Liz Claiborne Ad with Older Model (NOW WITH PICTURE) - YouLookFab Forum

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Liz Claiborne Ad with Older Model (NOW WITH PICTURE)

tarzy

Veteran

Has anyone seen this ad? I saw it in the new Lucky (March). It's a two page spread featuring pretty models wearing clothes in bright spring colors. There is a model featured prominently in the foreground. She's wearing a striped orange shirt, a full orange skirt, and a purple blazer with a huge white flower pinned on the lapel. She's got very trendy eyeglasses on. And she's about 60 years old.

I honestly don't know what I think. As a woman in her 50's, I am shocked and pleased to see an older model (with wrinkles and grey hair), but I'm just not sure I like this outfit. It looks very young and girlish to me. On the other hand - it kind of works in an "I don't give a damn what anyone thinks" way. Why shouldn't older women wear bright colors?

I'd love to hear comments from others about this very eye-catching ad!

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Ana

shana

Veteran

I haven't seen the ad - but it sounds intriguing. Do you have a link? My 74 year old mother in law is extremely trendy (probably more so than me!) - she finds a way to make trends age appropriate for her and I think she looks awesome!

Anonymous

I haven't seen the Lucky ad, but I did get J. Crew's new catalogue - with a mature woman with beautiful wrinkles on the cover!!! I was so happy to see this - now I want to see more women with different ages, features, and figures in ads as well!

I think that with advertising, there are ways to use an older model to draw attention to a product - like the outfit you saw in the ad. It's all a part of marketing. Brilliant for them, and pleasing to me because I want to see women represented in a broader way than they are now in print and media.

Anonymous

I haven't seen the ad but love to see older women in bright colors...so much younger looking than pastels or black.
Advertisers who appeal to older women are smart in that the huge glut of baby boomers have reached AARP membership requirements and have income to spend with children probably raised and often houses paid for.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

That's Lauren Hutton on the cover of the JCrew catalog. Kudos to them!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I noticed Lauren Hutton on the J. Crew cover as well, Laura! I saw her on some interview show once, and I think she's a bit of a nutter, but she certainly has matured very well. I love that she kept that gap in her teeth. She's beautiful, but not perfectly so, if that makes sense. How great!

J. Crew has occasionally featured more mature men and women in their catalogs (usually as part of an "on scene" thing going on), but not as prominently as they have this time. I'm excited! I always loved the on scene locations with the older models. I even think they look great in some of the more "youthful" looks (skirts and wellies, for instance).

tarzy

Veteran

Here's a picture of the page in the magazine:

http://i387.photobucket.com/al.....G_0560.jpg

julijuli

Hmm. i love Lauren Hutton on the cover of JCrew but I'm not so sure about this one. She does look good, but the contrast between her and the other models is a little interesting. Do you think they are trying to market to older women? Edited to add - it kind of looks like they are trying to deliberately show a difference between the more polished models and the older woman...

Maya

Veteran

Hmm, I noticed that in a lot of your posts you always seem to show some concern about your outfits looking "too young." I think you might just have a skewed perception of what is too young because honestly I don't think you have posted anything that even comes close to being too young, nor do I think this outfit is young either. It's sweet and adorable.

I think Joy is right--they know where the money is during these unstable times. But I think the outfit is great. I will happily wear it when I'm a little old lady.

Encore

That sure looks like Rhea Perlman. She was the "barmaid" on "Cheers". Wife of Danny DeVito.

Nicole

Veteran

I think if LC is trying to market to a more mature client, then they are going about it all wrong. If that is their intended goal--then they should have several woman of that age in the photograph--or just one woman period.

I don't care for the skirt on this woman. None of the tall leggy models are wearing a pleated pouffy skirt in the photo. They would look good in the skirt.

Something about the older woman's glasses makes me think she may be a fashion designer....and the phone has to represent something....like she's calling a cab and saying "Yeah, I'm on the corner of Anorexia and Malnourished--you can't miss me! Hurry!"

I don't know--I don't like it and I think the ad person who thought this up and the LC rep who approved should be fired.

susan

Nicole-I totally agree with you. This ad is an insult to those over 50! I would run from this outfit as it is.

shiny

Veteran

OMG Nicole I just spewed over my computer. You are too funny!

I'm in marketing and have been in advertising. This is just about the worse advertisement I've ever seen. As a professional if I was running marketing for LC I'd fire this advertising agency and fire the people who decided to plunk good money on this ad. It's just... awful!!! It's slap your hand to your forehead, what the h*ck where you thinking ... BAD.

From a personal perspective, I grew up with the LC brand - one of the first to offer petites (along with Talbots, which is also having a brand identity crisis). I'm 43. This is just the most awful ad I've ever seen, and makes me even MORE secure in the idea to run like hell from this brand.

If anyone from Liz Clairborne is reading this post... I know I'm not in a favorable target demographic since I'm a gen-X'er and therefore there's not enough of us to make it worth your while. But sheesh... either go for the Gen-Yers (in which case you have a lot of work to do with your clothing line, because it's gotten extremely boring and tired) -OR- go for the boomers and do it up right. Don't try to be all things to all people. This ad proves you can't. It turns off everyone.

LC used to be a great brand... and I was very loyal... but you really lost me along the way.

Anonymous

Tarsy, I see what you mean about not knowing what to think. It's certainly not a glamour shot. Nicole is on to something with the skirt. If she were wearing a pencil skirt it would look better. This photo will cure me of ever trying a full skirt...and I almost bought one of those big flower pins this week. On the other hand, I love her bright colors and youthful attitude but what were they thinking!?

NancyJ

It isn't a look I would pick...maybe one of the pieces i.e. jacket or skirt or blouse but not all together...not sure why...it just seems in sharp contrast to her facial features. I guess I don't want to look old but I do want to look elegant and classy and I don't think that is the image the woman has in the ad. Will be anxious to see what everyone else posts.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I like the concept but I don’t think it works in this particular case. It’s just not aspirational.

shana

Veteran

Hmmm, I'm not sure what is going on in this ad. Now, I read that Liz Claiborne herself actually died in 2007 but is this supposed to be her in the ad? I found a couple of images of her online and it looks a little bit similar (round glasses and all):

http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/m......widec.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p3n_.....00/liz.jpg

Ana

(website)

Veteran

This ad reminds me of the D&G ads that I've seen in some of the "upper crust" fashion mags (Vogue, etc.). It's all these models on the beach, but then there are these really overtanned, aged women wearing bikinis and stuff. It doesn't really bother me, but I don't really understand them, either:

http://frillr.com/files/images.....review.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rYz4.....gn+002.PNG

julijuli

Oh Ana - I was just thinking about those D&G ads. I was very confused by them and feel like they just are not that flattering to the older women.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I too thought of those ads. I don't know what to think other than that I LOATHE D&G. LOATHE them.

Ariadne

Veteran

Ooh, those D&G ads. I remember being totally weired out by them. THey make me feel squicky. Same with the LC ad. I feel like they're portraying the older women in a mean-spirited, mocking way. I can't quite articulate why, but that's how it makes me feel.

Angie, why the D&G loathing (isn't loathe a fabulous word? It has so much more depth than 'hate')? I'm curious--I know nothing about them beyond their name (can't even picture a single design by them).

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Lol, Angie.