Calvin Klein has pulled its orgy billboard (see prior post) and replaced it with one depicting a lone female wading through the surf in a skimpy bikini. Reaction from local residents was positive.
Adolfa Arena, 48, a dog walker in the area, said the ad was effective without being provocative.
“I think this one is brilliant,” he said. “It’s the beginning of summer, so it works out perfectly.”
Brilliant? Well, maybe not quite, and not very original either. But not offending the public gets more original every day.
Told of the complaints last week, Calvin Klein officials had defended the ad, saying the intent was to create “a very sexy” campaign.
Calvin Klein apparently doesn’t understand the basic fact that “sexy” and “sex” are not necessarily synonymous. Here’s a lesson. The lone female on the beach looks unavailable, but she is potentially available. She looks preoccupied with thoughts that have nothing to do with you. If you approached her and offered your best line, she would probably keep walking without giving you the slightest nod. But if she were to acknowledge you, or give the slightest smile, . . .
The female in the orgy ad looks very available, but she is presently occupied with a group of guys that doesn’t include you. You could get in line behind guy No. 3 who seems to have fallen off the too-crowded couch. Before you could even offer your best line, she would say, “Take a number.” And her acknowledgment of you, or the slightest smile, would mean nothing.
But let’s give Calvin Klein credit for not offering the nonsense that they were just trying to sell blue jeans.
