Advertising, right!

Buono for Gvenchy ads — Mariacarla Boscono for Givenchy Spring 2012 Campaign by Mert & Marcus

Buono for Givenchy 2012 ads — Mariacarla Boscono for Givenchy Fall 2005 Campaign by Inez and Vinoodh

Fashion Gone Rogue featured the images above, amongst others, last week in a feature on MariaCarla Boscono for Givenchy Through The Years. I took a look, thought, ‘Beautiful photography and styling’ and moved on …

Then, over the weekend, I found myself yearning for Christian Louboutin nail varnish after seeing the image below (it’s a big advertising campaign so, subliminally, the message is repeated again and again after you’ve seen it once):

I know my yearning for a £36 bottle of nail varnish is all about the advertising but, dammit, it works. I want, I want, I want …

Louboutin shares his sole — Loubitin shares his sole …

And then, flicking through The September Issue (of Vogue, natch!), all the fresh Autumn ad’s sprang out, notably for me:

Pringle Autumn 2014 — Such a super-sleek look for a brand associated with tradition: would it tempt you?

Jaeger Autumn 2014 — I love this whole mother/daughter campaign, totally crosses the fashion/style divide

M&S Autumn 2014 — Have M&S finally conquered the mature style conundrum? Critics will queue to tell us …

Eileen Fisher Autumn 2014 — Just gorgeous – my kinda style – elegant, simple, plain black & in plus sizes too

Bimbay YLola — Seriously eye-catching. You look and look again: what am I seeing?

Moschino Autumn 2013 — Quirky, unique, different – now that’s the way to brand …

Yohji in Vogue UK — Oh, I just love this Yohji Yamamoto look in one of the Vogue editorial pieces – to die for, dahling!

It makes you think, doesn’t it? Advertising is an art form and a selling mechanism and, as such, I feel conflicted by it – impossible not to admire the art and yet I resent feeling sucked into the sales pitch. Part of me is surprised I care. There is no right and wrong in it, is there?

I guess my ‘bad’ is the anti-capitalist guilt of the millions being spent to make the already rich amongst us spend more which seems so wasteful in a world where so many suffer. But, I do enjoy the beauty of the art form.

There has to be a place for beauty in our lives, no, and if advertising finances that, is it a bad thing?