The Most Memorable Spring 2014 Ad Campaigns

I still remember the wide-eyed bobble-head dolls featured in the 2009 Alexander McQueen for Target ad campaign (incidentally, this was also how I discovered McQueen). The campaign came out around the time I was taking fashion design classes at Parsons and quickly became an inspiration for my art. I loved the campaign so much, I even ordered the blue strapless punk rock dress online (I still own it!). After McQueen’s passing in 2010, I felt that I had lost a major source of inspiration, all of which emerged from a single ad campaign.

On a lighter note, another campaign I remember very clearly is Louis Vuitton’s 2010 Journey commercial, which came out around the time I was planning my trip to Europe. I know it sounds cliche, but if an advertisement evokes an emotion such as wanderlust, inspiration, nostalgia, desire, and, most importantly, if it is memorable, then you know it’s working. We are inundated with hundreds (thousands?) of ads everyday, that aim to sell us a product. Ninety-nine percent of these ads are a nuisance and forgettable. But it’s that 1% (not to be confused with the other 1%) with a story, personality, and vision that leaves an imprint.

Like Eva Chen, I prefer fashion that doesn’t take itself seriously. I love the randomness of Alexander Wang’s campaign and the whimsical pop art of Sonia Rykiel’s. Marc Jacobs has a melancholic dark humor; what is Miley thinking and why is there a lifeless model lying down next to her? These campaigns convey the lifestyle of the brand, personifying them beyond mass-produced bags and clothes. It’s what makes them memorable.

I know it’s probably too early to think about spring if you live anywhere near the polar vortex, but supposedly we only have six more weeks of winter according to the Groundhog. Not to mention, fashion week is just days away. That should give you something to smile about. Let me know in the comments what ad you think is most memorable from the spring 2014 campaign. Happy Monday!