Tag Archives: raf simons

The Art of the Advertisement

I’ve always had kind of a tricky relationship with advertising. My father’s in marketing, so I understand and appreciate the work that goes into branding and selling a product, but the idea of trying to trick some poor idiot into buying something they don’t need so somebody else can get rich? Not down.

That being said, I’m a huge proponent of imaging. If you believe whole-heartedly in a brand/product/concept, and can create an advertisement that best represents its aesthetic message, then hell yeah, share the shit out of it!! It comes down to intention: are you trying to make money by following culture, or are you going to define your own culture, and if you do it well enough, have people follow you?

Luckily, pretty much any brand you’re gonna wanna buy into has accomplished this already. Here are a few ads I’ve come across recently that do a really good job at blurring the line between art and commerce…

I’m Attracted to Things I Can’t Define

I hated Dior. After spending time in Hong Kong, I associated the brand with tacky printed denim, tres-riche Asian madames and new money. Of course, I appreciated the immense craftsmanship of the full-skirt and the fact that it was so wholly associated with Dior couture (gotta love a signature…), but the designs seemed frou-frou, unwilling to take risks, and extremely unapproachable.

Fast forward to the Raf Simons era. Although the Jennifer Lawrence association is still super questionable, the Belgian demi-god has revived the fashion house in such an incredible and necessary way. The days of luxurious princesses lounging in gardens of folly are dead and gone, made way for powerful femininity, tasteful avant-garde, and a highly-considered, ‘experimental’ colour palette.

Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed most every collection since his creative takeover in the Spring of 2012, the recently shown Spring/Summer 2015 Couture collection shown last week during Paris Fashion Week was undoubtedly my favourite. The juxtaposition of the ultra-classic hoop skirted silhouette and the rainbow of latex boots was completely breathtaking, and the range of mini-shift dresses had me dying for warm weather so I too could be a total mod babe.

Going to have dreams about those blue, thigh-high latex boots tonight… Also that pink carpet is literally unmatched. Definitely check out the full video if you get a chance – it does a great job at showcasing the incredible set design (mostly unseen in the collection photographs).

Enjoy –

x Syd