Earlier this year the internet partially broke after that Calvin Klein ad starring Jeremy Allan White was plastered everywhere and anywhere. But just days after The Bear starts tighty whitey debut the Advertising Standards Authority made headlines after deeming a former Clavin Klein campaign starring British music maven FKA Twigs “too sexual” warranting a full redaction of the campaign image.
After much uproar from fans around the world, the ASA has recently decided to partially reverse the ban, explaining that after "significant strength of public feeling, including views expressed by FKA twigs" the agency has concluded the image was "not sexually explicit" however they do continue to deem the ad as "overtly sexual and was, therefore, not suitable for display in an untargeted medium."
© Calvin Klein / Mert & MarcusThe image was part of the brand's “Calvins or Nothing” campaign which was released in April of 2022 andfeatures the 36-year-old Cellophane singer baring all whilst covering her toned physic with a Calvin Klein denim shirt. The ASA claimed that the image of FKA Twigs, “focused on her body rather than on the clothing being advertised and it presented her as a stereotypical sexual object.”
The campaign also featured an array of images that featured Kendall Jenner with similar artistic direction, however, those pictures were classed as “inoffensive” as the “image was stylised, due to Jenner’s pose, and that while the image did contain a degree of nudity, it did not focus on the model’s body more generally in a manner that portrayed her as a sexual object.”
© Calvin Klein / Mert & MarcusA spokesperson from Calvin Klein addressed the issue, contradicting the ASA’s point of, “sexualising women” by saying that “The images were not vulgar and were of two confident and empowered women who had chosen to identify with the Calvin Klein brand, and the ads contained a progressive and enlightened message.”
So, in light of the recent un-banning, we take a look back at some of the famed brand's most hyper-sexualised campaigns, because if Jeremy can flaunt his eight-pack, then why can't FKA show a little side boob?
Brooke Shields - 1980
© Calvin Klein / Richard AvedonThis campaign was one of the brand's most controversial to date, however, it saw sales skyrocket, deeming the whole campaign a marketing success, putting Calvin Klein on the fashion map. The campaign features a young (15 years old) Brooke Shields sporting a pair of form-fitting blue jeans and a burgundy over shirt with a single button done up. Overall, the imagery wasn’t overly raunchy, but when paired with the slogan “You know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing” eyebrows were raised.
Kate Moss - 1985
© Calvin Klein / Robert R. TaylorFronting the brand's then-new perfume ad for “obsession”, which is still around today, was a young Kate Moss who posed bare-faced and shirtless. At the time, Kate Moss was a pillar of the understated beauty in the industry.
Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg - 1992
© Calvin Klein / Herb RittsKate Moss was hired once again to front a campaign for the brand, this time with Hollywood heartthrob Mark Wahlberg. The two posed in CK jeans whilst Kate straddled the then-21-year-old Mark. Both were topless, putting all emphasis on the brand's jeans and iconic branded underwear.
Christy Turlington - 1995
© Calvin KleinBack in the mid 90’s supermodel Christy Turlington posed in a pair of white Calvin Klein briefs and singlet ensemble to promote the brand's undergarment range. At the time this was a bold move from the brand as black and white advertising was few and far between at the time.
Natalia Vodianova - 2006
© Calvin KleinCirca the 2000s Russian model and actress Natalia Vodianova showcased a pair of boyshort boxers for women, a style that since then was typically coined as a strictly male silhouette. Posing topless with her arms over her breasts, the model is seen sporting a crisp white pair of itty bitty boxers, complete with a Calvin Klein branded waistband.
Kendall Jenner - 2023
The eldest Jenner sister has been the face of CK for years now, often seen baring all, promoting the brand's intimates range on billboards around the world, as well as her own Instagram. Her latest campaign for the brand, which she posted to her own Insta features the famed face at home, posing in a skimpy black bra and underwear set as well as a black open blazer with nothing underneath and a pair of of undone jeans.
