The banned Saint Laurent ad featuring the model Kiki Willems, shot by the house’s creative director, Hedi Slimane.
Fashion is constantly courting controversy, whether dancing the line on a healthy BMI, playing with drugs, or pushing the art of seduction a little too far. See the banned Saint Laurent ad + 7 other banned ads here.
When you look at the most recent Saint Laurent ad, seen above, shot by Hedi Slimane and featuring the model Kiki Willems, what catches your eye? For me it was the near-unconsciousness of the model. But for the ASA in the U.K., it was the Willems’s body, how thin she is — too thin, according to the agency. I take issue with this — she’s not skeletal, she’s not imminently in danger of hospitalization, or passing out and yes, you could say that’s exactly what she did right before this photo was taken. Is this another form of body shaming? Who can say from the photo whether Willems is healthy or not? I see no flies circling.
Models with athletic, curvy figures are de rigueur now, in vogue — look at models of the moment Gigi Hadid and her sister Bella Hadid, both gorgeous, both curvy with insane bodies. See also: the uber-athletic Karlie Kloss, who posts workout videos to Instagram nearly daily. Some women are bigger, and still gorgeous, like Candice Huffine. What about the skinny girls who just can’t put on a pound no matter how hard they try, but are still healthy? Let everyone live! I say.
Does she appear unhealthily thin to you? While you mull it over, take a gander at seven more ads banned over the years, from a Marc Jacobs ad featuring Dakota Fanning to a series of Terry Richardson-lensed ads that were made against everyone’s better judgement.
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A sexualized and 17-year-old Dakota Fanning depicted with a bottle of the Marc Jacobs Lola perfume between her legs.
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In 2001, this Saint Laurent ad for Opium perfume featuring Sophie Dahl was banned.
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Tom Ford‘s 2004 Gucci campaign featuring Carmen Kass getting some controversial grooming done, shot by Mario Testino.
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Sisley ads shot by Terry Richardson. Take your pick!
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Mia Goth for Miu Miu was banned for portraying a child in a sexualized manner.
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And then there’s the spectacularity of this Tom Ford ad, shot by, who else? Terry Richardson.
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Plus check out Kylie Minogue’s banned TV commercial for Agent Provacateur here.