Celebrity Spokesmen: How Much Do They Matter?

From time to time, eager and excited-sounding press releases hit my inbox. Hard-working PR folk touting the best, coolest, latest, hippest, AWESOMEST trend that they think would be “great on my site.” Sometimes, these trends make perfect sense – cool colorful socks! – and I’m happy to have the help in collecting imagery and pertinent info from the brand. And sometimes, well, not so much. I got one the other day about how “stylish” it is to lease pre-owned cars? Didn’t quite see the connection…

That’s why I was surprised when Chanel got in touch recently (well, not in touch with me personally, it’s not like Karl Lagerfeld is all up in my gchat) about a new Chanel No 5 campaign ad.

{Chanel sent me a 7-second video where Brad Pitt’s voice asks, “What’s the mystery?”}

“What do my readers care about Chanel?” I thought at first. “That’s a lady perfume.”

(THOUGH! Several readers have asked me about gift ideas for their wives and girlfriends. Which is coming! And thank you for asking me to basically go shopping for myself. If you happen to accidentally add two of whatever you choose to your shopping cart (and we know how tricky online shopping can be) feel free to send the extra my way.

…Where was I? Oh yes, Chanel No 5. The brand thought I’d like to know that the classic women’s perfume, first released in 1921, is launching its latest campaign with a new celebrity spokesperson – Brad Pitt.

Yep, a dude is now shilling women’s perfume.

On the one hand, it makes perfect sense. A handsome celeb telling ladies, “I will find you so unbearably attractive if you wear this scent.” Maybe not in those words exactly, but, y’know, with his smoldering gaze.

In a way, it’s kind of what I’m doing here on Style Girlfriend. I’m just a girl, standing in front of an ever-growing number of boys (hi new readers! welcome!), asking him to tuck his shirt in every now and again. If I get a say in what goes in your wardrobe, why shouldn’t Brad Pitt get a say in what goes on a lady’s vanity? (ha, that sounded dirty for some reason..)

I dunno, readers, what do you think?

Would you be surprised if Chanel No. 5 shows up on your lady’s holiday wish list all of a sudden? What about you? Would you buy a cologne endorsed by a female who’s beautiful for a living?

If, I don’t know who you guys like these days, Jessica Alba? Is she still a thing? Mila Kunis? If Mila Kunis was all, {read in sexy voice} “Nautica, for the MAN in my life” would you be hightailing it to the nearest department store’s fragrance counter?

If not, who or what does move the needle in getting you to extract your wallet from your butt pocket? Can you think of any ad campaign that made you take a second – or first – look at a brand you hadn’t considered before? Did a celeb make a cameo? Or maybe did you just spot a famous guy just wearing it because they wanted to? I will admit to plenty of new obsessions after browsing an Us Weekly with all its material suggestions during a (not frequent enough) pedicure.

Actually, it’s probably a good thing I don’t get pedicures more often. If they were more frequent, I’d probably want a lot more stuff.

Or maybe your celeb inspiration is more about a style, rather than a brand. If you see Ryan Gosling in enough henley shirts, maybe you start thinking, “Maybe I should be wearing henleys…”

So tell me, do celebs get you to buy stuff? If so, what stuff? If not, why not?