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

WTF thursday: fur tail accessories

While walking home from work this evening--enjoying the rare experience of before-6pm-air--I noticed a girl pass me with a large, fluffy fur tail dangling from her purse. She was so nonchalantly laughing and chatting with the friend beside her, while all I could think was WHAT is that poor animal doing stuck inside your handbag?!

Of course, we really have Louis Vuitton to blame. I know I was in a just-starting-work flurry when the spring/summer shows were going on, but, honestly, I can't believe I missed this. Check out the 'fros and technicolor fox tails dangling from fringed it-bags! They're such a steal at $1200 a pop.

The most disturbing thing I found while researching the phenomenon was an Etsy sellers way of advertising her "coon" tail (that has been for sale since 2008). Look at the multiple uses she chooses to highlight, pictured to the right! And she also so graciously notes that this authentic tail was "humanely removed"--how might that be exactly?!

I think if you want to follow this bizarre trend, you should have no choice but to rock the ginormous 'fro, too. At the very least--go faux!

1. fashion zen

2. shabooya

3. style

4. etsy