Daring, Baring Ads
Naked bodies, lots of unzipped leather, intertwined limbs, and a guy making an obscene gesture. Hmmm. These are what the new Calvin Klein jeans ads are made of. The 116-page promotional booklet is already being touted as a collector’s item--as well as vulgar and sleazy--because of the controversy it has stirred. The booklet is packaged with Vanity Fair magazine’s October issue--on the high heels of Demi Moore’s nude very pregnant body as August’s cover shot--shipped to subscribers and sold on newsstands in Los Angeles and New York only. Three thousand of the supplements were printed to the tune of $1 million and feature black-and-white photographs by Bruce Weber that tell the story of a rock concert aftermath: sweat, showers and multiple sex partners. Already, a $15 poster of one photograph, a dripping wet naked man strategically clutching a pair of jeans, is being sold through a toll free number listed in the ad. Kind of makes Brooke Shields’ “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins” ad of the ‘70s look virginal.
GOOD WORKS: Working Woman magazine released its yearly list of the 85 best companies for which to toil this week. Patagonia, the Ventura-based hard-core sportswear company, not only made the list, it was one of the top 10 firms singled out for good pay, advancement opportunities for women, child-care support and family benefits. Company spokesman Mike Harrelson says Patagonia’s on-site child-care center (established in 1984) is one of the primary reasons the company was included. “We don’t turn over key employees just because they’re entering parenthood,” he says And he has noticed “it is an added dimension having children in the workplace, they are a constant reality check for what is important.”
ODD COUPLE: Celeb mall sightings are one of the perks of living in Southern California, and recently shoppers at Westside Pavilion were treated to a double exposure, reports mall spokesperson Nina Gordon. Michael Jackson and Macaulay Culkin of “Home Alone” fame were doing a mall crawl together dressed in identical outfits--red shirt, black pants and navy jacket tied around the waist. They checked out the Footlocker store and stopped at Mrs. Fields Cookies before they were forced to flee adoring fans.
CULTURE COUTURE: It’s been an haute couture week for the Music Center. Monday night belonged to Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel at a spectacular fund-raiser. Tonight, Yves Saint Laurent is the hero. He picks up the tab for a black-tie party after the L.A. Opera performance of “The Trojans.” No formal fashion show is scheduled, but bets are on that many guests will be dressed in YSL.
GREEN CAUSE: Well, this is L.A., and Sunday night at the Broadway proved it. To start a weeklong California lifestyle promotion, the chain held a fund-raiser at the Beverly Center. Guest of honor, Colleen Adams, representing Harper’s Bazaar, wore a black, peek-a-boo back cocktail dress. Her stage partner, Esquire magazine’s Robert Beauchamp, wore a business suit. But that was nothing compared to Bill Fagerbakke, from the cast of “Coach.” He was definitely a cut below in a faded Hawaiian shirt, tired jeans and old jogging shoes. Never mind. He was there with actresses Clare Carey and Pam Stone to praise TreePeople. The words were nice, but the money was better. A silent auction of clothing, cosmetics and housewares netted $7,200 for the environmental organization.
