Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Putting on the Ritz


In a typical story of Hong Kong extravagance and wastefulness, the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, which opened in 1993, has closed and is relocating to Kowloon where the new hotel will open in 2010. The "old" building will be demolished and a sky-high new development put up in its place. So far, so depressing. But what is truly amazing, especially in the wake of the Edison Chen sex photos scandal, is that prudish Hong Kong has countenanced the erection (sorry) of a full height advert covering the whole of the south face of the old building and featuring statuesque actor Djimon Hounsou wearing nothing but a pair of white Calvin Kleins.

I was walking innocently along to a lunch meeting when I bumped in to a client who was walking the same way. Just as I said hello we both clocked the advert and were struck dumb with astonishment. "That's a very big ... advertisement", I said, and we both laughed and averted our eyes.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

scmp! scmp! scmp!

LottieP said...

No, indeed. As you well know I will not have my professional reputation ruined by an ill-judged letter to the South China Morning Post beginning with "Imagine my surprise when I saw the enormous temporary erection on the old Ritz Carlton building in Central..." - because, of course, I am far too dignified to stoop to such embarrassingly childish remarks.

Mummy said...

As mentioned previously, a Mr D Beckham is also in his underwear for Armani near the Central Harbour tunnel. The armani ad is not as "impressive"

Unknown said...

it's not embarrassingly childish. it's knowingly ironic in a Carry On stylee...

you are such a prude. he he he

LottieP said...

I saw The Beckham on my way home tonight. Distinctly unimpressive, I agree. Not just the voice that's small and squeaky, then...


Even more risible are the bizarre Marc Jacobs Victoria B ads. Is he setting out to make her look ridiculous?

Anonymous said...

Oh please do a post on the Marc Jacobs/VB story...please! With picture of course.

Claire

LottieP said...

Perhaps if Edison Chen had worn Calvin Klein there wouldn't have been such an outcry about the pictures.

I have, despite myself, posted a picture from the risible Marc Jacobs/VB campaign.