FashBlog.com

Here is wishing all of you moms out there a happy belated Mother’s Day! As I was going through the extensive Sunday supplements last week (it takes me awhile) something struck me much more than it ever has, and that is the preponderance of somewhat silly poses in which models are placed, probably per the photographer’s instructions. But the really funny thing is that it seems to depend on the store that’s sponsoring the fashion shoot.

For example, what rubbed me the wrong way-repeatedly, I may add-was Macy’s circular. It’s bad enough that they used girls who barely looked 18 in their Mother’s Days ads, with 4 year old kids placed next to them, but some of the poses looked just too extreme for anything a “mother” would undertake. First was a gal whose right hand was resting on her bare upper chest while she balanced on her right leg with the left bent at the knee and her foot sort of glued to her calf. Her head was tilted to the left, and, although not an outside scene, her long hair looked to be flying in the breeze. Um…OK. On the same page was a girl who was standing in a rather knock-kneed position (but with her feet separated), leaning to the right, with both arms sort of wrapped around each other and held along her right side. Now, I can’t even imagine doing that kind of contortion in dance class, let alone to show off a dress. Next I came across a lady standing with her right knee completely turned out to the side, with the foot of her toe on the floor, left hand on her hip, and right arm bent at the elbow, palm up. Actually, this isn’t too bad, but just think about it-when’s the last time you stood this way? What took the cake was the pose with two models that was probably as difficult to hold as it is to figure out. The one lady is leaning backward at least 30 degrees, supporting herself against the other model’s back. The one leaning had the added responsibility of keeping her knees bent, and, it appears, keeping all her weight on one foot as her one knee is lifted higher. The other model, for whatever hilarious reason, has both hands covering her mouth as she, also, balances on one leg with the other bent higher than knee height, with the foot actually wrapped around her other knee.

Have you ever in your life seen two grown women stand like that? It’s somewhat bothersome, to tell you the truth, like the ads are trying way too hard to promise gleeful happiness if only we buy their stuff.

So, curiosity peaked, I turned my eagle’s eye to the J.C. Penney’s magazine. Now, this was much more normal. Their models are either standing still, in positions we mortals can relate to, or in the midst of walking somewhere, sometimes even carrying shopping bags. I rather like that. It makes me feel that they’re really living their lives instead of just leaning on each other or standing on one leg.

From there I went to an Eddie Bauer magazine, which just showed up in my mail. OK; now we’re getting more reality. These models looked older, and a few even had some crow’s feet (although still very beautiful). It probably has to do with their audience and the price of their items, but I must say, they present their selections quite authentically. I saw a couple of models pulling ropes on their sail boats, one riding her bike (with the mussed hair and determined expression of a true bicyclist) and others who simply presented having a good time in a very unaffected manner. Three cheers for the folks in Eddie Bauer’s marketing/sales/advertising department-they got it right.

Women don’t particularly want to see cutesy poses, mirthful laughter, or arrogant stares. That does not put us in the mood to part with our money to have what the cutesy, mirthful, arrogant models have. Give us reality that we can relate to, but just a slight bit better. We’ll be much more apt to picture ourselves wearing what’s advertised.