The Most Controversial Banned Fashion Ads

In the image-centric world of fashion, it's no secret that sex sells. From fast fashion to high luxury, sexuality has spilled from the billboards of brands since the advertising industry first emerged. As society evolved and the boundaries of decent exposure were pushed further, brands continued capitalizing on double-take-worthy ads. But questionable images can easily strike a chord (or several) among customers, and fashion campaigns that reveal too much or go too far are quick to be called out. Advertising regulators are responsible for reeling in the offenders, often banning ads from circulation and deciding when the risqué has crossed into the wrong. Click through to uncover the most controversial banned ads in fashion history, from cocaine to cow udders and everything in between.

Calvin Klein Jeans

In 1980, a then 15-year-old Brooke Shields starred in a Calvin Klein Jeans campaign and infamously whispered, "Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." The campaign's commercials were banned by ABC and CBS, after public backlash erupted around the seemingly sexualized teenager.

Calvin Klein Jeans

Calvin Klein Jeans' 1995 ad campaign was banned for its provocative use of youthful models, causing many to accuse the brand of child pornography. The complaints became so frequent, the Justice Department launched a full investigation of the campaign, ultimately revealing that none of the models were minors.

Sisley

One of many banned Sisley ads, this 2001 image controversially featured model Josie Maran posing seductively with a cow's udder. It was part of a campaign that had models in various risqué scenes on a farm and was supposed to convey "a naturalistic representation of life and countryside, playing on models' exhibitionism, and hinting ironically at nature and natural eroticism," according to the brand.

Yves Saint Laurent

During Tom Ford's appointment at the helm of YSL, this infamous ad for the Opium fragrance received nearly 1,000 complaints and was removed from billboards. Model Sophie Dahl, styled by Carine, was posed in a way that was "sexually suggestive and unsuitable to be seen by children," according to the Advertising Standards Authority.

Yves Saint Laurent

In 2002, Yves Saint Laurent created a full-frontal fragrance campaign inspired by a 1971 photograph of the fashion house's founder. Needless to say, the image of model Samuel de Cubber in the nude received countless complaints and only a cropped version was authorized for use on posters (even though the full image was printed in magazines). "Perfume is worn on the skin, so why hide the body? The M7 campaign is really pure... it's a very academic nude," then-creative director Tom Ford said of the campaign.

Gucci

Never one to shy away from sexuality, Tom Ford released a slew of highly controversial ads throughout his reign at Gucci (with some help from Carine). In perhaps one of the most well-known fashion advertisements to date, Ford joined forces with legendary photographer Mario Testino in 2003 for a series of fetish-inspired Gucci ads. This photo, starring model Carmen Kass' pubic hair shaped into a Gucci "G," was instantly banned across the world.

Sisley

This 2007 Sisley ad was banned for depicting and glamorizing drug use, through both the clothing's positioning and the models' appearance.

Tom Ford

This 2007 Tom Ford for Men fragrance advertisement was swiftly banned in Italy for its graphic sexuality.

American Apparel

Although this 2009 ad may rest on the modest side of American Apparel's notoriously sexual photography, it was banned in the UK after many complained that the 23-year-old model looked younger than 16.

Miu Miu

The entirety of Miu Miu's 2011 ad campaign starred up-and-coming actress Hailee Steinfeld, but this image in particular was banned across the UK. After hearing complaints that the then 14-year-old appeared to be crying while perched on a railroad track, the ad was condemned for depicting "a child in a hazardous or dangerous situation."

Benetton

The parent company of Sisley, Benetton featured a number of controversial ads throughout the years, often with the aim to challenge people's perceptions. Although depicting a real event, this photo of Pope Benedict XVI and imam Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb kissing was condemned by the Vatican and was forced to be taken down just hours after it was released. Part of Benetton's Unhate campaign, which also highlighted images of the impact of AIDS and domestic abuse, this photo was accused of confusing brotherly love with sexual love.

Marc Jacobs

In 2011, Marc Jacobs' Oh, Lola! fragrance was launched with an ad campaign starring a then 17-year-old Dakota Fanning. The ad was banned across the UK for appearing to sexualize the underage actress with the placement of the flower-topped bottle, a claim that both Fanning and Jacobs publicly contested.

Diesel

Diesel's 2011 "Be Stupid" campaign was banned across the UK, after the Advertising Standard Authority argued that they were "indecent and could be seen by children leading to bad behavior." Diesel disagreed with the ban, but was forced to comply.

American Apparel

Three years before declaring bankruptcy in 2016, American Apparel released this bottomless ad, starring an employee, that was banned in the UK due to nudity.

Miu Miu

This 2015 Miu Miu ad was banned for "inappropriately sexualizing a model" due to backlash concerning her youthful appearance. Miu Miu later provided proof that model Mia Goth was 22 years old, but the ban was not lifted.

Saint Laurent

Advertisements for Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2015 collection were banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for posing 18-year-old Kiki Willems in "irresponsible" ways that highlighted her thin, leggy frame. This controversy hit the Parisian fashion house particularly hard, as it occurred shortly after French Parliament passed a law banning the use of overtly thin fashion models.

Gucci

Images from Gucci's Cruise 2016 campaign were banned by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority for featuring "unhealthily thin" models. Gucci argued that determining models' health is not subjective, claiming that there were no visible bones in the images, but the ban didn't budge.