I admit it, I love shoes. A true woman at heart. And I have to tell you I’ve had a brand crush on Kenneth Cole – shoe designer extraordinaire – for years. Not just his shoe designs, but his advertising has had me captivated, enthralled and proud for years. How can you not notice the incredibly well designed, simple, socially conscious statement bearing ads? Now, his latest ad which I just saw in the March issue of OUT magazine, has really set me on fire! Check it out yourself online at KennethCole.com. It features two women’s legs in beautiful high heels with a gorgeous baby toddling between them. This full page ad immediately caught my eye! And even more what the ad says, take a look:
WE ALL WALK IN DIFFERENT SHOES.
GAY MARRIED COUPLE,
JOANNA AND NICOLETTA TESSLER,
WITH THEIR DAUGHTER, RUTHIE.
25 YEARS OF
NON-UNIFORM
THINKING.
This is part of a series of 11 ads designed to celebrate Kenneth Cole’s 25 year anniversary. What’s unique is he is featuring in these ads “bold, unexpected people of substance.” Like who? Like these two lesbian mothers, like Aimee Mullins an actor, paralympic athlete and president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, and like Regan Hofmann the HIV-positive editor-in-chief of Poz magazine, among others. Go to KennethCole.com to see the ads and interview with some of these “unexpected people of substance.” I think you’ll be impressed.
So how does Kenneth Cole get away with being so socially edgy? Because he sees it as the right thing to do, because he believes in himself and because he can. He was one of the first members of the fashion design industry to take AIDS to the public. That was in 1985. He continues to set the trends, even in fashion advertising.
Trendsetting fashion designs – smart socially conscious ads – humanitarian extraordinaire! What’s not to love? Let’s go buy some Kenneth Cole shoes today!
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