FabSugar

Fashion and Advertising: Provocative Is an Understatement

FabSugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:00:22 PST

Sex sells. We know it, fashion conglomerates know it. But some companies take that notion a step (or two, or three) too far.

There are provocative ads and then there are provocative ads, like Emanuel Ungaro's super steamy one (left). A handful of advertising campaigns from the '90s and early 2000s will make your jaw drop like they did mine. Still, they make you want to keep staring. I certainly don't live in a bubble, but there's still something mind-boggling about aggressively seductive ads. They make me feel like a kid who accidentally walked in on her parents' love-making session (gross!).

Take a lookie and let me know how these make you feel. Warning: These ads are NSFW.

To see some overly provocative fashion ads,

View 7 Photos ›

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Happy Birthday, Marc Jacobs! See His Coolest, Quirkiest Ad Campaigns Yet

Marisa Tom — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:15:43 PDT

Never one to shy away from provocative storytelling, Marc Jacobs has become just as well known for his bohemian-meets-sexy ads as for the clothes he creates. With famed shutterbug Juergen Teller lending his signature brand of no-frills photography to Marc's campaigns for the last 14 years, we've come to expect nothing less than memorable editorials. From his longtime friend Sofia Coppola starring in a series of the perfume ads poolside in 2002 and Winona Ryder's cheeky shopping spree spread in 2003 to Elle Fanning's retro gamine vibe for Fall 2011, the campaigns have always featured a mix of cool-girl style and pop-culture quirk. And of course, who could forget Victoria Beckham's doll persona peeking out of bags and garment boxes in Spring 2008? To celebrate Marc's 49th birthday today, we've culled his best and most striking campaigns throughout the seasons - click through to see them all.

This Is What Happens When Iggy Pop Invades a Perfume Ad

Miriam Lacey — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:33:49 PST

Perfume commercials are always trying to be provocative and sexy to attract consumers, but the new ads for Paco Rabane Black XS seem to be reaching out in a very different way: specifically, to glam rock fans in the early punk era. What else could possibly explain this frenetic new ad, which has everything a young David Bowie could want: Iggy Pop sensuously wrapping himself in an American flag, models licking a Damien Hirst-y jewel-encrusted skull, a couple writhing in money like a pair of proto-punk Scrooge McDucks, etc. It's as if someone turned Velvet Goldmine into a perfume.

As big fans of Mr. Stardust and his spiders from Mars, the campy elements of the ad are pretty appealing to us. But given the otherwise small overlap between perfumistas and '70s-rock aficionados, this spot seems pretty niche indeed. Still, it's always nice to see Iggy, and maybe now, with a perfume campaign under his belt, he can finally fulfill his beauty destiny by starting a hair care line.

Terry Richardson's 2012 Equinox Ad Campaign: What Do You Think?

FitSugar — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:31:44 PST

Terry Richardson's photos for Equinox's latest ad campaign are creating the same sort of buzz-building controversy as last year's shots. The famed pop culture photographer keeps to his classic aesthetic for the gym's ads, featuring provocatively dressed models in risqué poses.

Critics of the series argue that the photos have nothing to do with fitness, while others find the shots artistic and clever. Click through the slideshow to see the controversial photos - plus what the executive creative director says about the shoot. Then tell us what you think of the campaign.

Love It or Hate It? Kate Moss Smokin' on the Louis Vuitton Runway

Noria Morales — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:03:39 PST

Kate Moss, who long ago left the runway for more lucrative ad campaigns and edgy editorials, made a big return when she closed the Louis Vuitton show in Paris. This is Kate Moss, so you should expect some dose of provocation, and the Brit beauty offered it in the form of a lit cigarette, which she smoked as she strode the catwalk in tap pants, a fur and leather jacket, and knee-high strappy boots. When you are one of the world's top supermodels, smoking on the runway seems like good fun. But in light of her troubles in the past, do you think Kate's act is in bad taste?

Do You Find This Breast Cancer Awareness Ad Offensive?

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:00:47 PDT

I've seen a bunch of provocative Breast Cancer Awareness ads this month. Some of the more eye-raising slogans splashed strategically across t-shirts include: Save the Ta Tas, Hope For Hooters, and Save 2nd Base. None of these come close to the viral ad campaign featuring MTV DJ Aliya-Jasmine Sovan walking poolside in a bikini as the camera zooms in on her bouncing breasts. The video is titled Save the Boobs and contains a brief PSA at the very end of the video.

I'm still deciding if this is an effective campaign in getting people to think seriously about the issue. What do you think after seeing it?