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Ralph Lauren Over-Photoshops Super Skinny Model
Ralph Lauren is attracting some heat from bloggers for over-retouching a model in a new ad for its Blue Label.
Websites like Boing Boing and PhotoshopDisasters have criticized the brand for digitally altering a model’s pelvis to the degree that it was smaller than her head, but Ralph Lauren struck back and sent legal demands that they remove the images from their sites, claiming copyright infringement.
The legal action created a full-scale internet war. But ultimately, Ralph Lauren issued this mea culpa:
“For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body. We have addressed the problem and going forward will take every precaution to ensure that the caliber of our artwork represents our brand appropriately.”
What do you think? Do brands have a responsibility to disclose when their advertisements are photoshopped (like they do in Australia)? Or does everyone accept this as a fact of modern marketing?
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Obviously this is an extreme case in terms of retouching, but the idea of retouching images is to set out a really unrealistic idea of society deems attractive – guys like girls in different shapes and sizes! It is such a made up perception in media that all guys like blonde, tanned, skinny girls.
Comment by Frankie — October 9, 2009 @ 6:41 pm
She’s not skinny.. she is emaciated. Brands should be free to photoshop at will but when they step over the line to bad taste then they shouldn’t be surprised if they alienate the very market they are trying to appeal to.
Comment by GreenSewn — October 12, 2009 @ 3:30 pm
I’m not certain that brands have an obligation to disclose the technologies they use: if they have to disclose retouching, what about lens or exposure details? That may just be art, albeit commercial art.
I am absolutely certain that brands are responsible for the content of their presentations, including images and their probable social impact. This is not a proper matter for regulation, but it is a matter of social responsibility and should influence the brand in a marketplace of both ideas and dollars.
Comment by Chad Weinstein — October 12, 2009 @ 3:36 pm
[...] story just keeps getting crazier. Last week, we told you about the controversy over a retouched advertisement for Ralph Lauren’s Blue Label that showed a severely emaciated model. The company promised to address the situation — [...]
Pingback by Ethical Style » Ralph Lauren Fires Photoshopped Model for Being ‘Fat’? — October 14, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
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Pingback by Ethical Style » Another Ralph Lauren Model Photoshopped to Death? — October 20, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
HAH. Ralph Lauren is bullshiting.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_EHZsoUS6SIA/StY2WWUA-xI/AAAAAAAAFDw/RTwa1ca64WU/ralphbloodylaurenagain.jpg
That happened before this one ever did, and he never apologized for it. He only apologized for this one because he got in trouble.
Comment by Tori — October 25, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
[...] new images come on the heels of the scandal over model Filippa Hamilton’s extensive airbrushing in another Ralph Lauren ad. Seems to us that Ralph Lauren is going to have a hard time living this [...]
Pingback by Another Ralph Lauren Model Photoshopped to Death? « Dolly Creative — November 3, 2009 @ 4:03 pm
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Pingback by Ethical Style » Demi Moore in W: The PhotoShop Heard ‘Round the World — November 19, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
How could anyone possibly perceive this as glamorous? Being skinny is one thing, over-photoshopping an already tiny girl to the point that her head is bigger than her pelvis is sickening. If anyone were really that skinny, they would die. Is death a fashion statement?
Comment by Anonymous — December 8, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
[...] law (to tax people who undergo unnecessary plastic surgery 5%) and companies like Ralph Lauren will photoshop their models into ridiculous twigs, maybe it could seem a little threatening to have an uneducated, [...]
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