Princess Syndrome

This week we’re working on a site for a children’s charity. We need to draw some novelty shoes to appeal to littl’uns, which has proved surprisingly difficult. Are frogs gender specific? Is it just me, or does that elephant look… lewd? In the course of trying to make sure we had the girly-girls covered, the following conversation took place:

Account manager: So, they’re concerned that there’s nothing for princesses…

Me: See? I told you: we need glitter.

Designer: What’s wrong with this one? It’s a bug. Girls like bugs. Don’t they?

Account manager: No, something pink, sparkly, maybe some stars on it, put a tiara on it…

Designer: How am I supposed to put a tiara on a shoe?

Me: On a hobnail boot, in fact?

Account manager: Let’s make it a PRINCESS BOOT.

Me: …

Account manager: For princesses who KICK ARSE.


We’re doing our bit to advance the fourth wave of feminism over here in advertising.