SEE NO EVIL. WEAR NO EVIL. EAT NO EVIL.


Every morning paper brings new insights and not always in the ways you think.

3 things caught my eye today.

Reality, Absurdity & Sheer Editorial Carelessness.

Lets begin with REALITY.

The first was an ad for the famous Patek Philippe watch. They had an ad campaign called the 'Generation' series which featured Father & Son or Mother & Daughter and they have always used the brilliant tagline

"You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation"

Not only does it bring out the timelessness of its product but it also makes it feel like an investment. A future family heirloom. It is one of the most successful ads in history but my point is not about that.

Today's paper had another of those ads and the difference this time is that the 'son' isnt exactly someone you would call 'handsome' in the model sense of the word.

Now I am sure that the folks at Patek were not exactly lacking for money to procure a traditionally 'good looking' model, so the only explanation is that the ads are finally beginning to reflect reality.

The reality that 95% of the public dont have movie star good looks.

Lets hope the others follow suit.

If you open any Men's magazine like GQ or FHM or even Men's Vogue you will be flooded with pages after pages of designer ads with some stunning looking suits and clothes but as the acerbic Vir Sanghvi (of HT India) said so famously,

"The only way you and me are going to ever look as good as the models in those couture clothes are if we have the body structure of a pubescent girl”

Bingo!

Now it’s the turn for ABSURDITY.

The tabloid section of the Gulf News has a section where it displays pictures from around the world every week. One of the pictures today was from the HongKong Fashion Week.

OK, I understand that couture isn’t always wearable or practical but surely it must have its limits. Different just for the sake of being different is frankly crap. What could this designer possibly be trying to prove? What a waste, really, in these difficult times.

Tsk Tsk

And finally its Sheer Editorial Carelessness.

The Abu Dhabi Week supplement has a fantastic eating out guide but look at the picture and the caption.

“Traditional Indian Cooking”

Traditional???

Indian???

With chopsticks and with Chinese sauces besides the wok??

Yeah Right!

And I’m Santa Claus


Have a great weekend

Ciao

Vish