That these pics on the Zara kids clothes website are inappropriate

[PenguinBarnotBird]

Looking for summer shoes for DD online this morning and came across these pics which made me feel uncomfortable. Like an attempt at doing high fashion photography for kids clothes. The poses feel inappropriate for kids this young. Also the sandals are fugly but that’s an aside.

They look like most of my childhood snaps from the 80s (with better hair). Not inappropriate or sexualised IMO.

I agree with you, those poses are a bit off.

If you're going to complain about the Zara website the first port of call is surely the navigability (or lack thereof).

If you're going to swell sportswear and swimwear for tweens you have to photograph sportswear and swimwear ON tweens. My two tween daughters engage much better with the Zara photography (also Boden) than just plain "model standing there like a mannequin" poses.

Actually, no idea how to SWELL it! I meant sell it.

The first one maybe a tiny bit off (only due to the zoomed in angle, not the pose) but the other two? No, they seem completely innocuous.

I don't like the last one, on the moped.

I don't think they are necessarily sexualised. However, it's the fact that they have taken snaps that you can imagine a adult in and just replaced the adult with a child that is a bit jarring - the girl on a motorbike for example. They would certainly look more natural and kid like if they were playing or running around. I don't really like them, I wouldn't be happy to have pictures of my kids on the Internet posed like that. I suppose while they're not inherently sexual, I can imagine that someone who was sexually attracted to children might find these more titillating than say kids running around playing.

@crosspelican 100% agree on the site navigability issues, so frustrating.

It’s made me feel uncomfortable because that child looks about 8 to me, of course they’ll be selling up to age whatever (14?) of the item but surely a shot of the shoes on a foot would do... or from the knees down? Don’t know why we need to see splayed legs

My 9 yo DN loves Zara because they use teens and preteens in poses she can relate to. She would 100% be sitting like any of those poses so it’s useful to see how clothes would look when she does so I can either avoid them, accessorise them with bigger pants / shorts, or buy a different length as required.

THey do look a bit like someone's holiday snaps form the 70s, and not very professional. I'm not sure about being inappropriate - the first one does look as though it is looking up the girl's skirt, but nothing inappropriate is visible.

[quote PenguinBarnotBird]@crosspelican 100% agree on the site navigability issues, so frustrating.

It’s made me feel uncomfortable because that child looks about 8 to me, of course they’ll be selling up to age whatever (14?) of the item but surely a shot of the shoes on a foot would do... or from the knees down? Don’t know why we need to see splayed legs[/quote]
They’re selling the clothes as much as the shoes.

I think they just look like little girls, exactly like someone said- photos from years ago when you weren't posed to the nth degree. The problem is adult women posing like this now makes it weird looking. It's the chicken and the egg isn't it. Adults behaving like children ultimately sexualises children so they can't behave like children.

No those pictures are completely inappropriate. I do wonder about the parents who let their kids pose for images like those, they are basically fodder for paedophile groups on the dark web.

All three are a bit crotch focussed to my eye.

Yeah I don't like the moped one as it seems a bit too grown up. The other two are fine if a bit unprofessional.

Nothing wrong with the poses. I agree they look like retro kids childhood shots. I do feel her thighs are over exposed though (in pics 1&3) and if you are trying to sell clothes they don't show them off well.

Possibly the second photo as it seems the girl is wearing lipstick but then girls that age do experiment with makeup. The other two she is modelling a swimsuit it appears, so difficult I imagine to pose without appearing leggy. Zara is high fashion so they're appealing to that clientele, child or not. Seems the shoot is trying to go for a 70s/80s retro vibe, I don't see any particular problem with that, to some it will appeal, others it won't. I'm sure my DD (12) would prefer this type of marketing than say Boden which is very twee and likely has zero appeal to any tween in their right mind. Tweens want to look fashionable like their older peers or adult women, not like little girls, it's always been this way, no need to sexualise it.

@MakeMineALarge1

I don't like the last one, on the moped.

Why? I mean I wouldn't let my DS ride as a passenger without double denim and trainers, even in high summer, but that's all I can see that's wrong with it. I know other countries have a more lax attitude to road safety.

Sat on a moped wearing a swimming costume seems a weird concept to me for a child or adult. And the first shot feels like it's looking up her skirt even though she's not wearing a skirt. The blue leggings look strange - like they have superman pants over the top.
I'd rather see her running through water fountains or doing something fun than sat on a moped.

The other two she is modelling a swimsuit it appears, so difficult I imagine to pose without appearing leggy.

It’s difficult to tell what it is as it has long sleeves - a top or a leotard? It’s the same garment in the first and third shots.

Sat on a moped wearing a swimming costume seems a weird concept to me for a child or adult.
A ride back from the beach or pool in a warmer country?

They look causal rather than sexual to me

They are just normal photos. Odd that some people are sexualising them. I really don't think paedophiles on the dark web will really want mainstream shots of fully clothed kids tbh

I'm guessing as she's wearing pool sliders, it's a swimsuit. Moped is probably trying to give off Italian holiday retro sort of vibe. The blue co-ords in the second pic just seems reminiscent of 90s fashion that is currently in vogue, and has a Tweety pie print.

A swimsuit