This morning, I wrote a post for Yahoo Movies about the Advertising Standards Agency banning this advert in the UK. It shows the fantastic young actress Hailee Steinfeld (‘True Grit’) sat on some railway tracks, looking a bit upset, but kitted out in Miu Miu clothes. Why has it been banned? Because it’s deemed irresponsible, since it shows a child in an unsafe location.
Prada – who own Miu Miu – defended themselves by saying that the advert was ”part of a serious, high-fashion campaign” aimed at adult women. So, does that mean it would have been okay to show someone over 18 on the railway tracks? Seems like it. Well then, since there’s no shortage of adult actresses in the world, why aren’t they actually using adults in adverts for clothing and accessories aimed at “adult women”?
With Dakota Fanning, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloe Moretz, and Elle Fanning – all talented young women, but all still minors in the eyes of the law – being used in high profile “aspirational” luxury brand campaigns as teens, are they just selling an extreme version of youth? And doesn’t it all just feel a bit wrong? Maybe it’s just me…
