Wk 2 EOC: Advertising Ethics

Tom Ford is known for very controversial advertisements. These are just two examples of them. It is very suggestive and provocative to say the LEAST. It could be very offensive to people that aren't that open or wanting to see something so blunt put in their face in an advertisement. I also don't think it effectively is promoting the cologne. It sure draws focus to it, but only because of the positioning not the product.

This reebok advertisement can be very offensive to women. Especially those that are in a relationship. It is implying men should put more focus on the gym and their body then their girlfriends and should cheat on them instead. Many women are very sensitive in advertisements and don't like having suggestive as an advertisement for their men to cheat on them in front of them. However, I am sure men would find this ad quite comical and it allows Reebok to do what it intended and draw attention of the male demographic to them. They probably knew when printing this ad it would have a negative impact on the female consumer group, but I think they were willing to take that hit.

this ad by dolce and gabbana (another brand known for their controversial ads) not only has a sexual reference to almost an extreme. They also have what it seems will always be a debate and controversy is a gay suggestive reference in the ad. It is a group of men together one laying naked on the ground and others watching and implying that they are going to undress their D&G trousers. I am sure that some groups of people were highly offended by an advertisement like this for multiple reasons.

Wk1 EOC: Volkswagen Lemon

What made this ad monumental is it was simple and to the point. Ads before this one in this time were large and fantasy like, and Volkswagen kept it basic. They also poked fun at themselves by calling it a Lemon. It was considered a lemon to critics because of the chrome strip on the glove compartment. Volkswagen was taking a huge stance saying if this car was considered a Lemon because of something so small, then they must make well round built cars. They also had a large amount of small print on the ad that then went into full detail into what exactly will make a car a lemon. How it could be a small part of the windshield that could get it rejected and how extravagant the testing procedures are. The whole ad almost pokes fun at it, and is bold and in your face. It was very different and monumental for a company to do this, to fight back with their own advertisements to sell their cars. Especially in a time of baby boomers and large vehicles they needed to stand out with this little compact beetle and they did just that. 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1960-1969-volkswagen-beetle4.htm
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/1999/11/22/smallb7.html?page=all
http://www.writingfordesigners.com/?p=1731

Wk1 EOC: My Voice

I by no means call myself a fashion expert, or critic. I am simply an artist, an artist who finds self-expression through fashion and all elements pertaining to it. I am not just interested in the finished product of a perfectly fitting pair of jeans, or a shirt that compliments me just right, or even a store that I have to stop in anytime I am looking for a new outfit because I know they will always have something for me. I am interesting in what exactly makes people feel this way about articles of clothing? How does one group of people predict what is going to get the public going each season, what will sell, and what will change the face of fashion and be evolutionary in the trends and fads we currently are in? I want to be a part of that; I want to be in a group of people that help people make decisions on their fashion statements every day. It is a universal language among everybody the first question you present to yourself when you are getting ready in the morning, “what shall I wear today?” Some the answer may be as simple as what is laying closet on the ground to me, but for others it is a process that is exciting and fun to match and change your style frequently. I want to be in the background making changes and learning about the ever changing life of fashion. It is something that to the public is so small and goes unnoticed, but for me I have noticed and am intrigued to learn more! I want to make a small difference in a big corporation and get to travel the world while doing so. Living the dream of a fashion enthusiast is what I shall call it for now, the expert comes later. J