I was totally shocked–but perhaps shouldn’t be–when Fashionista reported that crossdresser Andrej Pejic has been chosen to model the “Mega Push-Up Bra” for Dutch chain store Hema.
Come on people! Does the fashion world hate women’s bodies so much that they have to pick a guy to model lingerie?? It’s bad enough that most female models out there are tall, incredibly thin, and virtually breastless. Hema couldn’t find a female model who was small enough? What is Hema trying to say with this ad? Are they trying to earn their hipness cred with a certain circle of people who ultimately prefer men over women? Really?
One of the commenters on Fashionista believes Hema’s choice to be “revolutionary.” And I don’t doubt that the word “revolutionary” will appear in every single article written about Hema’s model choice.
But what Hema is really telling us is that a guy is a better than a woman to represent their women’s lingerie line .
Really? REALLY??
And does it take total degradation of women and the elevation of women impersonators for fashion advertising to be “revolutionary?” If so, the fashion industry is in far more trouble than they know…
Here are two images from the campaign.
I don’t care how “beautiful” he is, he’s a guy! fer cryin’ out loud! I don’t care if he’s a crossdresser either. Over the years I’ve had some great crossdresser friends. But my god! we don’t need a crossdresser standing in for women in advertising for women’s lingerie. It sends the wrong message (yes, advertising sends messages beyond “buy our lingerie”) and, ultimately, works to denigrate the true female form.
Perhaps the real “revolution” would be using real women in advertising, not faux women.
Just a thought……
The fashion world is so fake it actually seems genuine. When I was a young ‘boy’ in my early twenties. I had a modelling/acting agent in San Francisco whom, for the better part of a year tried to get me work but everyone kept going union on us. So I gave up on that gig and shortly thereafter was informed by my mother that the woman friend of hers who helped me get with her agent strongly felt that the more likely reason for me not getting any first time work was that my face was more feminine than masculine. Now, for the fashion world to have done something with ME back THEN, WOULD HAVE BEEN revolutionary! Why did they/it not? Exactly because it WOULD HAVE BEEN revolutionary…because the general populace would not have been ‘ready’ for such a ‘bold’ and ‘risky’ move and statement…such is the true crux of what it means to really be revolutionary. So, years go by and now transgenderism is well on its way to main stream acceptance and understanding. We have had transsexual characters on television and so forth…so ONLY NOW does the fashion world attempt such a ‘revolutionary’ presentation…gee, REALLY BOLD, REALLY GUTSY and cutting edge…now that the general populace is all ready to deal with it…my, such risk taking! Wow!…sorry, NOTHING revolutionary there at all. The fashion world has NEVER been more revolutionary than they/it is certain the general populace can handle without freaking out to a degree that would actually present a real ‘risk’ to the fashion world. The fashion world covets comfort and security far too much to EVER be truly revolutionary.
Thanks so much Clarissa for your perspective! you’re right: it isn’t as bold and gutsy as the promotions tell us it is. I think that’s what gets me, too–constantly being told by some company on high what is “revolutionary” or “gutsy.” um, no. Lots of us need to call “shenanigans” more often on fashion advertising & promotion as a way motivating them to either come up with something truly revolutionary or just say “hey, we haven’t seen this in awhile” or “this reminds us of…. ” Don’t feign over something that’s really nothing. Be Honest!
BTW, sounds like you were way ahead of your time, looks wise. So many of the young male models today are very, very pretty–almost girlishly pretty. and, from the whispers I’ve heard at fashion shows, it doesn’t do much for men looking at the clothing, but it does get teenyboppers to squeal.
It reminds me of how homosexual men have been marketed as knowing what better/good for women fashion, make up and hair wise than women themselves. So basically women are supposed to empower themselves or at least be fashionable by being told how/what to do by men.
I’ve found that ironic and insulting too. Granted, some men–straight or gay–have incredible fashion sense. But others? Not so much. I can hear/see it in the different ways they talk about women’s figures. Tim Gunn, for instance, doesn’t particularly like large-breasted women–or it seems that way–as his fashion advice is always to cover up and wear solid colors. When, in fact, geometric patters often look fabulous on large breasted women and work to keep eyes moving on the body and not static . And just because a man is gay doesn’t mean he has more style than a woman. There are a whole lot of examples of that around where I live in W. Mass (and they’ll admit it too–style just isn’t their thing.)