Stay Classy, Kenneth Cole


“Walking around SOMA, we find this little gem. Stay classy Kennith Cole.” [via Flickr]

Earlier today, Kenneth Cole twatted, “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online at http://bit.ly/KCairo -KC.” After a massive Twitter outcry, Cole hastily scrubbed the tweet and attempted to backpedal. “I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues,” claimed the designer in a two-sentence apology on Facebook, admitting that posting the tweet as unarmed protesters in Cairo were getting shot was, perhaps, “poorly timed.”

However, this morning at 2 AM, San Francisco residents spotted this mysterious and super professional-looking decal on the window of Kenneth Cole’s SOMA location.

Are any Coilhouse readers in other cities perhaps encountering similar window displays at Kenneth Cole store locations? If so, please send pictures. We will gladly update this post with images of Kenneth Cole storefronts from around the US.

28 Responses to “Stay Classy, Kenneth Cole”

  1. Kambriel Says:

    I heard about this and thought, how in the world could this statement have been *well* timed?

    Beyond crass and desperate marketing. The store employees should take it in their own hands, and take the signs down themselves… unless of course KC’s target audience for the line is a niche audience of people with absolutely no scruples, social awareness or compassion :/

  2. Susan Says:

    Poor taste, KC.

  3. Tanya Says:

    That gets a big “EEEW” from me.

  4. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole's #Cairo Gaffe Says:

    […] featuring the tweet in question to the window of Kenneth Cole’s SOMA location.According to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  5. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe | GeekStatus™ Pulse Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  6. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe » The Social Media Experiment 2011 Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  7. Ted Says:

    People are offended too easily. It’s a harmless joke. ”No one was hurt in the making of this tweet.” It could not have been more perfectly timed. And why not make light out of a serious situation? Comedy helps to relieve some of the stress of reality.

  8. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe Balakrishnan V K - Balakrishnan V K Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  9. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe | The best Tutorials Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  10. Bad Tweets are Bad | Gorilla Creative Media Says:

    […] Huffington Post and other blogs and magazines. First it went viral, which is bad, then it went analog, which is arguably worse. Look what’s been popping up on the windows of KC outlets (another […]

  11. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe | luyos.com Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  12. Marshall Says:

    Maybe he should have gone in another direction with this, like:

    “Whether you need good arch support for a day of dodging whips or a shoe for throwing that’s always on target, Kenneth Cole Reaction is #1.”

  13. JMan Says:

    I wonder if he could hook me up with a good catalog printer:

    THE KENNETH COLE / EGYPT CATALOG
    http://jmansays.tumblr.com/post/3096487235/the-kenneth-cole-egypt-catalog

  14. Window Cling Prank Lampoons Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Gaffe | Stu Haugen Says:

    […] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]

  15. Tertiary Says:

    I want to buy whoever produced that decal a drink.
    Hell, I’ll buy them a damn bottle.

  16. Rachel Haywire Says:

    Let’s all focus on how offended we are by this so we don’t need to encourage any real activism. This does not deserve attention.

  17. Benoir Says:

    @Ted: “And why not make light out of a serious situation? ”

    Are you confusing “light” with “money” perhaps?

  18. Klytus Says:

    i cant help but laugh.

  19. Meredith Yayanos Says:

    “This does not deserve attention.”

    Rachel, I completely disagree. I think that playful, thought-provoking guerilla art like this is quite a real and effective form of activism, and will always be worth Coilhouse’s attention.

  20. Rachel Haywire Says:

    I love thought-provoking guerilla art of any sort. I just saw this as an attack against Kenneth Cole. Would love to see a piece on more art like this.

  21. HalibetLector Says:

    Good taste is the enemy of creativity. Regardless of the intention or backlash, they got a ton of free publicity from this.

  22. Meredith Yayanos Says:

    Heh… The most creative act that’s occurred here is the backlash. (This particular instance of it, at least)

  23. Natasha Says:

    People. I swear. Out of curiosity, is that decal considered vandalism?

  24. Inappropriate tweet spotted on Kenneth Cole window display | Doobybrain.com Says:

    […] — and some clever individual took it upon himself/herself to repost the tweet in real life on the window of one of Kenneth Cole’s San Francisco storefronts. Props for keeping it looking like the rest of the window text. My life in sneakers and […]

  25. Kenneth Cole Tweet Fail | discount-fashion-store.com Says:

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    […] Then the meme evolved overnight from digital to real world street art sticker prank: coilhouse.net/2011/02/stay-classy-kenneth-cole […]

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