Comments on: Objectification in Advertising — Vintage Style!

By: La BellaDonna

La BellaDonna — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:33:43 +0000

KathyMarie: Apparently I’m a MUCH more evil woman than your boss; I fear my solution would be to go into the bathroom, remove the offending garment, and put it on her desk.

(Yes, and then I’d be job hunting. I’d be evil, and job hunting. But I’d be happy.)

By: KathyMarie

KathyMarie — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:03:36 +0000

Benvolio – I once got asked to change my clothes at work because of VPL, and to make sure VPL didn’t happen again.

My boss was a woman. A very evil, evil woman.

By: Bitter Scribe

Bitter Scribe — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:47:43 +0000

Do they even make Underalls any more?

I seem to remember an even stupider Underalls commercial when I was a kid. The camera followed a model sashaying down the street, and eventually she whipped around and breathlessly whispered, “Underalls make me feel like I’m wearin’ nuthin’!”

This made perfect sense to my then 14-year-old self, as it undoubtedly did to the guys (you know they were guys) who wrote it. But I found out much later that it helped sink the brand, because most women don’t want to feel like they’re “wearin’ nuthin’.”

By: Agi

Agi — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:07:19 +0000

What Ozymandias said.

The magic floating underwear fairy has the solution!?!

By: benvolio

benvolio — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:51:33 +0000

And you know what else? I’ve never been able to figure out exactly why VPL is supposed to be ‘unsightly.’ I mean, the outline of bra straps and bra bands are acceptable, and even evident cup seams have a certain retro appeal, so why is VPL a crime against all that’s holy?

Oh. Because some advertiser said so.

By: Kat

Kat — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:21:48 +0000

I remember that ad, I was probably 14 or so when it came out. Underalls were somewhat revolutionary at the time because it meant one less piece of underthings that you had to wear. And many women then did wear pantyhose all the time and even under pants, even casual pants, which was a step down from wearing the 18-hour girdle that they had worn for years (I’m thinking specifically of my mother and her girlfriends, but I think it was a standard thing for many of their age.) Still, very weird, that thing flying around smacking their butts. I don’t remember my reaction to it then, but seeing it now… ick.

By: Gexx

Gexx — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:30:23 +0000

@Cara
True, true… my bad. Apparently I’m not a good woman. Take away my card and keep me under probation for pantylines whilst swiming or something.

By: rainie

rainie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:38:45 +0000

I remember this product. They weren’t panty/pantyhose, they were panties that were seamless and had a waistband that had enough give that it wasn’t supposed to make a line that showed. I bought a couple of pairs and really hated the way the fabric felt. They also tended to ride up in odd ways.

By: Ozymandias

Ozymandias — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:17:48 +0000

This commercial has so destroyed my brain cells that I can only express my feelings about it in the vernacular of the less intelligent of my compatriots:

Dude. What the fuck.

By: chinmusician

chinmusician — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:29:01 +0000

Maybe the wearer of flattering clothes can be judged as enabling of those who would objectify her…limited to men, apparently, who of course still want to keep her inside the house. Or, maybe she just wants to look and feel presentable as she perceives it.

It’s insane how our obsessed our society is with butts. The thread-starter too, it seems.