Yves Saint Laurent is gaining some major exposure…literally!
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority released the Top 10 Most Offensive Ads over the last 50 years and YSL’s Opium fragrance ad came in at #8.
The ad shot by Steven Meisel, was the brainchild of the fashion house’s then creative director Tom Ford and starred a very naked Sophie Dahl and not much else.
Not long after its debut in 2000 the ASA received a total of 948 complaints that the ad was too “sexually suggestive”, which resulted in the ad being banished to only run in the pages of women’s magazines.
Dahl shared her thoughts about the controversial portrait:
“I think the photograph is beautiful. It was seen as being anti-women, when in fact I think it is very empowering to women.”
We don’t think the ad is overly sexual considering Sophie’s exposure is subtle, but apparently stripping down to your birthday suit isn’t always a good thing! Next time think of the children!
[Image via YSL.]
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