Calvin Klein ‘Censored’ Ad

Calvin Klein is doing this supposedly very clever thing where it’s putting up billboards with the “QR code” (whatever the eff that means!)  featured here and nothing else. The hope I guess is that the curious will try to uncover the mystery via online search where they will be directed to  use their Smart phones (don’t know what that is either!) to access a video of the brand’s Fall 2010 ads. According to Mashable, where the image is from, this all started  in Japan (of course) to push the consumer to engage with the brand and track how many people care. Personally I find the scheme intensely irritating, not in small part because for all its edgy marketing, this is a brand that makes most of its money selling off-price crap at Costco and in outlets. That being said, Lara Stone (more images of her later) is tied up in all this and since I’m obsessed with her I feel compelled to post about it. Yes, I was the sucker born on my day.

After the flip is a Calvin Klein fall 2010 ad, which features Stone. Whether or not it’s the same one tied to the billboard I have no idea.