My Favorite Ads, Part I.

I am a magazine addict. I have a problem, I'll admit it. I buy an enormous amount of magazines and I love looking at every single page of them. Apart from editorials and articles, one of the things I love about fashion magazines is the advertisements. I love the idea of designers and their teams trying to put together an ad that properly evokes the feeling of the product they are selling. In fashion magazines, ads are especially gorgeous because the product is clothing or accessories - the ads are just as beautiful as the photo spreads that are part of the actual content of the magazine. While I never tear out articles, I tear ads out frequently. I keep a sketchbook filled with ads taped on the pages. My favorite ads are the ones that inspire me - that make me want a certain look or evoke an emotion or are simply too beautiful to pass up. I scanned a few from the March issues to share.
Van Cleef and Arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels consistently have ads that I love. This ad has more muted colors than the others I have pulled out in the past (which I will be showcasing at a later date) but it still has the same whimsical aesthetic. They've use the same model for a long time which is something I really like. It makes the ads instantly recognizable. The jewelry is gorgeous but I think I love the ads even more. This ad could be for just about anything and I'd love it.
Kate Spade:

I love love love Kate Spade ads. They're always full of bright colors, adorable clothes and accessories and they just scream Fun. I'm not sure if I've ever found another series of ads that just bring me joy. Kate Spade ads never fail to make me smile (or covet everything shown).
Salvatore Ferragamo

These ads were four pages all together in a magazine. I love multi-page ads but I loved this one especially because of how beautiful the pictures were. I feel like this ad reminds me of Grace Kelly - the model certainly looks like one of Hitchcock's blondes. This ad strikes me as very aspirational - the model appears to be on vacation in some luxurious European locale and who doesn't want that? Well, I'm sure there's someone who doesn't, but I am not that person.
Hermes

I have to say this is not one of the ways I've pictured Cinderella before. But Karlie Kloss certainly evokes that feeling in her lust-worthy ice blue dress and shoes. This is another one of those dreamy backgrounds as well. To be dressed gorgeously in some city by the sea? It's the fuel of daydreams.