Ads reveal danger of fruit-flavored condoms

These three ads from Draftfcb in Vienna suggest that Condomi's fruit-flavored condoms "taste like real fruit." So much so, in fact, that the wearer might have a reason to fear his (unseen) partner, who might suddenly forget where she (or he) is. One wonders: Who is the target consumer here? Women, I suppose, wouldn't make an overly literal interpretation of the ads. (For God's sake, ladies, don't take it literally!) Men might also laugh and shrug it off. But for some guys, this might be an instance where less succulent flavors are preferred.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on November 16, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (4)
Filed under Condoms, Draftfcb, Europe, Gianatasio

Use a condom, thwart that evil Hitler sperm

Do condom ads reflect the mind-sets of nations? In the U.S., we get faux-patriotism and soft-core porn, while the French have safe sex on the beach. Now, from Germany, comes a dour dose of angst via Grey in a campaign for Doc Morris Pharmacies. The message: Use a condom, and be sure you're not bringing the next Osama bin Laden, Adolf Hitler or Mao Zedong into the world. Of course, you'd have to sleep with one of those three to risk that—and I imagine most would abstain, especially in the case of Hitler, since he's been dead for almost 65 years. Or maybe the ads are just generally likening sperm to invaders and terrorists. The bad hairdos should be enough to frighten anyone away. Via Ads of the World.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on April 13, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (12)
Filed under Condoms, Europe, Grey

French condoms can leave bizarre tan lines

Who better than the French to unfurl some cheeky fun in the prophylactic category? TBWA's ads for Hansaplast long-pleasure condoms have a beach theme, and though the gals keep their swimsuits on, those handprints suggest they were probably removed (or subverted) at some point for a decent (or maybe indecent) length of time. Said indentations imply a midday frolic in plain sight, but this is France, so probably nobody cared. At any rate, these ads are more naughty and playful than recent U.S. efforts by LifeStyles (frantic but soft-core) and Trojan ("stimulus package" line cute, but patriotic theme patently unsexy). As for Hansaplast ... whoa! What's that blonde been up to? Her priceless, world-weary expression says it all. Ooh, la la! Via Ads of the World.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on April 9, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Condoms, Europe, Gianatasio, TBWA

LifeStyles making love out of nothing at all

The Amp Agency's work for LifeStyles has never been known for its subtlety or restraint. This holds true for this latest campaign touting latex-free Skyn condoms. The hard-bodied hotties caught up in the throes of the "Skyn revolution" don't look overly concerned with safe sex or avoiding latex allergies to me. They're more into heavy petting, face sucking and Playboy TV-style soft-core shenanigans. Using Skyn condoms might make these activities "safe" in terms of decreasing the risk of transmitting STDs, but SFW results may vary. If you're employed by an organized religion, I'd skip the clip, though Silicon Valley drones can always claim it's a new viral project they're developing. If you work in management at AIG and you haven't returned that bonus, you're already going to hell, so you might as well kick back and enjoy the show.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on March 24, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Amp Agency, Condoms, Gianatasio, LifeStyles

Balloon animals aren't all so squeaky clean

Here's the balloon-animals online commercial for Durex that seems to be getting posted all over creation. Nice work from Atlanta's Fitzgerald + Co. Via everybody, plus the copywriter.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on January 15, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Filed under Condoms, Durex, Fitzgerald + Co., Freaky, Nudd

Bill Gates unwittingly stars in condom ad

As his co-starring role in the Microsoft videos showed, Bill Gates doesn't mind being in the occasional ad. But he might be surprised to see his likeness—or more accurately, a penis dressed up to look like him—in this graphic, bizarre, NSFW condom campaign from Belgium. "I finally discovered an efficient antivirus!!" says copy on the Gates ad. Another penis is dressed up like John Lennon, who isn't around to complain. A third is perhaps supposed to be Arnold Schwarzenegger. There are also two generic characters called "Hot Shot" and "Icedick." Advertolog credits the ads to an agency called Troy.

—Posted by Tim Nudd

Published on October 8, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Condoms, Europe, Microsoft, Nudd

Lifestyles offers sexually liberated comedy

Lifestyles condoms, which we last saw letting it all hang out, has unveiled a new set of online videos created by ad shop AMP in Boston. “Lifestyles Condoms Aim for the Funny Bone,” Brandweek explains. The clips feature standup comedians Noah Starr and Baron Vaugh, who tout Lifestyles and promote frank talk about safe sex. “Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls,” says Carol Carozza, the company’s vp of marketing. She continues: “The variety of people Noah and Baron encounter have a variety of different sexual tastes. With our vast mix of customized products, Lifestyles can accommodate these sexual needs.” Now there’s a refreshing departure from the usual corporate-speak that CMO types dish out to describe new campaigns. Oh wait—funny bone! I just got it. Ha.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on May 27, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Filed under Condoms, Gianatasio, LifeStyles

New LifeStyles campaign lets it all hang out

Condom company LifeStyles, an advertiser that lost its sheath long ago when it comes to saucy (often sophomoric) ads, asks “What’s your LifeStyle?” in its first effort from AMP Agency. Surprise: The work makes with the risque images and bawdy wordplay. Brandweek’s description borders on breathless: “For the ‘Bold’ lifestyle, the creative features a shot of a young woman in a public bathroom hiking up her skirt to reveal her right butt-cheek, while swinging a pink metallic purse in her right hand. Another, ‘Well-Rounded,’ features a close-up of a voluptuous female rear in which the subject is tugging at her pink-striped underwear.” Can you say “rear” on the Internet? Barbara Lippert calls the ads “too, too cheeky,” and they’re really not so hot. Neither was my dating lifestyle, which could best be described as “Frightening” (by prospective partners) and “Desperate” (by me). Where’s the LifeStyles ad for all of us losers? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go see HR. You can say “rear” on the Internet, but there’s apparently a problem with me doing so via company servers on company time.

—Posted by David Gianatasio

Published on December 20, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (6)
Filed under Condoms, LifeStyles

Enrique Iglesias too small for condom ads

Ok, I’m going to try to keep this one SFW, so I’m not going to compare my manhood to Enrique Iglesias’s, nor will I make any attempts to woo Anna Kournikova. But Iglesias’s shocking — shocking, I say — admission that he’s not the right candidate to model Lifestyles condoms got me thinking. Who would be appropriate? David Lee Roth? Bret Michaels? Snoop? Milton Berle? Then it hit me: Get them all. This seems like the perfect opportunity for the Plaster Caster, the self-proclaimed recovering groupie who made souvenirs of all her conquests. (Her Web site would be NSFW, if I could get it to work. Sorry, I tried.) Cynthia, call your agent, an opportunity awaits.

—Posted by Aaron Baar

Published on August 29, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (7)
Filed under Condoms, LifeStyles

NYC gets its very own branded condom

Talk about shrinkage. New York City picked one of the coldest days of the year—Valentine’s Day—to kick off a new public-service campaign that included handing out 26 million free condoms to promote safe sex. But they’re not just any condoms. They’re branded as official New York City condoms (actually made by Ansell Health Care’s Lifestyles condom unit), and the wrappers feature logos of the various subway lines that traverse the Big Apple (they got the colors wrong, though). The campaign also features radio spots and posters with slogans like “New York’s hottest wrapper. NYC condoms. Get some.” And get a room. But not St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

—Posted by Steve McClellan

Published on February 15, 2007 | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Filed under Condoms, LifeStyles