Lanvin Debuts Creepy Ad Campaign

By Kendra Gilbert on December 31st, 2009

Parisian fashion house Lanvin debuted it’s new Spring/Summer 2010 ad campaign recently. Big deal, right? Normally the debut of a fashion campaign is not newsworthy. Usually it’s just more skinny models dolled up in fancy clothes and make up posing for the camera. But, this time around Lanvin went for less clothes, less make-up and more artistically simulated flesh and bloody muscle. Check it out.

When I first saw this photograph I recoiled in horror. Upon reexamining it over and over, it still creeps me out. I’m less bothered by the red body paint applied to the nude woman to create the look of skinless flesh, and more disturbed by the way she seems to be sucking out the soul of the man. Eeek! Turns out the couple in the photo, Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, are married in real life and are quite the artistic duo having shot for magazines like Vogue, W and GQ. In fact, they created a similar “kiss” photograph as the one in the Lanvin ad, so I’m sure they had a lot to do with the ad’s artistic direction.

After my initial horror, I was sickly drawn to this photograph. For all it’s creepiness, it really is dramatic and creative (perhaps those with weak stomachs might not feel the same way). Granted, it has very little to do with showcasing Lanvin’s spring line, but it’s certainly created a buzz. And apparently it’s in line with the current zombie trend sweeping the fashion industry. For spring, less is more. Less skin that is.

Zombies. Tres chic!

Photo courtesy of Lanvin