These ads were created by a bunch of heels

From the submission to Ads of The World: "High Heels are uncomfortable and inconvenient. So how does Deichmann convince women to wear them? Prove to women that men over 180 cm are more successful and that they should wear high heels to keep up with the guys."

As a short guy, I have three reasons to hate this campaign.

The first is the manipulative sexism. For years, I've been complaining that painful fashion is something women have been imposing on themselves and each other, and there is no patriarchal conspiracy behind it. This campaign seems to indicate otherwise.

This one also offers some awful German-to-English translation.

Second, the ads claim that height is essential to success. I've always thought being a mere 5'7" has been a big part of my success, because it forces me to compensate with a big personality.

Third, I don't want women to be tall! It was hard enough finding partners of my scale when I was single, without pressure for them to be taller...

Thank God for short women!

F'd Ad Fridays: But what about the smells?

"Stops the noises"

Via Copyranter

F'd Ad Fridays: 43-year-old Afri-Cola ad will blow your mind

Illegal Advertising posted this wonderfully F'd bit of vintage awesome:



It's by the late Charles Paul Wilp, a German adman who combined his interests in art and aerospace to create this really trippy ad. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

This is how they sell Italian sports cars in Germany

Well that's... umm... culturally interesting. I guess.

See the other two at Ads of The World.

Wrigley's exploits drivers' disgusting and unsanitary habits to sell gum

"Einfahrt" Tee hee hee...

PFSK reports that Wrigley's is promoting its latest flavour of Extra gum in German parking lots by putting a thin strip of mint flavour on the tickets taken by the motorists and used to pay on exit.


Mint parking tickets from Art Directors Club of Europe on Vimeo.



Apparently, "the clever idea came about as many drivers tend to insert the ticket between their lips after paying and driving out."

Am I the only one grossed out by this? Maybe not. Imagine being the guy who has to take the tickets.

F'd Ad Fridays: Scarlett and... Reet?

Perhaps it works if you say his name in a German accent.

Frankly, I don't give a damn.

Agency: Glow, Berlin

via I Believe in Advertising

F'd Ad Fridays: Oh, that poor little... GAH!

Copyranter reports that this is a German ad from 2004. But age has not tempered its shock value:

Those crazy Germans.

F'd Ad Fridays: Efficient vintage German nose-correcting machine

BoingBoing translates:

"Potato Nose, Saddle Nose, Duckbill Nose, Wide Nose, Pointy Nose, Long Nose, Hook Nose and Slant Nose, Greco-Roman Normal Form

SUCH NOSE ERRORS and similar will be quite significantly improved with the orthopedic nose former "Zello". The new and improved Model 20 exceeds all others. Double-layered padding clings exactly to the anatomical structure of the nose so that the affected nasal cartilage is normal-shaped in a short time. (Bone deformities are not.) Most warmly recommended by Royal Court Advisor Dr. G. von Eck, M.D. and other medical authorities. 100,000 "Zello" in use. Price 5 Marks, 7 Marks, and 10 Marks and a 10% surcharge for a doctor's visit. (A model or impression is desired.) Specialist L. M. Baginski, Berlin W. 126, WInterfeldstr. "

I could go on and on about what this obsession with "normal" forms and what Jerry is implying with this "haken nase" claptrap, but my blog has been Godwin-free for at least a couple of weeks now. Let's keep it that way.