Van Heusen – 1950s
This Van Heusen ad used classist tropes to try to sell its shirts, making it look like anyone who doesn’t buy their brand’s Oxford shirts is not civilized. That implies that tribal men are somehow lesser, which is considered to be in poor taste these days.
Van Heusen 1950s
Best Buy – 1999
Ah, the great 2KY scare. On the eve of the new millennium, way too many people felt anxious that the world would be ending. Lots of brands like Best Buy leaned into this panic and even ran this ad that reminded people to turn off their computers before midnight that night in order to “protect” themselves.
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Best Buy 1999
