Is it me or... (possibly NSFW... probably not though)

[Lomster]

Originally Posted by Lomster

I've just zoomed in on the pic of girl in red and it still looks like ribs to me :/

I still don't think its overly sexy and would look far better if the girl had curves.

Considering the whole size 0 problem girls have i think using a woman of a size 10 would be much better not a size 6-8.

Originally Posted by Piggymon

I'm a size 6-8 and I have curves ta very much !

Where did i say 6-8 sized women don't have curves? unless that was directed at someone else piggy? confused??

[Piggymon]

You said it would look better if the woman had curves and then said it would have been better if they used a size 10 model instead of a size 6 - 8 which implied that women of that size don't have curves

Don't worry, was only kidding with you

[Lomster]

I see where the confusion is now. that isn't what I meant though.

I know you wasn't being serious hun but some people might get me wrong.

[Tiggy]

Originally Posted by Mondo

Why take it personally, sounds to me they need to take a step back and be happy of who they are and have confidence in their size than being put off simply by a model. I know i am never going to look like that calvin klein underwear model on the box but it never stop me buying their boxers. I know i don't look like that but why should i care?

In this day and age where eating disorders are so common, is it any wonder that us women get naffed off with the tiny stick insects the fashion industry like to call models? And the fact that they seem to take delight in airbrushing them to make them look even thinner sometimes?

I've had eating problems myself. I tried so hard to be anorexic. I couldnt do it, so I turned to bullimia. My Mum knew about it, infact it was her idea. She spent most of her late teens and twenties surviving on a pint of milk a day.

I want my 4 year old daughter to grow up with a healthy idea of what a woman is. And I want my son to as well. That size doesnt matter, it's health and happiness that matters. And I was very proud of my daughter when she came to me and asked if her barbie doll was capable of eating 'because mummy, she looks like she hasnt had enough to eat' and I lol'd when she mentioned the fact that barbie's nipples had fallen off.

I want them both to have a healthy self image.

I'm not about to disclose what size clothes I wear. But I want to make it clear that I have my moments of being damn sexy. I also have my moments of feeling bleurgh. I own items of clothing from anne summers, and I look and feel damn sexy when I wear them.

[Mondo]

Exactly, you need a good self image and don't let these ads, magazine covers get to you. I mean who cares they use size 0 model to sell mineral water. Be yourself.

[Desmo]

It's not that easy when it's constantly shoved in your face though Mondo. Don't worry, the men are starting to get it in the magazines now so we'll be under the same pressure

Some of us won't care, in the same way that a lot of women don't. But many will...and the stronger the image becomes, the more men will care.

I was walking through town on Saturday and heard a young girl (probably 10-12) saying to her friend that her sisters mate is a size 0. I find it quite shocking that girls of that age even care to think about sizes let alone actually care about it.

[Pheebs]

Originally Posted by goldilocks

i would not enjoy the task of selling anne summers items to anyone, no matter what their size. i do not envy you your task - i can't imagine how difficult it is to convince any woman that buying AS underwear will make them 'feel great' if they don't already.

no matter what your experience is 'in the job' anne summers is a profitable company - a quick google search (and i'm sure you already know this) shows that they made £117.3 million in the tax year 07-08. to me that does not suggest they are an unsuccessful company, their advertising obviously works.
you could argue that if they used larger models it could be twice that revenue - but why fix something that isn't broken and *risk* it having the opposite effect?

you mention bravissimo - they ONLY sell underwear etc for the more generously busted / sized women, they are a lingerie shop - not a sex shop. as such their marketing will be very different.

(sorry but "Ann Summers" not "Anne" )

Please don't get me wrong, I am aware they're a successful company and mentioned bravissimo as an example... there are plenty of other brands that use real sized models (Dove is a prime example!). I am not saying the picture on the front cover should be a larger model either... I just think that they picked a poor picture considering the range of photos they have of that girl (there are more of her in the catalogue where she looks *stunning* and her ribs aren't all pokey outey)

Two things I don't quite understand. Yes, Ann Summers is in main part of the sex industry... and you mention risk... but by using a couple of "larger" sized models to demonstrate their larger sizes in their brochures... how would that be a risk? It's not like "larger" models don't have sex appeal! And this is the exact problem... by not using larger models it suggests that they don't have sex appeal, thus making people who are "larger" feel like poo!

Originally Posted by Mondo

I don't need proof pheebs, i believe you. But i have to ask, with risk of sounding insensitive. Why do women take it negatively when they see thin models? Why take it personally, sounds to me they need to take a step back and be happy of who they are and have confidence in their size than being put off simply by a model. I know i am never going to look like that calvin klein underwear model on the box but it never stop me buying their boxers. I know i don't look like that but why should i care?

I don't take all pictures negatively at all If you look back at my OP I do say I see a lot of other pictures of... pretty much naked women... and I don't see anything wrong with them! I am just against this one so much! It's a really poor choice. Really Reeallly poor choice!

I cannot speak for everyone who feel pretty darn rubbish when they look at "perfect" models... but it's just a thing a lot of people do. I do it. Not all the time as it's part of my job and so I have to be numb to it. But aside from my job I do it an awful lot. I know plenty of other girls who do it too. It is very much a confidence thing... something a lot of ladies lack when it comes to their bodies. And it's hard not to do so when every blooming where you look there's always some skinny lady advertising something, some film star who OH-DEAR-GOD has cellulite or has gained a tremendous 5 POUNDS! I mean, look how tubby they look from their normal size 0! ... Heh... I'm being a bit melodramatic here but it is very much in ladies faces everywhere they turn. I'm not saying men don't have to suffer it either, but they don't exactly have sexy lingerie parties and items they can dress up in to woo their women! I mean hmmm... pvc thongs and willy warmers that neigh ! They also have OODLES of successful and well loved role models who are not gorgeous styled hunks (Jack Black for example - he's a God) where as us women are lacking in that area (I can only think of Dawn French and Jo Brand - both fab ).

From an Ann Summers perspective, I think that if I don't have it on my rail in a larger size than what's in the catalogue, people have to try and visualize themselves in that item, which means comparing themselves to the picture and ends up having a negative reaction.

I can't really explain more than that... it's just... how I feel and a lot of others feel too.

[Will]

Surely also there are more women of normal average sizes than skinny ugly things? As a man I'd rather be enticed with a curvy woman than a stick insect - then again I'd probably break them

Men are starting to feel the pressure too - I may be a sucker for it with the time that I spend at the gym, but at least it's *starting* to make me feel better about myself... However I'm still not happy, and it's because of all the chinese whispers or media stipulation that men need a six pack, no body hair, funky styled hair and possibly a couple of other things. I feel more often than not very average in terms of looks, but feel I make up for it a little with the hard work I do at the gym - it sort of helps me. I then removed some bodyhair which was causing me issues - again it boosted me a little... but ultimately it's deep down that I have to address the issue.

It's the same with models and advertising, they will glamourise it to make it more appealing and noticeable. We compare things - it's human nature, we compare what we have with others, we compare 2 things or many things to other things. And if we see a flaw we can't help but keep our mind on it. Perfection is very hard for us humans to achieve or accept - in fact I believe it's impossible, but something to strive for, but healthier to accept a high standard rather than any more. Acceptance doesn't have to mean that you think you're ugly/fat/skinny whatever... it means that with what you've got you're going to do the best you can with and try and be happy with it. That' the biggest hurdle. It doesn't matter if someone is not to your thinking/taste because they will be to someone else's.

The OP is not a flattering picture to many in though it will appeal to some, but sometiems they get it right. Whether ot not people are upset by it that's never going to be rectified, it's always going to be subjective, and this sort of thing is always going to be designed to be a little on the edge - makes it more interesting and compelling selling.

[PvtPyle]

The girl in the OP is hot. That is all.

[TinkerBell]

I have to say for me (having extra baggage), I find it very hard to look at that picture and even imagine me wearing that, let alone feeling sexy in it, yes she is a very nice looking girl, but the picture is meant to want people feel good about themself and go and buy it, that picture would put me off buying it, let alone looking through the brochure!

I know there are loads of people on here who disagree with me, and think that it is a great advertisement, but then again the people who have critized are either Men or aren't a larger woman! Not that your opinion doesn't count before you all pounce