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Ralph Lauren’s Romance

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As long as we’re on the subject of fragrance ads…OK, as long as I’m on the subject of fragrance ads…I think the latest compaign for Ralph Lauren’s Romance is an interesting example of women’s and men’s differing ideas of what “romance” really is.

Ralph Lauren Romance for Women

The advertisement for Romance for Women is a gorgeous black-and-white photograph of two beautiful people caught in a moment of quiet intimacy:

They stood facing each other. Neither spoke. He reached up with his strong, capable hands and slid her crisp, white blouse off her shoulders and down her arms, binding her wrists delicately behind her. His fingertips traced their way back up her arms. He took her gently by the shoulders and pressed his forehead to hers. She looked down, her eyes gazing first at his chest, then down past his rippling stomach, to where his tanned, supple skin constrasted against the white of his jeans. She closed her eyes, afraid that the moment might vanish, but the warmth of his breath on her soft eyelids told her that this moment — this man — was indeed real.

Her haltered top restrained her heaving bosom but it could barely contain her beating heart. She leaned into him, arching her back slightly to maintain contact. He reached up and lifted her chin. She almost couldn’t bear to look at his face for fear losing herself forever in his deep brown eyes. He slid his hand onto the back of her neck and pulled her softly, gently, toward him…pausing just as their lips were about to touch.

“I will love you forever,” he whispered as the rest of her world melted away.

…or something along those lines. <pause> Whew! <dab forehead> Is it hot in here? Pardon me, I’m feeling a little light-headed. <clear throat> Anyway…

Contrast that with the ad for Romance for Men.

Ralph Lauren Romance for Men

It, too, is in black-and-white, but the tones are much darker. And this is an action shot: the picture is slightly blurred, hair is flying, and the guy has spun around to reveal a chain tatoo on his bulging bicep. As for the woman, you can’t even tell what she looks like anymore, but that’s OK because this ad is all about the guy. Yes, this is a man who is in command of himself and the situation:

He grabbed her roughly and spun her around, pulling her toward him and thrusting his tongue into her mouth.

Now that’s romance. At least men think so…or at least Ralph Lauren thinks that men think so.

I’m not sure what it says about me as a man but, while I think the ad for Romance for Men is perfectly O.K., the Romance for Women advertisement is absolutely amazing.

19 Comments

Lauren
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I love this campaign so much, I decided to tape both the male and female versions on my wall. I’ve been wondering if you perhaps knew the name of the male model in this ad. They always mention the girl’s name, but fail to recognize him as well. I look forward to hearing from you if you stumble upon this fine young model. Thank you for your time! Sincerely, Lauren

Grettir
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Yep, the male model’s name is Thierry P

Jenny
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I would say, “You’ve been reading too many of those nurse romances,” but this writing is so far superior to any I have stumbled across thus far in the vastness of my own nurse-romance-reading that I’m ready to offer you a three-book deal on the spot. Yessir, I have a nice, crisp $50 in my wallet as we speak…

Cherry Ames would be absolutely mortified. That is, as mortified as one can be seated at the dressing table of a fresh, cheery red-gingham bedroom, with the white organza curtains at the window ruffling coyly in the warm breezes of early April.

john
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What is the name of the female model?

Grettir
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Here name is Filippa Hamilton.

On a side note, it must not be clear that people can click the small thumbnail pictures above in order to see a bigger version of the ad. Along with that bigger version is a listing of the models names, photographer, etc, (if I know them).

I’ve followed the convention of showing the file sizes of the larger image files in parentheses underneath the thumbnails (for instance “36k”) so folks will know how large the full-sized images are before they click through. (That’s especially appreciated by folks with dial-up connections.) But given some of the recent feedback, I’m not sure the convention is working.

Does anyone have any suggestions for making it clearer?

Myaikah
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I love this ad. It (literally) took my breath away when I saw it for the first time. I have also decided to hang both versions on my bedroom wall. The image tells a beautiful story of a man and a woman, no words needed! I used my imagination, and mine was not very far off from the one posted here. This campaign is a beautiful work of art, keep up the good work!

Darayus Nanavati
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Hello !! Great Ralph Lauren ads above … Ralph Lauren ads are a class on their own & are far better than the rest .

I am a resident of Bombay city & in Feb 2003 had a chance to see a very nice black & white poster of Ralph Lauren Romance with Brooke shields on the pic (black & white ) .

Have been trying to get hold of that pic but havnt found it on the web . Can u guys give me info as to where I could get that poster or download it from the net ??

Thanks !

Amandeep Singh Sandu
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It would seem that the men’s fragrance picture was taken *first*, because in the men’s photo the girl still has her shirt on. This must mean that the women’s fragrance photo is meant to portray some sort of “afterwards,” which I interpret as: He kissed her in the men’s ad, found out her breath was beyond bearing, then ripped her shirt off as punishment in the women’s ad. Note her embarrassed, down-turned gaze and his disappointed look of chastisement saying, “How could you be so smelly Filippa?”

Aman

Karolina
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Hey guys!

Well I do like these two ads…but nothing will win my heart like the original Romance ads. T

hey were so much more “romantic” in my point of view. Not that romance only comes in one form, but I felt like the original onces made the story of the two lovers almost come alive.

I have all the ads up in my room, but have tried desparately for quite some time now to find a web site or place from where i could download/buy the entire set. Does anyone know the names of the two models in the original Romance ads? It would be great if you could help me out with this.

Cheers from Australia!

Karolina

stephen
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would anyone know where i purchase a print of the ad? thanks!

Cam
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Does anyone know where i could get these or any Ralph Lauren ads in poster form?

Thanx

tiffany
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DOES ANYONE KNOW THE NAME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER…HE DOESN’T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH CREDIT FOR THESE BREATH-TAKING ADS

Jamie Anne
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Would you all please get lives? I’m sorry, but wrapping oneself up in the photo romance stories concocted by some single photographer who has nothing but dreams in his head is just a tad on the pathetic side, no? Sorry to be a party pooper. While I enjoy the fragrance, the ads just don’t hold deep emotional appeal for me. Not that I wouldn’t kill for abs like that, but that’s about as deep as the emotions go.

A.Juarez
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i think the ad define everything about male/female fantasy. women want romantic hold-me-love-me thing, while male is more on the agressive side, y’know, kiss-you-whoever-you-are thing.

malaysian view, juarez

Lachute Gal
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You see this fella above in the pictures? I used to date him back in 1998… can’t believe he made it this far… it’s nice to see a success story out of my neck of the woods. Congrats to Thierry… keep up the hard work! V: )

dave
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I wonder if these photos would have the same effect if the models were, say, Carol Burnett and J.J. from good times?

Jacquelyne
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My roomate and I love this ad. Both posters are gorgeous. We were wondering if you knew of anywhere we could find them for our apartment? Thank you so much