& Other Stories Releases Same-Sex Valentine’s Ad Campaign Like It Ain’t No Big Deal

photos from style.com

Avoiding the saccharine but remaining sweet, & Other Stories chose models Eden Clark and Lizzie Tovell as the faces of a subtle Valentine’s day campaign. A notable trend of this year’s crop of V-Day ads (see: that adorable Hallmark ad), & Other Stories cast a same-sex couple in lieu of traditional heteronormative campaigns. The Brit retailer, which launched a stateside storefront in NYC last October, is no stranger to the inclusion of queer couples. & Other Stories featured real life power couple Jenny Shimizu and Michelle Harper in a lookbook last spring.

The series of photos utilizes gorgeously relaxed self portraits of the pair. The artful and romantic snapshots are styled in a soft palette of blush, cream and onyx, a cleverly inconspicuous Valentine’s colorway. Although the campaign may be a tad bit boring as far as the casting (a model-thin white couple), it’s affirming to see representation of queer love in mainstream outlets. Sweet kisses and sweeter outfits? I’m in!

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Lydia O

Lydia Okello is a feminist, body positive, queer personal style blogger. On her website Style is Style, she showcases her panache for bright colors and power clashing. When she isn't pawing over Samantha Pleet collections on Tumblr, she's dreaming about havin' a kitten of her own one day. You can find her on Twitter, Tumblr and on her personal blog.

Lydia has written 64 articles for us.

12 Comments

  1. Is it just me, or does woman holding the remote cable release, in the bed picture look a little tense like she’s trying to get the shot perfect?

  2. I’m actually quite disappointed by this campaign. The models seem like they have zero affection for each other. It would be nice to see some illustration of passion between women and not wierd twincest gal pal-ing.

    These images make me think of whatever was happening in the minds of men who asked my girlfriend and I mid-PDA if we were sisters.

    • I think some of that may have to do with the fact that it feels like they are more focused on getting the shot than having fun with it, which comes off less affectionate and more gal pal-ish. At least that’s how I see it.

      • I would never look at these pictures and think “ah, a real couple.” I didn’t even see it as gal-palish. From their facial expressions, I wouldn’t even assume that they knew each other. But maybe that’s a photography style thing?

  3. I can’t figure out if Twins Syndrome is a disease that naturally infects lesbian couples or if they just get posed this way by a straight mainstream that is weirdly obsessed with two women who look identical making out???

    • I tried googling “lesbian twins”- it seems that this is its own porn genre. Because you know what’s sexier than lesbian sex? Lesbian incest.
      What the fuck, straight people?

  4. It’s part of the H & M and is Swedish brand. This is also the second campaign they have done with a lesbian couple

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