UK Bans Twiggy's Photoshopped Olay Ads

U.K's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has finally banned Twiggy ads for Olay, following hundreds of complains from concerned groups who claimed that the images of the wrinkle-free model is socially irresponsible and could have a negative impact on people's perceptions of their own body image.


Beauty company Olay debuted its Definity eye illuminator campaign last summer, featuring then 59 year-old Twiggy. Not to mention that the airbrushing has definitely made the old model's face look younger-smoother-firmer, her eyes were also bright and youthful without the evident of many crows feet.

Below Twiggy's photoshopped face was the line "Olay is my secret to brighter-looking eyes."

Because the anti-aging cream has older women as its target market, some people were disturbed including British lawmakers who called for the banning of the digitally altered advertisements since August.

Olay has admitted to "minor retouching" around Twiggy's eyelid area but the ads made it look like the result of the model's constant wiping of the eye cream.

The ASA banned the complete set of Twiggy's Olay ads yesterday, ruling that the post-production retouching could give consumers a "misleading impression of the effect the product could achieve."

Carmen Dell'Orefice: Timeless Runway Model

Carmen Dell'Orefice, 78, returns to the runway for designer Guo Pei during China Fashion Week.


Timeless and elegant, the aesthetic qualities of this American woman makes her an icon of Ford Models. She has been modeling with the agency since 1953.

Not much has been written about Carmen Dell'Orefice, except that she has lived a life of poverty in her youth, started modeling at the age of 13, married a string of men during her prime years, and has recently lost her life savings to Bernard Madoff, operator of a financial scheme dubbed as "the largest investment fraud in Wall Street history."

From the highly-publicized issue just last year, the old model has been quoted as saying, "For the second time in my life, I've lost all of my life savings."

Good thing Carmen Dell'Orefice remains attractive. She can still hit the catwalk for money, even in her old age.

London Fashion Week Embraces Diversity

The London Fashion Week this year is getting high praise and publicity for embracing diversity on the runway with an array of models who are plus-size, black, and around 70 years old.


PPQ clothing line presented its spring 2010 collection in a line-up of exclusively black girls while Sykes collection used models with wide range of ages up to 70. Fashion designer Mark Fast, on the other hand, had three size 14 models in his show.

While London Fashion Week successfully showed diversity, it did not end without controversy especially on having the plus-size models share the runway with the typical slim and pale-looking girls.

Intent to prove that his designs are not only for skinny girls, Mark Fast decided to include three bigger models on the last minute. This decision prompted his casting director to walk out. The show's stylist was also rude to the models so that the team was forced to fire her. Stylist Daniela Agnelli stepped up to save the day, including finding solution to the need of larger models for supportive underwear beneath the tight dresses. The show was overall a success, although there have been complaints about the nude thongs cutting into the plus-size model's skin and ruining the lines of the clothes.

This diversity on the catwalk is influenced by the launch of new fashion initiative, "All Walks Beyond The Catwalk", by Caryn Franklin. The British fashion expert and TV presenter believes that in order to change the shape of fashion, young designers have to be encouraged to have an inclusive attitude early in their careers.

Hopefully, this diversity on the catwalk will move towards an attitude that speaks of diversity and individuality.