure, but who decided to make the connection between blue eyes and black eyes, and then to girls getting beat up? Seriously, Allure? You seriously couldn't find another way to show blue eyeshadow? (I had an SNL weekend update moment. I'll stop saying seriously now. Seriously, I promise).

The Allure spread was mildly offensive. These ads are just wrong. The ad on the left is for Relish, some Italian clothing brand. Yeah, seeing girls in your clothes getting molested by cops totally makes me want to buy them. Totally not! Who thought giving their brand the image of 'clothes that get girls pulled over by creepy cops and assaulted' was a good idea? Because that's not exactly what I look for when I go shopping. Oh, and the Campari ad with a bunch of drunk guys forcing Salma Hayek into an elevator? Yep, gang rape definitely sells booze. I really want to buy alcohol that promises I'll get gang-raped by a bunch of guys in suits. Mmmm, maybe not.

Am I the only one that finds this creepy and offensive? Or has the sex sells mantra of advertising gone too far? You tell me.

Image Sources:

Allure spreads: jezebel.com

Relish ad: shakespearesister.blogspot.com

Campari ad: jezebel.com