Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority really has it in for the fashion industry. The watchdog group’s decision to ban Dakota Fanning’s oversexual campaign for Marc Jacobs’ Oh Lola perfume generated such heated debate on the Internet, that I didn’t expect to see another fashion ad ban come out of Britain for at least a couple months.
But here we are: the ASA has just banned Hailee Steinfeld‘s Miu Miu ad (pictured below) for being too “irresponsible.” Get it? Because it’s irresponsible for Hailee Steinfeld to be crying on the train track, wearing Miu Miu. Because a train might come and if it did, she would die and ruin her Miu Miu.
Prada Retail UK, which owns the Miu Miu brand, reminded the ASA that Hailee “could have easily moved from where she was sitting because she was not restrained in any way,” but the watchdog group wasn’t convinced because Hailee is so young and you have to be of a certain age to cry on the train tracks.
I mean, I really don’t understand the ASA’s argument. This set up could potentially go in a suicidal direction, sure, but there’s no indication that it will. And if you don’t give British country girls permission to cry on train tracks, what do they have left?
I’m sensing that the ASA has a hidden motive here, unrelated to train tracks or woeful tears: Britain’s advertising watchdog group just doesn’t want to see barely-teenage girls repping fashion brands. And I can’t say I disagree with them, on that front. I don’t want fourteen-year-old girls selling me my clothing. But make some guidelines about it or something, okay? Don’t just go banning everything.
[via Telegraph]
