This is a much better way to challenge A&F's brand elitism

Meet Jess, AKA "The Militant Baker". In response to Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries's 2006 comments (gone recently viral) that his brand was only for "cool" people and those who are below a certain size.

Mr. Jeffries has since sort-of apologized. But it hasn't stopped the shitstorm of internet activism against the brand. 

One of the better-known memes has been filmmaker Greg Karber's #FitchTheHomeless campaign, in which he tried to denigrate the brand by donating A&F clothes to LA's street people. But as I wrote in Osocio, that is a problematic scheme as it also denigrates the homeless.

Jess, on the other hand, uses the A&F brand to express her own self-confidence. As she wrote in her open letter to Mike Jeffries:

I was inspired by the opportunity to show that I am secure in my skin and to flaunt this by using the controversial platform that you created. I challenge the separation of attractive and fat, and I assert that they are compatible regardless of what you believe. Not only do I know that I'm sexy, but I also have the confidence to pose nude in ways you don’t dare. You are more than welcome to prove me wrong by posing shirtless with a hot fat chick; it would thrill me to see such a shoot.

Cheers, Jess!

Tip via Buzzfeed

Your daily dose of fat-shaming design nerd humour

I've done my fair share of Ariel abuse online. But this one seems like a rather nasty bit of fat bashing.

Next up: Look for "Ariel Italic" with a plate of pasta and Sophia Loren boobs. A waifishly thin "Ariel Narrow". And I don't even want to know how the pasty young imagination of the viral internet will render "Ariel Black" — although I am not optimistic.

Tip via Brands of The World

Update (June 28):

Mario moustache! I shoulda known...

An ode to Mad Men's "Fat Betty"

As the current season of Mad Men was being filmed, January Jones (who plays Betty) was having a baby. Instead of ignoring the pregnancy or writing it into the plot, the writers put Ms. Jones into a fat suit and had Betty's weight gain become a rather dramatic plot element.

In the meantime some guys at SOUTH Music & Sound Design decided to commemorate the development with a song:



Yes, it is rather mean. But I choose to see it as a send-up on the show's dramatic excesses rather than a put-down of overweight people in the real world.

What do you think?

At least they didn't make fun of her placentophagy...

Fat guy mocked to sell dirt

Sad, isn't it? The dude seems happy. He's at home in his skin. He works out. He loves plants. And what does it get him?



The ad is by Italy's Armando Testa. Admittedly, people in their home markets of Milan, Rome and Turin tend to be pretty svelte. But if you're going to undermine human dignity, couldn't you do it for something more noble than a bag of mud?

Tip via Illegal Advertising

Every family's worst nightmare: Dads in briefs

You know, as a "needs to get in shape" middle-aged man, I have no problem whatsoever with the double standards in what would be considered ageism, sexism and body shaming if this was an ad about women.

It's just one of those times when we need to accept the payback.

Flash only (for now):



Ad by Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Beunos Aires

Via Creativity Online

F'd Ad Fridays: Sucks to be a model

Is this for real? It was uploaded a couple of days ago.



The humour is pretty original, but I can't see how this is not going to offend people. Which is probably the intent, because of all the PR. But is that going to get them ahead with their target market?

Hmmm...

Via Creative Criminals

F'd Ad Fridays: Stay classy, Ashley Madison

As always.

Via Jezebel