blumarine: is all publicity good publicity?

I'm no advertising creative. I have no experience and know of no research to back up what I'm about to say. But I am a consumer. And I am a Harper's Bazaar reader who actually looks at the hundreds of advertisements dwelling within its September issue. So what I have to say should, theoretically, be valid. BEHOLD: ads that stopped my ready-to-flip-thumb dead in its tracks.

Blumarine.

What. Are. You. Doing.

When (faux?)fur and leather started its comeback, I was hesitant because of this very reason.... Memories of tacky, fringed garments, over-the-top mixing, and snake prints (the worst!). These Blumarine ads are, actually, my worst fashion animal nightmare.

I guess there is something to be said about the fact that I looked at it for a long time and am now blogging about it. But done out of disgust... is that really what they were going for?

What do you think? Am I being too hard on Blumarine?

*Blumarine campaign photos via lifestyle-vogue