"Healthy" Models

In today's fashion industry, there is a lot of controversy over the size of runway models. How thin is too thin? Would introducing bigger size models take away from the glamour of the show? Is that what people really want to see? These are all questions that have been argued over for a long time, and will probably continue until we see a change.
Clearly, the size of most fashion models are borderline unhealthy. But in my opinion, I think the thinner frame contributes more to the fashion than the frame of an average size ten woman. The runway show is a chance for the designer to present their lines, and the clothes should be the main focus, not the girl wearing them. Therefore, a clean, generic canvas is required to make the clothes stand out. Clothes just seem to fall better on skinnier frames. It makes the whole show more uniform and less, for lack of a better term, sexual. Yes, an average woman has curves, and women these days are embracing them rather than trying to hide them. But certain cuts on clothing can lend themselves to more of a revealing, sexy look instead of the haute couture image many of the designers are going for.
I agree that healthier looking models should be introduced into this industry, but I believe there should be a limit to their size. I think that a size two or four would be sufficient enough without taking away from the high fashion, uniformity look of the show. Hopefully in the future we will see a little bit of change, as clearly this image of stick thin girls are not healthy for the models themselves and also for young girls that look up to and admire them.
America's body image is slowly taking a turn as many women are learning to love their bodies that they were born with and to not hide away their flaws. I'd like to see a little bit of this filter into the fashion industry. But I still do believe there should be a limit as to how much actually does change.

Pedigree Commercial

Pedigree Commercial

Ok, I don't know how many of you own a dog, but this commercial may make you want one. I remember the first time I saw this commercial it almost brought tears to my eyes. That may seem a little silly to some people. But being a dog lover, and the owner a spoiled Yorkshire terrier, it makes me so sad to think there are dogs out their without a home. We haven't really talked much in class yet about how commercials can affect you emotionally, but I feel like some of them do. Pedigree hit the nail on the head, when trying to win over consumers by playing with their emotions. Between the background music, the tone of the announcer's voice, and the sad look in those dogs’ eyes, it really makes you think. I know that even though I am not in the position to adopt another dog (my boyfriend would kill me) at least we do buy pedigree and its good to know that a portion of that money is going towards homeless dogs. As a consumer who has so many different choices when it comes to do food, I gotta say pedigree has won me over.

So what do you think?

Do you feel like pedigree is playing with your emotions through this commercial?

How did it make you feel?

Target Market: Right or Wrong?

A while back, there was a Truth commercial that showed the guy in a booth similar to a homemade lemondae stand, but instead of selling lemonade he was selling cigarettes. Painted all over his booth were brightly colored appetizing words describing the many flavors. The commercial then goes to show children walking up the booth, thinking that he was selling something delicious. He simply responds with 'Sorry kids. These are for adults'. This ad made me think about the target market of this industry. Who are they trying to reach out to? Adults are not going to be excited about fruity flavored cigarettes. More than likely, who's going to be excited are the young adults in the range of eighteen to mid-twenties - or even those younger than eighteen. How many ads have you seen that the company seems to be selling their product to the wrong target market? It happens more often than you think.
Often alcohol commercials give off a fun and exciting vibe, saying 'If you drink this beverage, you'll be this cool too'. Many adults who of age to drink do not consider this fact when they run out to the store to purchase a case of beer. The ones who think of this 'cool factor' are the ones that aren't yet legal and are still drinking because it's 'cool'. So why would a company want to target their product to the wrong market?
In my opinion, especially with cigarettes and alcohol, I feel like the companies are trying to work their way in to the younger consumers lives and hope that maybe it'll create a lasting relationship between the consumer and the product. I would just like to see classier ads that are reaching out to the correct audience, rather than feeling like I'm being taken advantage of because of my youth.
-Heather