Thanks, GAP - because of you, Audrey Hepburn is spinning in her grave

[derby378]

Recycling her old footage and splicing in AC/DC music? That is so 20th century. Spare us.

But I have to admit that I'm a sucker for your emerald green dress shirts. I've been looking for those bad boys for years. Just ease up on the Hepburn footage, okay?

And take better care of your workers.

[RetroLounge]

1. Ahem

http://www.gapinc.com/public/Media/Press_Releases/med_pr_GapKeepItSimple090606.shtml

In celebration of the launch of the “Keep It Simple” ad campaign, Gap is making a generous contribution to the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund. The Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund is a non-profit organization created to continue Ms. Hepburn’s international appeals on behalf of children around the world.

and as far as workers go, do you have any facts?

http://www.gapinc.com/public/SocialResponsibility/socialres.shtml

What a bad nasty corporation...

RL

[bicentennial_baby]

2. It really is an AWFUL commercial...

it makes me want to :puke:...sorry baby :shrug:

[RetroLounge]

3. Quality of the commercial notwithstanding

Just dislike knee-jerk corporate bashing without any good reason...

I like the dancing and the concept, can't stand the song...

One bad commercial <> Bad GAP.

:hug:

RL

[philosophie_en_rose]

6. Gap damn well abuses its workers!

They make them all wear clothes from the Gap. ;)

[RetroLounge]

9. Good Point!

:rofl:

RL

[LynneSin]

27. Gap (which includes Old Navy & Banana Republic): Blue Company

http://www.buyblue.org/node/971/view/summary

I have no problem shopping at the Gap or buying their products. They're pretty damn blue, which is A-OK in my book!

[blondeatlast]

12. As a retail veteran I agree with you. It's generally a crummy

way to make a living, but some retailers try to set the bar a bit higher. The Gap stores, Barnes and Noble, CostCo, and TargetCorp (which I worked for when they were known as Dayton-Hudson Corporation) all have sterling reputations as places to work.

Admittedly, considering retail, that isn't saying a whole lot, but let's offer some credit where credit is due.

OTIOH, that commercial, and the ad campaign, makes me want to hurl--I don't care if it's for charity.

[grasswire]

4. I kinda think it's cool that a whole new generation..

...would be exposed to the simple beauty of Hepburn. But do they mention her at all? Or would kids just think the person in the ad is someone alive today, doing photo shoots?

[philosophie_en_rose]

5. Frankly, the ad makes her look like a nut.

I'm not sure, but I think the footage might be from Funny Face. In any case, it's taken completely out of context and many of the poses are not flattering among Gap's backgrounds.

[grasswire]

23. it is from Funny Face (eom)

[RetroLounge]

10. They introduced a whole new generation to Louis Prima

which is always a good thing...

RL

[tigereye]

24. yes

:thumbsup:

Hi Retro!


although I'm not a big fan of splicing old stuff without explanation, I have to admit that that type of thing does make music "live" longer - however, some of the great old jazz vocals mixed with hip-hop that alt. radios pushes make me cringe.

But I try to think, well, maybe folks will go out and buy REAL Sarah Vaughn and Carmen McRae CDs....

[Anarcho-Socialist]

7. I hope it's better than their usual cheesy commercials

I get the impression that GAP tries so hard to appear "cool" that they come across as not cool at all. It's like they try too hard and come off as being so into its own self-importance.

[Guava Jelly]

8. Audrey Hepburn

was such a damn hottie in her youth.
I never realized it before the gap commercial

[meegbear]

11. Is it Bon Scott AC/DC?

[miss_american_pie]

13. As much as I adore Audrey

I'm still not wearing skinny pants ever again. :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Word.

I can't believe those are back. What are all the pear shaped people of the world going to do? Only the truly straight up and down thin look good in those.

[miss_american_pie]

15. They don't make clothes

for us pear-shaped people. Just those 17-year-old waifs with all the disposable income. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. I often think that it would suck to be a teenager today...

...and then I realize that fashion was just as twisted 20 years ago. :D

[billyskank]

18. Pear-shaped. You. Pffffft.

:D

[miss_american_pie]

19. Hey you!

Good morning. :hi:

[billyskank]

20. Hey you too!

:hi:

[terrya]

17. I hate that fucking commercial

Audrey Hepburn was an elegant, classy woman. She must indeed be spinning in her grave considering that her image is being used to sell crappy clothes made by 12 year olds in Indonesia working in sweatshops for .20 an hour.

Easily one of the worst ad campaigns of the year. Easily.

[begin_within]

21. It's the real Audrey Hepburn? I thought it was a lookalike.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

22. Yes, that is the real Audrey.

The footage is taken from "Funny Face", which starred Fred Astaire and was directed by Stanly Donen. It is one of the few (only?) films in which Audrey was allowed to dance. She had been a ballerina growing up, but her movies (sadly) never showed this side of her talent. I think her Beat number is absolutely delightful, and is one of my very favorite Audrey performances.

[begin_within]

25. So whoever owns the rights to that film must have given permission to

the GAP to use it. So therefore I blame them, since Audrey obviously isn't around to defend herself.

[951-Riverside]

26. Va-va-va-video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk1MnEzvnLk

...cause I'm back in black

[Shakespeare]

28. I love skinny pants, and I even like that commercial.

:cry: :cry: :cry: I'm so happy skinny pants are back. I wish we had a "crying with happiness" smilie, but this'll have to do.

I'm delighted they're donating money to Audrey's charity; I'm guessing her estate requested that in return for use of her image. She's such a delight to watch, even after all these years.

[WI_DEM]

29. actually you can probably blame her family I believe they had to

give permission.