Jokingly dubbed “Pubic Enemy,” this ad shot by Mario Testino featured model Carmen Kass pulling down her underwear to reveal her pubic hair shaved into a Gucci-logo “G.” Although the photo was deemed “degrading to women,” the UK’s advertising watchdog ultimately agreed with Gucci’s argument that the ad was sufficiently targeted solely at “modern, fashion-conscious and sophisticated adults.”Tom Ford created an advertising kerfuffle with this 2002 ad from Yves Saint Laurent (where Ford was Creative Director) featuring martial artist-turned-male model Samuel de Cubber letting it all hang out to promote YSL’s M7 fragrance.Tom Ford also art directed this Yves Saint Laurent perfume ad—featuring model Sophie Dahl wearing nothing but gold jewelry and high heels. When it was released in 2000, the overtly sexual ad quickly caused a furor. It received so many complaints in the UK that it was banned from appearing on billboards, although it was allowed to appear in women’s magazines.In 2014 (once again in the UK), a poster for Rihanna’s perfume Rogue—which featured the nearly-naked singer sitting with her legs raised against a large bottle of the perfume—was deemed too sexualized and provocative to be displayed in areas where it could be seen by children.Tom Ford hired photographer Terry Richardson to shoot this 2007 campaign, which used the artful and erotic placement of the men’s fragrance bottle to grab people’s attention. The ad was banned in Italy.
