BY Sydney Franklin
I’ll admit it. I was jealous. No, I was frustrated AND jealous.
Last spring on the annual communications and art department trip to New York City, I was bombarded and disgusted by just one thing. Our hotel was stationed directly off of Times Square, and every single time we walked out the front door and turned to the right, there she was — that ridiculously skinny, blonde and perfect aerie supermodel showing off those cute boy shorts I wanted so badly.
It’s like she taunted me the entire trip. She was unrelenting. Finally, on our last night in the city my girlfriends and I gave in. We walked into aerie expecting to find a handful of cute items to take home, but nothing quite fit as good as that model wore it. (In case you don’t know boys, lingerie shopping equals disappointment. The same goes for jeans.)
The American Eagle Outfitters Times Square sign is one of the brightest and most attractive digital billboards on Broadway. Twelve powerful LED panels light their oversized ads, which undoubtedly attracts thousands of young girls into the store each day.
aerie, American Eagle’s store for lingerie has been a great alternative to boycotting Victoria’s Secret since it’s opening in 2006. I suppose we’re lucky that this franchise holds it’s unique spot in the Big Apple. If I walked through the Square everyday and saw an Angel, I’d give up on life.
But the good news is (and reason for this impromptu editorial) is that aerie has recently launched its Spring 2014 ad campaign called aerie Real, which features unairbrushed models. In a press release, the company said the ads are “challenging supermodel standards by featuring unretouched models in their latest collection of bras, undies and apparel.”
When I first heard about this, I was impressed but not moved. After thinking on it a bit, I remembered my frustrations with last year’s “face of aerie” and I’m convinced that this is big.
Rarely do we see a fashion company take such a step in marketing and advertising. These girls are half naked and they haven’t been processed through Photoshop. They have real curves and rolls, tattoos and scars.
I’d be really interested in seeing that billboard now. Can you imagine walking into the middle of Times Square and seeing an ad as tall as your ceiling that features a normal girl in a bra with some belly fat?
Let’s be real. I would buy into that.
Check out some of the aerie Real photos on ae.com/aerie
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