A Brief History of Space & Time, part 1.

As I've heard again and again, advertising isn't necessarily about selling you a product, but a lifestyle and a mindset. Apple commercials sell you on the idea that the Mac is the 'cool kid' computer, that it's a style choice that says so much more  about you than that you just prefer a white laptop. Dorito's ads don't just tell you about the new flavour, the new packaging, but it reminds you that it's there, to be bought and enjoyed. Same thing goes for luxe advertising campaigns. They may be larger, glossier and more expensive-looking than most, but similarly, it's all about keeping a firm presence in the mind of the consumer, present and potential. Some campaigns feature models that aren't even wearing the product; the clothing isn't even there on the ads- nudity, for some companies, makes a stronger statement about the brand image than their own clothing does.

So I've been amassing a collection of past ad campaigns (with help from The Style Registry) that have made an impact on me and have really stuck in my mind in the years since they were used. I looked at these ads and fully connected with the themes that they promoted, and I still appreciate them today.

LOUIS VUITTON:
Not only is LV a huge advertising presence in Hong Kong, they just do it well. Luxurious, textured...LV ads look fantastic in both glossy magazines and on huge billboards.

 

Louis Vuitton S/S 2004 (Mert & Marcus)

Louis Vuitton S/S 2006 (Mert & Marcus)

Louis Vuitton S/S 2007 (Mert & Marcus)

Louis Vuitton F/W 2007 (Mert & Marcus)

NARCISCO RODRIGUEZ:
What women out there doesn't want to look like Carmen Kass in this ad? They haven't altered the campaign in years, so they must know how effective it is.

DOLCE & GABBANA, D&G
I don't think anyone does an ensemble photoshoot like the crew behind D&G advertising. There's always a strong historical or cultural narrative, and such creativity! I used to put these ads up on my closet doors before I was even truely interested in fashion.

D&G, S/S 2005, (Steven Meisel)

Dolce & Gabbana, F/W 2006 (Steven Meisel)

Dolce & Gabbana, F/W 2006 (Steven Meisel)

Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2007 (Steven Klein)

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2006 (Steven Meisel)

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2004 (Steven Meisel)

 

Thanks to http://community.livejournal.com/styleregistry/ for their work in uploading all of these high quality images.

A No to Lanvin

I'm not going to lineup for the H&M x Lanvin release on November 21st. Too stressful- in Hong Kong, designer collaborations are regarded as serious business, and I know that every H&M in town will be a complete and utter mess. Don't get me wrong, I heart Alber Elbaz...but I'm not sure how keen I am on luxe-mass collections. I think that a lot of the allure of buying luxury brands is in the fact that few others will be wearing it (clearly this theory doesn't stand with regards to leather goods and accessories; every other woman in the CBD carries an LV bag). Expensive, mid-range, cheap, it's always exciting when you're wearing something unique, and for the next 6 months after the release, the Lanvin dresses are going to be EVERYWHERE.

3 years from now? I'd probably wear this stuff. When everyone's forgotten it ever existed.

I guess that makes me an elitist.

A Cutesy Pair

Plushy freaking sneakers! A Reebok x Hello Kitty collaboration. Not available outside of Japan :<

 

I can't even deal with the cute factor.