Fashion adverts so controversial they were banned: Prada, Tom Ford and American Apparel

Whether it is Tom Ford, Prada or American Apparel, most major fashion brands have come under scrutiny for releasing adverts that were too controversial and ultimately banned.

Most recently, the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) lambasted a Miu Miu advert that appeared in Vogue and starred 22-year-old model Mia Goth.

The double-page campaign featured Shia LaBeouf's girlfriend laying on the edge of a bed in a sexually suggestive pose.

A magazine reader complained Goth looked like a young child dressed as an adult and thus, believed the advert was inappropriate.

The watchdog agreed and said the image "presented a child in a sexualised way", adding it was "irresponsible and was likely to cause serious offence". The advert was subsequently banned.

It is not the first time Prada, which has Miu Miu as one of its brands, or other fashion houses have come under fire for inappropriate ad campaigns. IBTimes UK takes a look at the most controversial fashion adverts that have been banned over the years.

American Apparel

Perhaps the most rebellious fashion retailer, the popular basics clothing line has been told off countless times in past years.

It was most recently scolded in March for a photo on its website that used a young-looking model to advertise a thong bodysuit, putting her bottom on show.

The model was in fact aged 20 but the ASA deemed the "model's expression and pose as being sexual in nature" and was too "irresponsible" to be shown.

Urban Outfitters

In January, the US clothing company faced a backlash from the UK ad watchdog following complaints about the image of a model advertising underwear on its UK online store.

Some claimed the model was too skinny and pointed out her thigh gap was too large. The ASA concluded that "using a noticeably underweight model was likely to impress upon that audience that the image was representative of the people who might wear Urban Outfitters' clothing, and as being something to aspire to".

The image was soon replaced after the ruling.

Tom Ford

In April, Cara Delevingne landed in hot water – excuse the pun – when an advert of her naked in a bath was banned from being within 100m of schools in the UK.

Complaints were made after a huge billboard of the advert was erected on Brick Lane in east London.

Although many called for the advert to be banned entirely, the ASA said it simply needed to be positioned away from schools.

Explaining its decision, the board said: "Whilst they [Tom Ford] accepted the model was nude... they believe neither her pose nor facial expression were sexually suggestive and were classical in nature, and had been depicted in art."

Marc Jacobs

Some may still view actress Dakota Fanning as a child star but she was seen in a whole new light in the fashion brand's 2011 advert.

In the campaign, the movie star, who was just 17 at the time, could be seen with a bottle of the Lola perfume positioned between her legs.

The ASA concluded the advert portrayed the youngster in a "sexualised manner", adding: "We considered that the length of her dress, her leg and position of the perfume bottle drew attention to her sexuality."

Calvin Klein

In 2010, Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau deemed the fashion label's jeans campaign featuring Lara Stone and a group of male models was "suggestive of violence and rape".

The ASB argued: "The board considered that the image was demeaning to women by suggesting that she is a plaything of these men. It also demeans men by implying sexualised violence against women."

Rimmel

A 2010 advert for the makeup brand's mascara featuring model Georgia May Jagger was heavily criticised as it was revealed fake eyelashes had been applied to portray a fuller effect. Small print on the adverts read: "Shot with lash inserts."

The ASA's conclusion? It stated: "Because we considered that the use of different-length lash inserts applied to the eyelash area was likely to distort the visual representation of the effect achievable from the use of the product alone, we concluded the images in the ad were misleading."

Miu Miu

Before the latest scandal, the fashion brand came under fire in 2011 for an advert portraying Oscar-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld, who was then 14, in a dangerous scenario.

The True Grit star could be seen sitting on railway tracks and appearing visibly upset. The ASA concluded: "We concluded the ad was irresponsible and in breach of the code in showing a child in a hazardous or dangerous situation."