IMG cleared of wrongdoing

SYDNEY: The organisers of Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival (RSFF) have been cleared over a television commercial that complainants suggested was "unacceptable" to show in an early time slot because it featured partial nudity. ACT-based advertising watchdog the Advertising Standards Bureau received a number of complaints over the ad which was broadcast in August during the program So You Think You Can Dance on Network Ten.

Most of the complaints received by the bureau centred around the fact that one of the models featured in the commercial was wearing a "completely see-through" blouse in which her breasts were visible.

"The model in question is not wearing anything underneath so nothing is left to the imagination. The fact that this was allowed at such an early time slot in my opinion makes it even more unacceptable. I understand that this type of clothing and display of the female form may be acceptable at a fashion show but it is nudity and should not be acceptable in public advertising," one complainant said.

However, in response IMG Fashion said the 'PG' classification of the program recommended parental guidance for young viewers.

IMG said the commercial featured a montage sequence from a fashion runway where a woman was "very briefly" depicted wearing a partly-translucent mesh top. It said the image was very discreetly depicted and ran for approximately one third of a second.

"The overall impact is also mitigated by the context - the partial nudity is depicted in the non-sexualised context of a fashion parade where the focus is on clothing design."

In dismissing the complaint the ASB noted the image was fleeting  and was in keeping with the product advertised.