Corner of Lafayette and Houston Street NYC
"The most inspiring thing for me about Calvin Klein was how subversive the advertising message was. That' s what drove me in my creative process and also in my creating now. The new advertising campaign is Calvin Klein the way I see it today. It's also bringing back the kind of subversive element I always saw in Calvin Klein's campaigns."
Italo Zucchelli in Interview Feb 10
subversive
wow, a handsome man in a suit subversive?
maybe look at what your government has done and does in the name of democracy for a better definition.
YES
YES.
Such a good campaign.
Modern and American, Strong and Masculine, Controversial and Striking - this is the essence of Calvin Klein advertising.
David looks so chic naked and dressed.
Viva Zucchelli
Viva Zucchelli
Nothing subversive can be bought in a store.
"Nothing subversive can be bought in a store.....this is a known fact."
-the campaign is dull
-the suit is ill fitted and so establishment.
-the nude is crude contrived objectification and boring.
-and it is cheezy as hell.-calvin klien is so out of touch.
look to the right side of the photo and you will see the issue at hand ,there is an ad for american airlines covering half the buildings view ,houston and lafayette used to be cool and slightly subversive now its just like 34th st a symbol of mainstream avarice and taste,not of new thought and creative ideas but marketing ploys and empty status symbols.
this is what new york has become,if you really want the illusion of subversive why not cast a mexican or arab or chinese model,there is nothing subversive really about that to me either but obviously someone really believes that race acceptance is a radical barometer for change,so radical that it trumps originality .i dont .In our culture money is what determines everything.So i am not impressed.Not with 15 yr old brooke or the brother from another planet /hustler boy of today .calvin klien is not a designer he is a businessman.
Huh?
Interesting Post, but im a little confused with the statement " Nothing subversive can be bought in a store"?
I always thought people like Victor+Rolf, Rei Kawakubo, and Margiela among others were very subversive in their thinking and design? can someone please tell me if im off ? your comments were fascinating and challenged what I have always known to be true...
it is not my intention to
it is not my intention to take away from the fact that the model has hit a milestone in his career.This is great.however i cant be hyped about a black man on a billboard ,when black male unemployment is at an all time high,much higher than black female employment.I suppose you will tell me that calvin klien is hiring black males this season in there showrooms and there marketing dept and that they are looking for a black art director.It is niether more inspiring or less inspiring for me to have a blonde or a black i see them as pretty much the same thing,most models have the same scale in features so its pretty much the same thing.as for something subversive ,anything subversive threatens tto undermine the power of an idea or a social structure.I am not sure black male models on a calvin klien billboard is "subversive"and to label it as such to me is proof that we blacks are not considered and often do not consider ourselves equal the mere fact that this ad is controversial to some people is so antiquated.aint nothin new about a beautifull black american man,we have been beautifull before we got here and we are going to be beautifull after calvin has counted all our money and is gone .My gripe is that it is dull its badly done ,out of touch and its crude.If the ad was run with just the nude from the front maybe that would be close to subversive if not controversial ,All i can say about calvin klien ads are that they are big and look like catalog.As for all the designers you named all of whom i adore,they sell the "idea" of being "subversive" to people who are conservative enough to have enough money to buy "subversive ideas" ,not meaning to be condescending but i hope you get that .You see really subversive people do not buy clothing,some trade it ,some create it ,some steal it, ...and some ,this one is going to make you cringe ...pay no mind to it.They are fully conscious of the fact that fashion and style are not the same.The subversive and stylish create there own they are not spoonfed old ideas like a black man on a billboard.....what is this 1955?
Thank you for your response,
Thank you for your response, you have an interesting point of view that is well- founded for the most part... My dispute was was over the word usage of subversive not idealogy..
this ad is so much more
this ad is so much more inspiring than seeing a blond white boy in a gray suit
things are moving forwards and it sounds like you dont want them to
you seem bitter and negative
embrace beauty
see how things can change
america is beautiful
THIS DOES MY HEART GOOD
IM HAPPY TO SEE A BEAUTIFUL SEXY MAN IN A CALVIN KLEIN AD, REGARDLESS OF COLOUR. THEYVE SHOT BOYS FOR YEARS..AND NOW ITS A MAN. ITS GOOD FOR OUR BUSINESS AND ITS GOOD FOR OUR SOULS
calvin
the work is wonderful and i like the way the suit fits, calvin is always fantastic when it comes to advertising, try not to be so political , and just enjoy the art:)