A recent ad for a luxury fashion brand has sparked a crowd of angry protesters and left a super model out of a job. And all for the sake of photoshop beauty. Ralph Lauren, a mulit-billion dollar fashion brand, has fired model Fillippa Hamilton after speaking out about the doctored image.
The point of the alteration was to make the model appear skinnier than she actually is. At 5 feet 10 inches and 120 pounds, Hamilton hardly needed to appear skinnier. The waist size in the picutre is clearly an unrealistic depiction of a woman. Doctors have asked the U.K.‘s Advertising Standards Authority to put a disclaimer on ads that portray photoshop beauty as reality. Ralph Lauren has not said whether or not they will continue to run such ads.
What's Driving This Trend
- Body Positivity Movement
- The movement towards inclusive advertising that celebrates body positivity presents an opportunity for fashion brands to embrace diversity and authenticity.
- Authenticity in Advertising
- The backlash against overly edited images creates an opportunity for brands to embrace authenticity in their advertising campaigns and appeal to consumers seeking genuine representation.
- Regulation of Advertising Standards
- The call for a disclaimer on ads that promote unrealistic beauty standards could lead to increased regulation of advertising standards, presenting an opportunity for brands to take a proactive approach to ethical advertising practices.
Who This Affects Most
- Fashion
- Fashion brands have an opportunity to embrace body positivity and authenticity in their advertising campaigns, adapting their messaging to reflect changing consumer attitudes and values.
- Marketing and Advertising
- As consumers increasingly demand authenticity and transparency from brands, marketing and advertising professionals must adapt to meet these expectations by creating more inclusive, ethical, and genuine campaigns.
- Health and Wellness
- The call for more realistic beauty standards highlights the importance of promoting healthy, sustainable lifestyle choices, presenting an opportunity for health and wellness brands to align with changing consumer values and priorities.
