It appears Prince Harry is not the only one facing problems because of nude pictures – shoe designer Brian Atwood is too. The latest ad campaign for famed shoe brand Brian Atwood has been banned from the streets of New York City due to its mildly sexual imagery.

Shoe brand Brian Atwood was told to remove a billboard-size image from outside their soon-to-open store by the building’s owners due to its content described as unsuitable for public eyes. The campaign poster, which was to be displayed outside the new boutique at 655 Madison Avenue in Manhattan’s Midtown, stars Victoria’s Secret supermodel Candice Swanepoel. The banned billboard-image shows the supermodel dressed in a black basque, hold-up stockings and sexy leopard-print high heels with a leg on each side of two bare-chested men. Candice is cavorting with her two nude male companions on a couch.

The owners of the building thought the huge poster, just one of four from the brand’s racy autumn/winter 2012 campaign, shot by photographer duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, was provocative, even though it was showing nothing more than long legs and sexy heels. The shoe brand has now replaced the billboard with a toned-down picture of a woman’s legs, approved by the owners of the building.

According to New York Post, the large-scale advertising campaign not only has been banned from the facade of Atwood’s Madison Avenue store, but from New York City’s ‘Taxi TV’ screens as well. A film version of the ad, that was due to air on screens in New York taxis, has also not been approved by the companies that provide TV content for the Taxi and Limousine Commission. The film features Victoria’s Secret supermodel getting naked down to nothing but for a pair of boots, while she’s watching a wall of screens, showing porn.

Instead, a behind-the-scenes teaser of Atwood’s campaign will be aired directing viewers to Brian Atwood’s official website, where the original full film will play. The Taxi and Limousine Commission’s representatives told that the film wasn’t banned due to their decision, but that private vendors were responsible for its rejection.

This ad campaign is a first for the designer, whose creations are quite popular among celebrities including Kate Hudson, Victoria Beckham, Rachel Weisz and Jessica Biel. The banned images will be published in the September issues of Vogue, W, V Magazine and CR Fashion Book. The designer himself described his ‘the sex is in the heel’ themed film, as ‘sexually charged’. His inspiration for his spring 2013 collection is going to be the ankle, explaining that “There is something so sexy about this part on a woman, and these celebrate that.” His Madison Avenue boutique is only going to be the first out of many around the world.

This is not the first time a fashion brand’s advertisement has to be withdrawn. Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci and Tom Ford have all had ads banned due to nudity, provocative images, sexual implications and violent messages. The history of fashion has shown that banned ads become a success, so no worries for Brian Atwood.

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Victoria’s Secret is world-renowned as an American retailer for women’s wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is not only known for its annual fashion show but also famed for its catalogues which feature top fashion models in stylish photo shoots. Victoria’s Secret’s trademark is not only slim and beautiful models, but they also want their models to be nourished and healthy. In this day and age, we find that a lot of pressure is put on women to lose weight and constantly aim to look like the models portrayed in the media.

Recently, one of the models for Victoria’s Secret, named Candice Swanepoel, has become “a little to light for her wings” according to E online. The model was formerly known for her long blond locks and voluptuous body.

Just a few months ago, Candice was the face of the lingerie house’s Valentine’s Day campaign. She sported a much healthier body than she does now, her weight loss having been drastic. According to sources, she is not only considered unhealthy but is jeopardizing her career as a model for Victoria’s Secret. All the Angels are supposed to be “healthy and muscular” says a source and until now, Swanepoel, 22, had kept the contract. The company is clearly drawing a line between skinny and undernourished models.

An insider explains how “there is a really clear criteria for both Angels and the catalogue. Their career path is Sports Illustrates swimsuit issue then to Angel; it’s the highest paying contract there is, period. The image is about being voluptuous, its not fat, buts its curvy”. For a professional such as Swanepoel, this means that if she gets to skinny, she could lose her contract. The company is not looking for “skinny and editorial print-like fashion magazine models” according to entertainment online. One of the company’s target groups is the Macy’s shoppers and they are generally of an older age-group.

Swanepoel says to E online how extensive traveling has been the main cause of her weight loss. Diet expert Rochelle Sirota describes how “she has to go up to 125 pounds, she looks about 108 to 110 right now, and she’s 5-foot-9 and a half”.  She describes how just a few months ago, Candice looked much sturdier. At the moment, the model’s level of body fat looks really low. The diet expert also describes how the human body has the ability to lose weight due to extreme stress, especially in connection with changing time zones. Combined with a fast metabolism, which Swanepoel claims she has, this could be a valid reason for her weight loss.

Rochelle Sirota explains how Swanepoel would have to eat “500 extra calories a day and maintain the exercise she’s doing now to gain a pound a week back onto her frame” according to E online.

Jessica White, a current Victoria’s Secret model, describes how her manager has urged her to keep healthy and maintain a normal weight. She describes how “I’m a Victoria’s Secret model and they have never encouraged me to be anythingbut sexy and healthy, I have curves and they love that. Victoria’s Secret represents all women, which means all shapes and sizes”.

A person close to Swanepoel has said that the focus on her weight is ‘overblown’.

The article Model to Lose Victoria’s Secret Contract for Losing Weight appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.